3 1/2 inch gauge Baldwin 4-8-4 "Columbia"

A 3 1/2 inch gauge Baldwin 4-8-4 to Martin Evans' "Columbia" design, serialised in "Model Engineer" magazine 1978-80.

It's come to us direct from the late builder's family, a highly experienced engineer with several other good locomotives to his credit including a fine 3 1/2 inch gauge LMS Duchess.

Always impressed with these when we get them in, the scale and proportion of the cylinders and running gear so different to British prototypes - the pair of Britannias standing next to this one in the workshop at the moment look positively svelte in comparison!

Nicely detailed, including a huge chime whistle and water gauge lighting in the cab. There a steam boiler feed pump which runs, although is not currently piped up.

In steam much of this morning it runs particularly well - there's some video of it here. A nicely-built, thoroughly sorted engine.