{"product_id":"vintage-7-14-inch-gauge-0-4-2t-stock-code-11470","title":"Vintage 7 1\/4 inch gauge 0-4-2T","description":"\u003cfont color=\"red\"\u003e30th August - we are indebted to our good friend Jim Shackell for sending copies of articles from his 1910 editions of \"Model Railway\" magazine, following a conversation with him last Sunday at the Bressingham Steam Museum portable engine event.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e    From studying the pictures - and from information contained in the notes we have for it - we think that this is the same engine. If so, then we can put a date to its construction and name to the builder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cp\u003e    A vintage 7 1\/4 inch gauge 0-4-2T, of handsome proportions and exceptionally well built - one of the nicest engines we've driven in the last couple of years, it runs absolutely beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Its history is somewhat obscure, although we know it's spent some years in France in recent times. Prior to that, it appears to have been in the long-term ownership of one man who, aged 25, bought it shortly after the war - we suspect it may have been built in the late twenties or early thirties. \u003cfont color=\"red\"\u003e(now believed c1909 - see above)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Believed to be a Greenly design and originally fitted with Greenly valve gear - we wouldn't disagree with the idea, the generous bearing surfaces and robust proportions typical of the man's work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The chassis is beautifully made, it will run notched up close to mid-gear in either direction at which point the engine appears to use no water at all!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The engine was, in later years, rebuilt with Joy valve gear and fitted with a riveted steel boiler, believed to be by renowned boilermaker T.Goodhand of Gillingham, replacing the original boiler which was also in steel. Pressed to 90psi, it has a three-element flue tube superheater and is fed by a pair of injectors. The cabside plates date from that period, fitted on completion of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Some time around 2004 the engine was sold, along with some rolling stock and track, to a new owner in France - we have correspondence from that time detailing the sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The engine came to us apparently unsteamed in recent years, given the generous coating of dust and dry bearings. We couldn't resist a quick clean up and oil around to see how it ran on air - one thing led to another and, after a twice working pressure hydraulic test indicated that the boiler was unlikely to fall apart under steam, the engine soon had a fire on the grate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    In steam for much of the day, we all had a go on it at various times - everybody impressed beyond measure at how nicely it runs. With dead square, sharply cut-off exhaust beats the engine will start unfailingly from any position, running along at the slowest of speeds with the regulator just cracked open.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    It requires a careful hand on the regulator to avoid losing its feet. The working sanders - operated from the cab - a useful feature if much passenger-hauling were to be considered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    There is an effective steam brake fitted, operated by a driver's valve on the nearside of the cab.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    \u003ci\u003eThe boiler:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    The boiler is, we believe, by Thomas Goodhand of Gillingham, Kent. A highly regarded boilersmith, he was born in Medway in1869. Described in the 1939 census as \"master boilerman\", he died in 1960 at age 92 in Chatham.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    He produced a wide variety of traditional flanged and riveted boilers - this one has many of the hallmarks of his work and we could believe him to be the builder, as noted in the documentation we have with the engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Whilst there is boiler certification from its sojourn in France - complete with thickness readings and hydraulic test results - we have no earlier history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Hydraulic tested at twice working pressure the boiler appears, prima facie, to be in excellent condition. However, before further use it will require lifting from the chassis and a full bare boiler inspection carried out with cladding removed - work we've decided against doing given the age and provenance of the engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Whilst not issuing certification, we would be happy to warranty the boiler as capable of passing a twice working pressure test and thorough examination once stripped should a new owner wish to recommission it to run.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    If anybody has further information about the engine or its long time owner, Michael Constantine-Smith - formerly of Derbyshire, latterly Gwynedd - we would be pleased to hear from them. In particular, it would be good to know the original builder and its history, if only to give the man credit for such a fine machine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ciframe width=\"353\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nYDQMm9Pf_4?si=xYDEMwqodrPVEjs7\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019233349973,"sku":"11470","price":9750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/11470-1.webp?v=1779903184","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/vintage-7-14-inch-gauge-0-4-2t-stock-code-11470","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}