This was part of a near complete set which I won on ebay about 5 years ago. It was described as a shed find, and the loco was missing it's safety valve (replacement easily obtained). It did come with a somewhat battered polystyrene insert. I've now added a funnel and coupling hook to this set.
The loco has obviously been well used and is very free running. The boiler insert for the steam dome was leaking so this has been soldered up, and I removed the whistle to fit a water top-up valve instead. I have also filed the rear drag beam to allow fitting of a meths burner which is part of another Mamod loco I purchased after this one (Loco No.7).
Several of the track sections had broken tabs, which I have managed to replace by using scrap plastic from a model boat kit. This has provided me with a test loop in order to run this loco, and others, in my kitchen or garage, whilst I await the construction of my garden railway (a very long term project due to current commitments and winter weather). This track is the earlier type with no reinforcing strips on the joining tabs which would date this set as 1980.
Those of you who have won these sets on ebay will know that postage is expensive due to the weight. So I actually went to Dundee on a cheap mid-week return ticket from Glasgow to collect this set in person. That worked out cheaper that the £20 postage quoted (I think the rail fare was about £14.50 on the National Express Scotrail franchise).
Thanks for looking.
Chris Cairns.
