7 1/4 inch gauge petrol hydraulic 0-4-0 shunter

A "barn find" 7 1/4 inch narrow gauge petrol-hydraulic shunter, a large, robustly built locomotive weighing in at a little over a quarter of a ton including the capacious ride-in tender.

This one has come to us from the same railway as the Kerr Stuart "Wren" we had in last year (the late owner was also in the process of assembling a kit-build 7 1/4 inch gauge LNER A4)

Unused for several years, the Tecumseh engine turns freely although with no detectable spark at the plug. Whilst a new plug, battery and some fresh fuel may see it on the way to recovery, with the availability these days of electric start 4 stroke engines from reputable manufacturers at under £300, one wonders if it wouldn't be worth simply installing a new, more powerful, replacement.