Sold October 2025 Back to Archive

A 7 1/4 inch gauge 0-6-0T to Martin Evans' "Holmside" design, complete with ride-on tender; the work of a preternaturally gifted model engineer, a man whose work has appeared many times on these pages.

I bought this engine from the builder - the first and only time I ever met him - in 2009. Brand new at that time, it had been test-steamed once to check the valve setting - there's a write-up and pictures in the archive here.

We last sold the engine in 2011 to a local man, a long time customer of ours, himself a formidably talented engineer (with what most be the tidiest workshop we've ever seen!) His main interest is in 7 1/4 inch narrow gauge - he built a highly modified Romulus, complete with booster tender, which sees regular use - with the Holmside spending much of the last sixteen years on a shelf in his workshop, rarely used. It remains in much the same condition as when I bought it from the builder.

The boiler has had hydraulic and steam tests with new certification issued. The engine runs beautifully on the rolling road - the hallmark of all of this builder's models (indeed, so well did they go that years ago we dismantled a 3 inch scale Burrell he'd built to find out what hidden tricks lay within. None, as it turned out - just a lot of very accurately made and finely fitted parts).

If you're not familiar with the late Keith Massey's work, there is a writeup here with details of this most remarkable of builders.