Sold July 2006 Back to Archive

"Barn find" is probably a bit grandiose for the place this came from, "shed find" is a bit nearer the mark (and the shed looked like it was only the two tons of castings, pre-war machine tools and part-built locomotives that held it up).

Built in 1950, much used at the time before being retired beneath a bench some thirty years ago. In that time the engine has seized up, muck and dust has accumulated everywhere.

The steam plant comprises a centre flue boiler with pressurised paraffin burner, fuel tank aft with hand pump to pressurise. The engine is a home-brewed job, about the size of a Stuart 10 or BB, driving a gearbox which splits the drive to a pair of propellers. There is a mechanical lubricator and boiler feed pump, both driven from the gearbox.

So much for the easy stuff, now to describe the woody bit. It's 61 inches long and 8 inches in the beam. Rudder at the back (where else) with a finely adjustable tiller and locking nut. The various cabins comprising the superstructure come off in sections to allow easy access to the hot bits.

The whole thing sits on a purpose-built stand. It is as it emerged from the shed, untested, uncleaned, it really wants a complete overhaul.