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A 7 1/4 inch gauge Class 14 "Teddy Bear", a finely detailed locomotive built from a Phoenix Locomotives kit which has seen little running from new. Built by a retired chartered engineer, his main interest is in building rather than running - once done and tested, it's time to move on to the next project (in his case, a kit-build "Stafford" which we delivered last week).

Regular readers may remember the fine 5 inch gauge Class 14 we had in some years ago (there are pictures in the archive here). Built as one of a small batch, it was a stalled project to put the model into production. Phoenix latterly bought the design and further developed it, producing locomotives in both 5 and 7 1/4 inch gauge.

Driven by a pair of Parvalux motors, power is provided by a pair of 12V 80Ah batteries via one of the excellent iDrive controllers.

There is a speed sensitive sound card fitted, along with a large speaker "under the bonnet" which produces an authentic startup sequence and idling rumble at tickover.

The builder has provided a detailed set of notes on how the locomotive works, along with original electronics documentation, touchup paint and various small detailing parts yet to be fitted, including LED lamps.

A handsome-looking thing, the flycrank and coupling rods providing a good deal of dynamic interest when the thing is in motion, rather more than the usual "car battery in a plastic box"!