7 1/4" USA S160

Here we have an impressive and rare 7 1/4" gauge USA S160!  The only one of these in 7 1/4" gauge that we've ever seen, this is a really nicely made well known locomotive with a fascinating history.  The locomotive was originally built around 1948 by a Captain Saul, who was a Captain in the Merchant Navy during World War II.   He'd been in command of one of the ships that had brought the prototype across the Atlantic from the USA.  It is thought possible that the locomotive was built on board ship. Captain Saul was with the Cunard line.

Ultimately the locomotive had found it's way to her previous owner by 1986 and after a full re-build was steamed in in the form you see it here for the first time in 1989.  She's been well looked after and is a well known locomotive having been well traveled all over Europe and across the UK , and although the loco has the odd scuff and paint chip, mechanically she's in great condition, and cosmetically the aged paint doesn't detract too much from the model.

The boiler is silver soldered copper and comes with fresh hydraulic and steam tests, so you can be confident that all is well there.  Lubrication is mechanical, and indeed there are lovely wicked box lubricators for the axle boxes and other moving parts so provision and considerable thought has gone into making the loco easy to care for mechanically.  There are two nice Chiverton injectors for water.  There's a steam pump on the front of the smoke box to generate air, as there are air brakes as well as a steam brake, and of course working electric lights.  Quite possibly the coolest bit though is the steam operated butterfly firebox doors that are fully functional.  All in all this is a really well conceived and engineered miniature of a rarely modeled and desirable prototype.  We think it looks great in the blue, but if you'd prefer it in Grey or black, or even in green,..... let us know and we can always repaint it for you here at the workshops.