5" Gauge GWR Prairie 'Firefly' Steam up & Full Cab Track Run at Southport Model Engineering Club

In this video we fire and steam up a 5" gauge GWR Prairie 'Firefly' steam locomotive at the Southport Model Engineering club at Victoria Park, Southport. We also take you on a unique full track ride from the drivers perspective, and we also find answer to the question, Can Matt Drive this locomotive? Unfortunately no machining on the Harrison 12" Swing Lathe or the Bridgeport Milling machine this time... Maybe in the next!!
Huge thanks goes to my friend Dave for allowing my the opportunity to drive this well engineered steam locomotive, it was great fun. Thanks also goes to Southport Model Engineering Club for letting us invade the track and allowing us to film.
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[@Benji_transport_vids]

Lovely loco! I can only imagine what would happen if it was let loose without any wagons XD

[@GRAHAM1514]

Great video of a lovely loco !

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Thanks Graham, much appreciated. I shall pass your comment onto the owner. It’s a lovely loco to steam and drive, unfortunately the owner is talking about selling it. All the best, Matt

[@richardboucher6904]

Now this is an interesting coincidence Matt, this morning I picked up a back issue of Model Engineer 19 October 1961 Vol 125 No 3145 for something to read and in it Martin Evans is describing the making of the reverse stand for the 5" gauge "Firefly". Nice to see your video of one in operation and thanks for the nice ride around that great track.
Dick B. USA

[@c5173]

gorgeous model.

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Thank you, I can't take the credit for it though, its my friend owns it. I shall indeed pass on your compliment. All the best, Matt

[@carlhuxford7067]

The camera work on those external shots of you driving were outstanding 😊

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

They are ok, I suppose I’d let him do it again 😎🤣

[@RobertBrown-lf8yq]

Yep…. really good 👏👏
Robert

[@julias-shed]

What a lovely loco 😀 looks like you had fun driving it.

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Julia, every single second of it! I absolutely love driving steam engines, I go into my own world, no troubles, no stress, all the world noise vanishes!! BLISS!! All the best, Matt 👍

[@RB-yq7qv]

Great looking engine

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Thanks RB, it sure is, I shall pass on the compliment to the owner, I can't take credit for this one! All the best, Matt

[@clivehiscock4270]

HI Matt
It looks like you had a great time, and i'm very pleased to see you don't wear gloves!!

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Thank you, yes I don't use gloves, having been a welder for 25 years I have developed heat resistant fingers 😂. All the best, Matt

[@union310]

The importance of not raising steam too fast can't be stressed enough.

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Absolutely true! All the best, Matt 👍

[@MicrobyteAlan]

You’re a great engine driver. Maybe a little loco 😁

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

It’s my talent, I can drive and fire any steam locomotive! Except those with marine boilers….. never been very successful with those 😂. All the best, Matt 👍

[@RicochetRichard]

Am I wrong but isn't your locomotive 4 3/4 gage and it's going to be a lot bigger?

[@MattChiversWorkshop]

Hi Richard, The locomotive I’m building is 7 1/4 inch gauge, the one in the video is tiny compared to mine. The length of this one, is the width of my build 😂. You can sit inside the one I’m building. All the best Matt 👍

[@MrFactotum]

👍👍👍👍👍👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂