7 1/4 inch gauge "Holmside" 0-6-0T

A 7 1/4 inch gauge "Holmside", one of a batch of four built by Ron Martin at the start of his professional locomotive building career and still carrying its "Loco Precision, Bristol" works plates.

Build quality is exceptional, as might be expected from an ex-Rolls Royce man (who went on to build, amongst many other locomotives, a superb pair of 7 1/4 inch gauge 9Fs) - machining is crisp throughout, fit and finish excellent.

The platework is neatly fitted and well painted in lined green, with some minor wear on the top of the tank, the silver-soldered copper boiler a commercially made job by Kingswood.

Built in 1989, Ron Martin subsequently offered it for sale on behalf of the original owner in 2000. It was bought at that time by an experienced model engineer who has owned it since, undertaking some unobtrusive work including fitting balance weights to the wheels, re-positioning the hand pump to the cab, fitting a drain cock to the water tank balance pipe and adding ballast to the bunker to improve the weight distribution.

Further work in 2017 included attention to a minor leak at the firehole door (requiring the boiler to be lifted), making all steam valves captive and fitting a steam brake cylinder and valve.

Steamed at Frimley Miniature Railway in July 2018 to prove the modifications, the engine subsequently had a hydraulic and steam test in June 2019, with new club certification issued. On hydraulic test here we noted several stay heads showing beads of water on the throatplate and outer wrapper - all dry under steam, but will need attention in the future.

Other than needing a new injector the engine ran well on test, although motionwork will require some rebushing. It pulls strongly under load with well-defined, even exhaust beats.

Regular readers may remember we sold another of this batch of engines back in 2018, there are pictures in the archive here.