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7 1/4 inch gauge GWR Armstrong 4-4-0 "Charles Saunders" - stock code 8532

A 7 1/4 inch gauge Great Western "Armstrong" class 4-4-0 "Charles Saunders", one of a class of four locomotives to William Dean's supremely elegant design built in 1894. We sold another of the class, "Gooch", back in 2013 - there are pictures and some video of that engine in the archive if you want to see what the thing looks like when complete.

The work of a professional engineer who spent his working life on the railways, most of it at Swindon. An experienced modeller, with several other locomotives and boats to his credit, he has been, in retirement, a long time volunteer at one of the preserved standard gauge lines near his home town.

Although still running a miniature railway at weekends with remarkable energy for a man in his eighth decade, ill health has now curtailed his workshop activities. We recently sold his fine part-built GWR Prairie - with great reluctance he has now decided it's time for a new owner to take over and complete the Armstrong.

Work to date is to a good standard and comprises a large quantity of machined parts; a well-advanced tender; locomotive frames erected and a beautifully made silver soldered copper boiler by Swindon Boilers (who else for such a prototype!).

Most parts and castings are there to complete the locomotive, two bogie wheels the only significant parts we can see missing. Castings for the model are available from Reeves.

Complete with drawings.

gauge 7 1/4 inch
length/inches 49 + 36
wheel material cast iron
axlebox type needle roller
cylinder material cast iron
valve type slide
valve gear Stephensons
reverser type screw
boiler number 89410
year built 1989
boiler maker Swindon Boilers
CE mark n/a - pre-2002
working pressure/psi 100
boiler type locomotive
boiler material copper
boiler construction silver soldered
superheater(s) 4
superheater type radiant, stainless steel