Sold July 2019 Back to Archive

A 3 inch scale Aveling & Porter steam tractor, originally supplied new by Maxitrak in 1996, it was re-boilered in 2012 - we've sold it a couple of times now, most recently to a highly experienced engineer, one of the original Stafford owners and the man responsible, amongst other things for the "Listerlike" we've recently sold, along with another large sit-in battery-electric locomotive we had in some years ago.

He bought this one last year, with the intention of re-engineering it to his requirements, then rallying it for a season. However, with the overhaul complete events then overtook him - we had a 7 1/4 inch narrow gauge locomotive come in recently that appealed to his inventive mind (we're already receiving pictures of its rebuild), so the Aveling came back to us.

So - recently outshopped from his works, a thoroughly sorted, fully overhauled Aveling tractor in excellent condition throughout. It's been intelligently modified to be, in our experience of these engines, better than new. Work carried out in the last 12 months includes:

Differential fitted

Valve gear refitted throughout with bronze pins

New lubricator fitted on improved platform

Reworked gear selector mechanism to remove play and improve rigidity

New main steam pipe, allowing removal if required

New heavy gauge motion covers

Steel weights added inside smokebox

Hitch added beneath tender for drawbar connection, bringing it below axle height for improved stability

Quick detach water connectors fitted to engine and driving truck

20 litre water tank with stainless filter and drain fitted to driving truck

High pressure electric pump fitted in driving truck, piped to feed either tender or boiler

12V socket fitted to front of driving truck for steam-raising blower

Engine repainted in Craftmaster paint and lined

Certainly the nicest one of these we've had in. The design makes for a free-steaming engine, quick on the road in high gear and comfortable to drive with rubber tyres on the engine and pneumatics on the driving truck.