7 1/4 inch gauge GWR 11XX 0-4-0T

A 7 1/4 inch gauge GWR 11XX dock tank, dating from the late 1960s, built to a design originally published in "Model Engineer" magazine in the 1930s.

Just this side of "barn find" condition, this one has come to us from a man downsizing his collection. Now in his eighties, the larger engines were getting too heavy to move about (although a 4 inch scale Burrell SCC agricultural engine remains - virtually complete - in his workshop, along with a a Triumph Spitfire, midway through bare metal restoration - the man is nothing if not industrious!)

Last run several years ago - it rolls freely and runs on air, with a good deal of wear apparent in the motionwork and valve gear - it is fast coming up to needing a bottom end overhaul.

An initial hydraulic test of the boiler showed a bead of water emanating from above the firehole door and another tiny bead forming after about a minute on one tube end.