I have always enjoyed the fascination of live steam even if I never saw it running as part of a comercial venture. I don't know what iot is there is just something about it which captures the imagination. So one day I happened to be surfing the web and caught a really groovy wave on to Keith Manison's website about his endevours of building a narrow gauge kit locomotive. This kit is from a company called Maxitrak in England. My wife actuially said "Why don't you get one...". So I contacted Maxitrak and purchased their catalogue and then spent the next two weeks trying to work out which loco I wanted. The problem was that I didn't know which size of loco I wanted or should get as there were large 2.5" scale locos and some smaller 2" scale locos. The minute I found out that some of the larger loco's have a 5" gauge option I was almost sold. 5" is the gauge of choice as my local club has only 5" and 3.5" gauge track. Discussions with my wife and long ponderings lead to the purchase of the HUnslet Opal as to ME this is narrow gauge!! You may be wondering why a kit and not start a loco from scratch at that point, well when it was ordered we were living in a place where there was no secure shed suitable for the machinery and also my workshop was upstairs. I wouldn't have liked to get a lathe up those stairs. The image above has been supplied by Maxitrak and is representative of what the engine will look like once it has been completed. Go Back ...

Quick Updates 13th July 2003 - I've gotten back from the boiler inspectors what needs to be done to the boiler. So now all that needs to be done are those tasks carried out. May 2003 - The boiler has been re-measured and the boiler inspecter is working out what needs to be done to the boiler to bring it to specification. We are also looking at upgrading the preasure from 90 psi to 100 psi. April 2003 - Problems! I took my boiler along to my boiler inspector to get it approved and hydro'd (yes they hydro'd it, but hydro tests by the supplier/buider are not accepted) and I was told there are problems with the boiler, one of which is that it doesn't match the plans. The stay's are too small, there is a flange missing from where the boiler barrel attaches to the throat plate and we can't inspect inside to make sure that the girder stays reach from the top of the firebox to the underside of the boiler barrel. March 2003 - Well after a house move and unpack I can start looking at finishing the loco. Work commenced on the ashpan, petticoat and chimney. Update History

Progress Appologies for the quality of some of the pictures [Click on the images to see a bigger picture] The arrival Wheels, brakes & reversers Cylinders and other round things Yikes pipes!! Pistons and Valves Experiments in Time and Motion Cigarettes, and Lingerie Getting hot under the collar