7 1/4 inch gauge LMS Black 5

A 7 1/4 inch gauge LMS Black 5; a particularly well-built locomotive - and one of the nicest running examples we've ever driven - with an interesting history.

Built by a professional engineer who spent his working life with BP, construction started in Columbia in the 1960s. When his job relocated to Australia, the Black 5 went with him to his new home, where it was completed and test run some years later. In retirement he moved back to London, the engine going into store at that time.

It's a finely built machine, if somewhat idiosyncratically painted in matt black with red tender axleboxes and non-prototypical cabside and tender lettering.

Underneath, the mechanical work is first class; fit and finish of motionwork and valve gear excellent, with extensive use made of taper pins and castellated nuts - its condition suggesting the lightest of use from new. The brown tarnished brightwork seen in the photographs is simply dried on preservative oil, applied before the engine was put into storage - it will come off with a suitable solvent and some elbow grease.

There are lots of details we like on this one: the twin axle pump eccentric straps have remote oilers mounted on the running boards; front bogie axleboxes are lubricated via a nipple in end of the axles; the pressure gauge is mounted low in the cab for visibility when driving. 

The screw reverser has a prototypically authentic two start thread, giving fast traverse from full forward to full reverse gear. The locomotive has effective steam brakes fitted; there is a good whistle, with suitably authentic "Stanier hooter" tone.

All controls - regulator, reverser, steam valves - fall easily to hand and are notably smooth in operation.

The silver soldered copper boiler is finely made, with neatly flanged plates and good solder penetration. No superheaters are fitted, their flues blanked off with plugs which have thoughtfully been provided with small handles to facilitate removal should a new owner decide to fit a set.

We conducted a preliminary hydraulic test at twice working pressure when the engine arrived, preparatory to steaming it. Not a trace of a leak, not so much as a bead on a stay - like the rest of the engine, the boiler gives every impression of being particularly well made in the first place, and having had very little use since. Before it can be certified the boiler will need to be lifted from the frames and tested with cladding off - we would warranty it as sound to pass a subsequent test at twice working pressure.

It's always exciting recommissioning an engine that has been out of use for a long time. In this case, other than replacing a cracked gauge glass and having a good oil around, it came back to life in undramatic fashion, raising steam quickly and running absolutely beautifully with even beats - one of the nicest we've driven.

A thoroughly well-sorted machine - we like this one. It would be an ideal candidate for repainting into LMS lined gloss black livery, resulting in a powerful, good-looking example of this popular design. If you need some inspiration, we sold a well-painted example some years ago, there are pictures in the archive here.