{"product_id":"7-14-inch-gauge-gwr-61xx-large-prairie-stock-code-9113","title":"7 1\/4 inch gauge GWR 61XX Large Prairie","description":"A 7 1\/4 inch gauge GWR 61XX \"Large Prairie\", Collet's supremely handsome design tracing a direct lineage back to the Prairie tanks introduced by Churchward in the early part of the twentieth century.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    This is one of a batch of eight locomotives built by the late, great Keith Wilson. Known for his prodigious output, both of locomotives and designs - usually beautifully written up and serialised in \"Model Engineer\" magazine - he produced several batches of engines. Usually Great Western, they included amongst others a pair of 47XX 2-8-0s in 10 1\/4 inch gauge (one of which I've been fortunate enough to drive on a memorable day out some years ago) and a batch of six 7 1\/4 inch gauge Kings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Six of the Prairies had commercial boilers; two had boilers by the builder, including this engine which he kept for himself. Eventually sold, it racked up a good deal of use over the years before eventually passing to its last owner in 2010.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    A highly experienced steam man, formerly CME of a standard gauge preserved railway, he undertook a complete ground up rebuild of the locomotive, which included fitting a new Swindon boiler, machining up new bogie wheels to replace the originals when cracks showed up after sand-blasting prior to painting (it was \u003ci\u003ethat\u003c\/i\u003e thorough a rebuild) and replacement of the original fabricated brake hangers with more authentic parts, for which he had castings made from his own pattern.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The result of the overhaul is an engine that feels like new - it runs virtually silently and responds instantly to the regulator, combining a boiler which never seems to stop making steam with a chassis parsimonious in its use of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Valves are set beautifully, with dead square beats whether running forwards or reverse - \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZkGwrQy6qbE\u0026amp;t=14s\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ethere's a clip of it running in our yard here\u003c\/a\u003e (when it was in steam all one afternoon recently, we all ended up having a go on it).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Complete with a Great Western \"Toad\" driving truck by the same builder, vacuum braked as is the locomotive, something of a Wilson speciality (the 47XX I drove had the same setup). Highly effective, it needs a careful hand on the brake handle if you're not to go over the chimney when running light engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    One of the nicest engines I've driven in recent years - we're all rather taken with this one.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019793518933,"sku":"9113","price":23500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/9113-1.webp?v=1779907275","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/7-14-inch-gauge-gwr-61xx-large-prairie-stock-code-9113","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}