Saturday 30 December 2006

The Jelly

Ann decided to make me an 'Engine Jelly' for my last birthday (don't ask) and, after I'd added a little decoration, I took this photograph. At first, the prototype appeared to be an American-style 0-4-2 but the size of the trailing wheels convinced me that it is, in fact, a 4-2-0. What appears to be a coupling rod must be outside framing on the leading truck. The absence of a connecting rod on the large driving wheel suggests inside cylinders. The generous American loading gauge allows the footplate to be pitched high enough to accommodate a cranked driving axle under the cab. But such a design must have been a rough rider once the engine was run-down. Or perhaps I should get out more?