Sold September 2023 Back to Archive

From studying the pictures - and from information contained in the notes we have for it - we think that this is the same engine. If so, then we can put a date to its construction and name to the builder.

A vintage 7 1/4 inch gauge 0-4-2T, of handsome proportions and exceptionally well built - one of the nicest engines we've driven in the last couple of years, it runs absolutely beautifully.

Its history is somewhat obscure, although we know it's spent some years in France in recent times. Prior to that, it appears to have been in the long-term ownership of one man who, aged 25, bought it shortly after the war - we suspect it may have been built in the late twenties or early thirties. (now believed c1909 - see above)

Believed to be a Greenly design and originally fitted with Greenly valve gear - we wouldn't disagree with the idea, the generous bearing surfaces and robust proportions typical of the man's work.

The chassis is beautifully made, it will run notched up close to mid-gear in either direction at which point the engine appears to use no water at all!

The engine was, in later years, rebuilt with Joy valve gear and fitted with a riveted steel boiler, believed to be by renowned boilermaker T.Goodhand of Gillingham, replacing the original boiler which was also in steel. Pressed to 90psi, it has a three-element flue tube superheater and is fed by a pair of injectors. The cabside plates date from that period, fitted on completion of the work.

Some time around 2004 the engine was sold, along with some rolling stock and track, to a new owner in France - we have correspondence from that time detailing the sale.

The engine came to us apparently unsteamed in recent years, given the generous coating of dust and dry bearings. We couldn't resist a quick clean up and oil around to see how it ran on air - one thing led to another and, after a twice working pressure hydraulic test indicated that the boiler was unlikely to fall apart under steam, the engine soon had a fire on the grate.

In steam for much of the day, we all had a go on it at various times - everybody impressed beyond measure at how nicely it runs. With dead square, sharply cut-off exhaust beats the engine will start unfailingly from any position, running along at the slowest of speeds with the regulator just cracked open.

It requires a careful hand on the regulator to avoid losing its feet. The working sanders - operated from the cab - a useful feature if much passenger-hauling were to be considered.

There is an effective steam brake fitted, operated by a driver's valve on the nearside of the cab.

The boiler:

The boiler is, we believe, by Thomas Goodhand of Gillingham, Kent. A highly regarded boilersmith, he was born in Medway in1869. Described in the 1939 census as "master boilerman", he died in 1960 at age 92 in Chatham.

He produced a wide variety of traditional flanged and riveted boilers - this one has many of the hallmarks of his work and we could believe him to be the builder, as noted in the documentation we have with the engine.

Whilst there is boiler certification from its sojourn in France - complete with thickness readings and hydraulic test results - we have no earlier history.

Hydraulic tested at twice working pressure the boiler appears, prima facie, to be in excellent condition. However, before further use it will require lifting from the chassis and a full bare boiler inspection carried out with cladding removed - work we've decided against doing given the age and provenance of the engine.

Whilst not issuing certification, we would be happy to warranty the boiler as capable of passing a twice working pressure test and thorough examination once stripped should a new owner wish to recommission it to run.

If anybody has further information about the engine or its long time owner, Michael Constantine-Smith - formerly of Derbyshire, latterly Gwynedd - we would be pleased to hear from them. In particular, it would be good to know the original builder and its history, if only to give the man credit for such a fine machine.