{"product_id":"7-14-inch-gauge-manning-wardle-taw-stock-code-2429","title":"7 1\/4 inch gauge Manning Wardle \"Taw\"","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eBuilt by Manning Wardle in 1897 along with sister engines  \"Yeo\" and \"Exe\" for the \"Lynton \u0026amp; Barnstaple Railway,  running between Barnstaple Town and \"Lynton. Hopelessly unprofitable pretty much  from the start, the railway had a life of only 37 years, finally closing in  1935. The fact that the entire railway was put up for auction, with virtually  everything bought and cut up for scrap within a day or two of the sale, has only  added to its legendary status in the world of railway preservation, where for  years it has been the subject of endless \"if only\" speculation -  indeed if the railway could have survived for another ten years, it would have  probably made it to preservation. Rumours over the years of one of the engines  (\"Lew\") escaping the scrapmans torch and languishing in South America  have only added to the interest (although nobody's managed to find it yet!).\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003ePerhaps the most tantalising \"what if\" was the  presence of Captain Howey (of Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway fame) at the  auction. Probably the only man there able to write a cheque for the lot, he  dismissed the engines as old-fashioned, ugly little things with tall chimneys.  Ah well, if you'd spent your life building third size A3 Pacifics to race up and  down the beach, I guess you wouldn't get that excited by rather quaint little  tank engines...\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eBuilt to the Milner Engineering design in four inch scale for 7  1\/4 inch gauge track, this is a large engine built to a commercial  specification. Privately built in 1999, the engine has spent the last two years  at the Oldown Miniature Railway where it had occasional use.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eSteel boiler with expanded in tubes, fusible plug in firebox.  Twin Salter type safety valves, working pressure 120psi, water feed by twin  injectors. Cast iron cylinders with slide valves actuated by Joy valve gear as  per the prototype, where a combination of small wheels and the resulting  low-slung cylinders precluded the use of Walschaert's gear. Pole reverser in  cab. Twin ram mechanical lubricator mounted on the front running board.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe backhead has a very clean layout of standard industrial  valves, full-size pressure gauge and twin 3-cock water gauges with protectors.  There is a screw-down locomotive brake, it is fitted with a vacuum brake ejector  and control valve. Vacuum is piped from the back of the cab on a standard  snap-fit connector, there is a similar connector in the cab allowing a  compressed air supply to be fed to the engine's blower for firing from cold.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe engine is well built and in good condition throughout. The  flanges have been removed from the centre driving wheels, allowing the engine to  negotiate 50 foot radius curves, the remaining wheels have EN8 steel tyres. For  driving, the back of the cab unbolts and a seat can be mounted on the rear of  the cab, with the drivers feet on the footplate. Although ideally suited for  commercial use, in private use it would, undoubtedly, last longer than the  L\u0026amp;B ever did. If only I could squeeze a fifty foot radius round the  garden...\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eLength 96 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Weight approx 1 ton\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019990159701,"sku":"2429","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/2429-1.webp?v=1779909130","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/7-14-inch-gauge-manning-wardle-taw-stock-code-2429","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}