7 1/4 inch gauge Hunslet 0-4-0ST

A 7 1/4 inch gauge, 3 inch scale Hunslet to Alan Ruston's "Elidir" design. We bought this one from the late builder's son back in 2014 - sold later that year, we sold it again in 2017.

Currently looks like a bucket of poo - we're determined to find it an owner this time round with narrow gauge sympathies and a basic understanding of what a cleaning rag and flue brush looks like!

Paintwork is tired, that on the tender looks like it's been dragged down the M6 on its side (or both sides, to be strictly accurate).

Chassis is immensely grubby, backhead has acquired a clumsy looking double clack (replacing what was actually quite a nice twin clack previously fitted), pressure gauge has been moved and is now suspended from a monstrous looking brass bracket. And the nameplates are probably the nastiest we've ever seen.

But - there's always a but...

Underneath the muck and clumsy modifications made over the years, there's a well made engine that steams freely and runs well - there's some video of Connor pottering about on it earlier today here..

There is some nice, typically Hunslet detailing - brass firebox cleading, elegantly shaped brake handle, dumb buffers, brass shrouded safety valves - which it would be nice to keep and accentuate by throwing away the less sympathetic additions.

What is really needs is a winter overhaul with repaint and removal of the more offensive carbuncles. With current club certification on the boiler and new commercial certification for hydraulic and steam tests, it could be run to the end of the season.