My new Merlin Maestro

[artfull dodger]

Just got this engine the other evening and today I had time to actually steam him up. With little use, he runs super smooth with no wear in the rods or bearings. Lighted on the first try, burner is better behaved when cold compared to my Mayflower. He is works number 80. I polished some of the brass work, removed the exhaust tube(he was a spitter), crimped the end and filed an organ pipe slot in the pipe. Now he chuffs and isn't spitting. The smokebox on these are nearly sealed up, only the little hole for the exhaust pipe in the bottom, so all the heat and fumes go up the chimney and kills the plume indoors. He had no problem pulling this rake of LGB coaches, which is longer than I normaly run outdoors. Looks good to being a more continental design over Mayflower. Boiler has a Beck tag on it, but the RC linkage mount hides the Beck name, but its all in German language. I even got the original paper work instruction from the stateside dealer. Merry Christmas! Mike the Aspie

[Big Jim]

Wow, what a find.
My maestro runs very well (well it did before I took it apart) I am sure you will be pleased with it.

[artfull dodger]

Thanks Jim, he comes from a collection of a well known live steamer here in the states, Marc Horovitz, editor of Garden Railways magazine.

[Big Jim]

Ahhh, well looked after then.

[Bernie]

Hi a beautiful loco and really well looked after.