Sold April 2010 Back to Archive

An exceptionally well-built Burrell traction engine which has come to us direct from the builder, the engine has been little used since completion and is mechanically in as-new condition.

Silver soldered copper boiler, working pressure 100psi, feed by injector and mechanical pump with bypass. Water lifter fitted to tender, complete with hose. Cast iron cylinder with slide valve, Stephenson’s gear with pole reverser on footplate. Mechanical lubricator and governor mounted on cylinder block.

Two speed, three shaft transmission with differential, rubber tyres over strakes, winch fitted behind rear wheel.

Fit and finish of all parts is very good, paintwork is smart, the engine impressed us on test as being particularly quiet – both the motion and gears. There are nice detail touches throughout – decent-sized lubricator pots, eccentric straps bolted up with the correct thin locking nuts and split pins, an oiling nipple fitted to the gudgeon pin – it’s an engine which has been built for reliability and easy maintenance.

The engine is road registered and has a well thought out driver’s seat which couples to the engine using a standard 50mm ball hitch. With a pair of large pneumatic tyred wheels taking the driver’s weight, the engine simply provides the pull, eliminating the front-end lightness this design is prone to (particularly with the, er, more amply-proportioned driver).

Hydraulic test 29-3-2010 @150psi
Steam test 29-3-2010 @100psi