Sold February 2010 Back to Archive

A particularly well-made 3 ½ inch gauge Black 5, built to LBSC’s “Doris” design and steamed once from new.

The engine was completed ten years ago, it had its initial twice pressure hydraulic test then and was run on air to check the valves, but never steamed at that time. A shame really, as it ticks over beautifully and runs smoothly at speed. Whilst faithful in the main to LBSC’s words and music, the builder has finished the engine off finely, with castellated nuts and split pins throughout the motionwork.

Copper superheated boiler, 80psi working pressure, feed by axle pump with auxiliary hand pump in the tender. Twin safety valves. Gunmetal cylinders with piston valves actuated by Walschaert’s gear with screw reverser in cab. Mechanical lubricator. Screw-down brake on tender, steam brakes on locomotive.

We had the engine in steam for the boiler inspector last month following a hydraulic test, there’s a clip of it running here.