Sold May 2006 Back to Archive

2 inch scale Minnie traction engine - stock code 2688

A very nicely made 2 inch scale traction engine, built to Len Mason's popular "Minnie" design, doubled up.

Silver soldered copper boiler, working pressure 85psi. Twin Salter safety valves, feed by injector and crankshaft-driven pump with bypass. Single cylinder with slide valve actuated by Stephenson's valve gear, pole reverser on footplate. Mechanical lubricator driven from valve rod. Two speed transmission, winch behind nearside rear wheel with tender-mounted fairleads. Wheels are rubber tyred.

The engine was completed in 1996 and has been carefully used. It goes very well - pump and injector are both reliable, the boiler makes plenty of steam and it's particularly easy to drive. It's got a new boiler certificate and is ready to take out and rally straight away.

If you look through the archive you'll see that whilst I get my fair share of 1 1/2, 3 and 4 inch engines, those in 2 inch scale are rather scarce. I've never quite understood why they're not more widely modelled as it makes a very handy sized engine - considerably more robust and capable than a 1 1/2 inch Allchin, yet nothing like so heavy to load and move about as a 3 inch Burrell.

Length 39 inches
Height 24 inches

scale 2 inch