I bought this loco from a couple who were disposing of a deceased relatives workshop. I have built two electric locos but thought that a steam loco would be much more difficult and take too long to build. Hence when I saw this complete loco in what was thought to be running condition it seemed an ideal chance to get into steam without too much work. It didn't worry me at the time that I could not recognise the prototype but it would be nice to know if it is based on a prototype or if it is freelance.
To add some dimensions to the pictures. It is 5" gauge. Overall length 34". Wheelbase 10" coupled, 9" to front wheel, all sprung no side play. Convensional plate frame with front wheels mounted on an additional outside frame. As built the buffer height was for 3.5" gauge, apparently to suit the owners driving truck. There are two internal cylinders with slide valves above. Valve actuation is from a single eccentric with a curved link giving forward and reverse? No it is not a slip eccentric. The nearest common valve gear would be Hakworth.
The boiler has a parallel barrel and is all copper with a single concentric superheater tube of stainless steel. The side tanks feed the injector and the owners driving truck had a tank with a hand pump feeding direct to the boiler.
The boiler appears to have been fired and probably well used but not for many years. It was probably built in the 60's and may have run at the Bromsgrove club track although it was possibly only used on a garden railway. The standard of workmanship is variable and some parts show signs of having been much modified. My impression is that the boiler was probably built to a published design and then a chassis built to fit it. Since the boiler will not pass the current boiler inspection procedure without some more work I have been unable to try the chassis out but hope to do so this year, sometime.
If you have any thoughts please send me an email at loco@groundlevel.demon.co.uk.
Update Sept 99
Having stopped the stays leaking enough to get through a hydraulic test the loco has been out on my test track and after some testing out on the Stroud track. It works but has some serious problems with the valve gear. Steam consumption is much too high and even with the regulator fully open the loco will sometimes refuse to pull a single adult. A second injector or mechanical water pump is also required as the first injector is not reliable. Looks like a fairly major rebuild will be required over the winter.
Update May 00
A second injector is now fitted and working, removing the need for the water pump in the driving trolley. The pistons have had new packing installed and this has reduced steam consumption slightly. The blower take off point has been moved to stop it interfering with the operation of the right hand injector. Water consumption is about 2pts per 850ft lap of our track! Steam consumption is so high the injectors stop working when the regulator is opened. Next job is to see if the valve timing and dimension could be improved