Sold July 2012 Back to Archive

A particularly well-made 3 inch scale Burrell traction engine, in good mechanical order. Machining is crisply done, fit and finish is good throughout with nice detailing such as double-nutted and pinned eccentric straps and main bearing caps, elegantly-turned lubricator pots throughout the motionwork and gauge glass protector with striped backing to show the water level clearly.

Silver soldered copper boiler, working pressure 100psi, feed by crankshaft driven pump and injector. Stainless steel grate. Cast iron cylinder with slide valve actuated by Stephenson's gear with pole reverser on the footplate. Mechanical lubricator with roller clutch "ratchet-less" drive. Two speed transmission with differential, winch behind nearside rear wheel with fairleads on tender, rubber tyres to road wheels.

Probably the most popular entry point into miniature traction engines, the Plastow design makes for a free-steaming, easy to drive engine. Weight's around 250 pounds, a bit on the heavy side to lift, but it will push up a pair of light ramps easily - we used to cart ours around in the back of Mrs P's estate car.

Paintwork is good, the hand lining has been well done. The engine runs very well, with dead square exhausts.

There's a clip of this one running in the workshop this afternoon here (and check the runout on the flywheel - we were impressed)

Hydraulic test 27 Sep 2011 @200psi for 100psi working pressure

Length 46 inches
Flywheel 11 1/2 inch diameter