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1 1/2 inch scale Allchin traction engine - stock code 3850

The finest 1 1/2 inch scale Allchin I've had by some margin, I first bought this engine from its builder, in 2003 (it's in the archive here). A talented and prolific engineer, he had also built the Bertinat triple expansion engine followed up by a three quarter-sized version of Lew Blackmore's Bentley BR2 rotary aero engine. It sold shortly after arriving, since then it's been on display in a gentleman's house, run occasionally on air. It's just come back in along with a fine 3 inch Burrell I supplied to its owner the following year - it had a hydraulic test earlier this week and has in the past been test steamed prior to painting, however it is to all intents and purpose in as-new condition, apart from a small amount of black paint missing from one rear hub cap.

The engine is highly detailed and made to an exhibition standard throughout, right down to the running board-mounted toolbox with padlock. It is finished in the maroon livery of the prototype engine, fully lined out by hand.

Copper silver-soldered boiler with injector and mechanical feed pump with bypass. Twin safety valves. Water gauge with blowdown and shut-off cocks, blowdown valve mounted above the foundation ring on the right hand side. Cylinder drain cocks operated from footplate, mechanical cylinder lubricator.

Single cylinder engine with Stephenson's reversing gear, four shaft configuration with two road speeds, brake and winch behind left hand rear wheel with tender-mounted fairleads for winch cable.

The engine runs faultlessly on air with clear, even exhaust beats. Claimed by Mrs P for the house as soon as it arrived, it currently resides in our library.

Length 26 inches
Height 17 inches
Weight 67 pounds

scale 1 1/2 inch & smaller