Hello all, I have no idea where to begin my story, this is my third attempt at writing this introduction in a hope to make it concise, though I fear it wont be by the end. So thankyou to anyone who makes it to the end and can give me any advice.

When I was 15 I joined my local model engineers club, I have always been interested in steam locomotives and was invited along by one of the members. At the time I couldn't afford my own locomotive or even any real workshop tools. I worked at the club on running days, fetching coal and water for loco's, and cups of tea for the drivers (I am well aware that tea is the most important thing to make these models move). After being a member for a few months I was rewarded with a drive of the club super simplex. It was at this moment I was hooked for life.

I was a member for the next few years until I had to move away for university, driving various loco's for the public once I was of age to obtain insurance which at the time was 16. I picked up a thing or two in this time, but I never considered myself an engineer, just a driver. After going to university, I didn't have much to do with model engineering due to time and money constraints.

Fast forward to a few years ago, I was lucky enough to be able to buy myself a 7.25" Romulus. But as an engineering novice I haven't been able to maintain it as I would like and it is currently out of ticket and in need of some minor repairs.

I was offered a lathe, milling machine, and a lot of accessories for a very reasonable price, and these currently sit virtually unused in the garage as I have no proper idea where to start. The last thing I want to do is strip the locomotive down and end up with it lying in bits forever.

In the last year or so I haven't had the spare cash to really do anything about it, but I now find myself in a position to start getting things together again.

The first problem is that the milling machine was stripped down into 3 large chunks in order to move it and it's a rather large machine so I can't put it back together easily. The lathe was moved by professionals in one large lump and has been converted to 240v so is ready to plug in and go.

The locomotive was blown down after its last use and the blowdown valve left open to allow it to drain. I was also advised to leave all the taps half open to stop them seizing, which I have done, and the cylinders were filled with a hefty dose of oil before it was stored.

Initially the loco was stored in a shed, which turned out to have a leaking roof, and it has a certain amount of surface rust on the platework. On discovery of the leaking roof I then moved it into the garage next to the heating boiler where it has been ever since.

The loco hasn't seized up and still runs fairly freely when pushed along the 8' length of track it is sat on. But the regulator has seized solid despite being left half open as advised. It is also in need of a new set of drain cocks as one was knocked [sheared] off, despite having a protective bar.

So that's where things stand at the moment.

What I would like to do is get the lathe and mill up and running properly, get the locomotive back in working order, and move on to building my own locomotive. But as you can probably tell by now I don't really know what I am doing or where to start. Lots of ambition, limited talent.

So any advice, tips, or encouragement are truly welcome.