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A finely made 5 inch gauge Great Western King, 6017 "King Edward IV". It's come to us direct from the builder, a gifted engineer who started his working life in the aircraft industry, working both as machinist and draughtsman with a variety of companies over the years.

Over the last fifty years he has produced five locomotives - the King (which featured on the front cover of "Engineering in Miniature" in 2006), two Castles (one taking a Gold Medal at the Model Engineer Exhibition), a Star and 47XX - taking a host of awards and trophies over the years.

Completed in 1970 and steamed for the first time on Saturday, June 13th of that year, the engine has run for a total of 327 hours - averaging a little under seven hours each year - the details of every outing meticulously recorded in a running diary.

Initial running included a visit to Southampton track in June 1971 where the engine pulled 35 passengers - it's heaviest load to that point - followed by a return in July when it placed third in IMLEC.

An engineer and builder rather than weekend driver, as soon as one engine was finished and working to his satisfaction, it was back to the drawing boad and on with the next one - as a result, since 1980 the King has run less than 100 hours.

Standard of workmanship is super throughout, fit and finish of machined parts excellent. Axles are hard chromed and ground, running in bronze axle boxes.

Pictures tell the story on this one - the engine has lived in the owner's house along with his other locomotives its entire life and remains in excellent condition. Tested and steamed in the works last week, it runs - unsurprisingly - just as well as it looks.