7 1/4 inch gauge two truck Shay

A 7 1/4 inch narrow gauge two truck Shay, scaled up from the excellent design by Kozo Hiraoka, with considerable modification and much added detailing.

The work of a retired engineer, a professional welder who spent his working life with Murex, latterly ESAB. A man with equal facility in design, machining, fabrication and sheet metalwork, his wide-ranging interests have seen - in addition to the Shay - completion of a 3 inch scale traction engine, replica AC Cobra, radically re-worked Morris Minor pickup with tuned two litre engine, model internal combustion engines - including a beautiful Westbury Sealion on his bench when we visited - and, his latest project, a one third scale model of his milling machine, fabricated without the use of castings, being built to exhibition standard.

It's fair to say that the man knows his way around a workshop...

Before going any further, let us say we are utterly, utterly smitten with this engine! An exceptionally well-built locomotive - free-steaming, powerful, quiet and responsive to the throttle; it goes particularly well, notching up next to mid-gear in either direction. During the afternoon it was in steam last week everybody here had a go on it (indeed it was hard to get one or two people off it...)

Since completion it has been steamed half a dozen times on a friend's private railway (a man not unknown to us, another outstanding builder whose work inspires every time we visit).

Initially built with plain axlebox and drive shaft bearings, these were deemed to create too much rolling resistance, so the bogies were stripped and rebuilt with roller bearings. The crankshaft runs in four bronze bearings fed by wick oilers housed in an oil trough in the cab.

The engine has effective steam brakes and is fitted for train vacuum, with a combined steam/vacuum brake valve. The ejector works efficiently, pulling 15 inches of vacuum reliably.

The boiler has had hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued - the engine comes with club boiler history back to the first test when built. Water feed is by injector, hand and mechanical pumps - the injector is a delight to use, reliable in operation and picking up instantly.

Draincocks are steam-operated, with a lever in the cab, the ashpan and heavy duty grate are in stainless steel. A dummy toobox on the offside running board houses a large capacity lubricator, as well as a battery for the headlamp, switchable from the cab.

There is a snifting valve mounted on the main steam pipe from the dome which works effectively, closing with a satisfying "pop" as the valve chest pressure rises on setting off.

The matching tender is fitted with a stainless steel water tank, solid coupling bar with safety chain, folding footrests and a comfortable upholstered seat.

Offered complete with firing irons, starter kit of coal, oil and water treatment, and 12 months warranty. We would be more than happy to give a new owner half a day's instruction on the steaming, running and disposal of the engine if required (any excuse to have another play with it ourselves, to be honest...)