Sold November 2020 Back to Archive

An exceptionally well built 7 1/4 inch gauge LMS 4F; designed by Sir Henry Fowler for the Midland Railway, the class was built over a period of nearly twenty years from the 1920s - three have survived into preservation.

Commercial CE-marked silver soldered boiler by John Ellis with four radiant superheaters.

Chassis has cast iron cylinders with piston valves actuated by Stephenson's gear, the engine is fitted with steam brakes. Fit and finish of machined parts is excellent, valve gear and motion work finely made and fitted up with taper pins.

Beautifully set up, it runs with dead square exhaust beats - near silent light engine, more like a machine gun with the driving truck brake lightly applied (yes, we're big kids really, couldn't resist!). There's some video of it running outside the works here.

Finished in BR livery as 44001, the prototype built in 1921, withdrawn for scrapping in 1962.

Tender has a detachable seat and footpegs.