7 1/4 inch gauge Crampton 2-2-2-2

We don't often see Cramptons in any gauge, but especially not in the larger scales. This one has come to us from the builder, the first 7 1/4 inch gauge version we've bought in 20 years - I only know of one other (which means that by Monday morning two dozen people will have emailed in pictures of their engines...).

Based on descriptions by M Sharman and E Twining, a set of drawings for the engine was worked up based around a stretched 3 inch scale Burrell traction engine boiler, built for the project by Franklin & Bell.

Boiler feed is anachronistically arranged via a pair of injectors (Giffard had yet to invent them when the prototype was built), hidden away in a nod to authenticity, with a pair of crosshead pumps as backup. The pressure gauge is similarly a new-fangled gadget, not present on the full-sized engine.

If ever there was a candidate for a good tidy up, this engine is it. Whilst cosmetically tired, we'd heard from one or two people that the engine was a bit of a goer, so finally got around to giving it a run.

Ashley's test notes sum it up fairly succintly: "Runs nicely in both directions with two working axle pumps and two injectors. A nicer running engine than it looks".

Having driven it I have to agree - mesmeric in action, it's difficult to take your eyes off the frying pan-sized eccentrics gently rotating next to the footplate. With twelve inch diameter driving wheels it accelerates gently but feels as if, given its head on the track, it would have a good turn of speed. A recent visitor who has driven the engine at the previous owner's club reports it as something of a flyer.

What it could really use is a serious tidy up and repaint - whilst mechanically it runs with a good deal of elan, it needs burnished steel, polished brass, varnished wood and a decent paint job to recreate some Victorian splendour!