5” GWR 1366

Here we have another 5" gauge GWR 1366 pannier tank. We've had this one through before a few years ago, and it's returned in part exchange as the owner fancied a much larger loco. It's a commercially made loco from Kingscale, but we think it's fair to say the little batch they made of these panniers has been their most successful product so far in terms of running reliability.  It's well known that the fit and finish of Kingscale locos is not quite the same as the more 'usual' model engineering tolerances, and particularly on the larger locos, and models with piston valves that has caused issues with reliability and running.  However, on a small slide valve loco like this the weaknesses in the Kingscale manufacturing processes aren't as evident, and certainly don't seem to cause any significant problems with the models operation.  We've seen a good number of these little 1366s now and they all seem to be superb little machines that run extremely well. This one has had a few little modifications as well to help it perform. New Piston rings, and a modified ashpan to name a couple, but all small things that just help to contribute to improve overall performance..

Fitted with an injector, a crosshead water pump with footplate mounted bypass valve and of course a hand pump in the cab.  Lubrication is mechanical and on the running boards for easy access.  The boiler is silver soldered copper and comes with all the original paperwork as well as a fresh hydraulic and steam test so you can be confident all is also well there.  All in all a really nicely detailed, very pretty little locomotive that in this case has a reputation for performing extremely well!