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

A 7 1/4 inch gauge, 3 inch scale quarry Hunslet, recently arrived from the late builder's family.

Completed in 2012, the engine is now in rather shabby condition, with three leaking tubes in the firebox tube plate - we suspect from a well-intentioned but ill-judged attempt to run the engine with insufficient water in the boiler. Not enough to put the fire out (indeed, it ran happily for an hour last week on the rolling road), but enough to need repair.

Which is a pity as, underneath the muck and grotty paintwork is a finely made engine. It turns over with a silky smoothness, the result of excellent fit and finish in the valve gear, motionwork and wheel quartering.

We like the attention to detail which includes taper-pinned valve gear, opening cab spectacles and a beautifully made water tank strainer.

The engine is fitted with vacuum ejector, gauge and valve for the train brakes, boiler feed is by a pair of injectors, with auxiliary hand pump.

Only twelve years old - and we've had Hunslets three times that age that are still going strong - this one is surely a deserving candidate for restoration and a repaint, it would make a nice example of this prettiest of narrow gauge designs.