Sold December 2007 Back to Archive

A particularly well-built GWR Prairie to Martin Evans' "Firefly" design. It was built in the 1980s and has been very little used, apparently having spent most of its life on display.

Commercially-built silver-soldered copper boiler by Chambers, working pressure 90psi, feed by crosshead pump and injector with auxiliary handpump in side tank. Cylinders with slide valves actuated by Stephenson's reversing gear with pole reverser in cab. Mechanical lubricator. Steam brakes with auxiliary screw-down handle in cab.

Mechanically the locomotive is in exceptional condition, it runs like a new engine. I was impressed by how well it went, running nearly silently one notch from mid-gear, the pump is more than capable of keeping up with the boiler (indeed I only tested the hand pump at the end of the afternoon when the fire had been dropped just to make sure it worked).

The paintwork has flaked on the top of the boiler barrel just behind the smokebox, otherwise it is in good condition.

Length 40 inches