Description:

Burrell Scenic Showmans

Make: Burrell

Model type: 4" Scenic Showmans

Year built: 1988
Reg Number: Q247 DPF
Boiler test: April 2010
Swp: 150 PSI

This is a rare opportunity to purchase a well engineered Scenic Showman's Road Locomotive in 4" scale. This particular engine is basically a "Thetford Town" doubled up with certain modifications to make it a Burrell Scenic Showmans no. 3909 "Winston Churchill" of 1922. Even the canopy signwriting and decorative scrollwork is faithfully reproduced and in the history file there are a couple of photographs of the two engines together.

Much research has gone into the building of this engine. For example, all rivet sizes and pitches are taken from original engines and scaled down accordingly as the "Thetford Town" drawings were entirely unrealistic. Even the layout of the crankshaft components and the footplate entry have been given similar treatment. All the tank plates and spectacle plate edges have been smithed over hot and none have the more common welded on edges. The valve rods, connecting rods and reach rod were machined from solid to give good fork ends as the builder hated to see silver solder lines that many miniatures have.

The engine is also fitted with a working rear crane (as many Scenic Showmans were to assemble the rides). and this is even complete with a whipple tree to spread the load evenly on the lifting eyes. This crane is easily removed and can be replaced with the driving seat. The engine comes with a passenger trolley, tools and all firing irons.

It has appeared in Old Glory magazine and also won first prize at the 1996 Harrogate Show and all this paperwork is included in the history file, along with a documented article on the building of the engine and all boiler records.

The engine is in excellent mechanical order and was retubed and had a new front tubeplate in 2000 and there are bills for maintenance work carried out by John Rex Model Engineers. This is indeed a rare engine and would make a very impressive exhibit on the road or generating on the rallyfield outside the beer tent with its full sized cousins. During January this year this engine has just gone through the workshops having had a full re-tube and other work to keep it in excellent order for many years to come. During its test we were impressed how quiet the engine runs. At low revs it is so quiet that all one can hear are pump gears meshing.