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3 1/2 inch gauge North Eastern R1 - stock code 7908

A finely made 3 1/2 inch gauge North Eastern R1 to LBSC's "Miss Ten to Eight" design, the work of the late Keith Massey, a man whose work we hold in high esteem - see the blog here for more information on this most remarkable of model engineers.

Unsteamed from new, this one is absolutely typical of a Massey engine - idiosyncratic livery, standard grey finish inside the cab (which he seems to have used on all his engines) and no pressure gauge. He made his own pressure gauges and told me he didn't like doing them - so he kept two or three and just swapped them around between engines. Quality of machining, fit and finish, is excellent throughout.

The duplex steam pump is a jewel of a thing - we had it running on air in the workshop this morning, it is reliable starting and running down to the slowest tickover. With an overall height of less than three inches and steam cylinder bores we estimate at 3/8 inch it's a diminutive thing - we've seen pumps ten times the size that don't work anywhere near as well! There's a clip of it running here.
gauge 3 1/2 inch
length/inches 43
width/inches 7
height/inches 10
wheel material cast iron
axlebox type plain bearing
cylinder material gunmetal
valve type slide
valve gear Joy
injector(s) 1
boiler maker Keith Massey
CE mark n/a - non-commercial
working pressure/psi 80
boiler type locomotive
boiler material copper
boiler construction silver soldered, nutted firebox stays
superheater(s) 2
superheater type flue tube
safety valve(s) 2
safety valve type spring
mechanical pump duplex steam pump
hand pump 1
steam pump 1