Sold July 2004 Back to Archive

4 inch scale model of a Fowler R3 SRL, built in 1982 by the Thorn Lighting Apprentices, Leicester using Plastow castings and drawings. Built to a high standard, it won the Students Cup at that year's Model Engineer Exhibition and was written up in the Model Engineer magazine.

Although normally on display at the Thorn works, it was used on frequent occasions before being sold in 1997. The condition of the boiler may well have had a bearing on the decision to sell as, in the hands of its new owner, the boiler failed shortly after purchase.

A new, welded-steel boiler with expanded tubes was ordered from the highly-regarded Valentine Engineering of Raunds (who had a good reputation for full-size traction engine boilers before their untimely demise) - at the same time the opportunity was taken to increase the working pressure from the original 110psi to 150psi, which is rather more useful for a compound engine. The engine was reassembled in three months, since when it has been used on infrequent occasions in the owner's back garden.

Steel boiler with expanded-in tubes, feed by mechanical pump with bypass and injector. The mechanical pump can be uncoupled from the drive rod allowing a handle to be attached to provide a hand pump - the previous owner used this for boiler tests. Twin cylinder, compound working with slide valves actuated by Stephenson's valve gear. Three speed transmission with differential, winch behind left hand rear wheel with tender-mounted fairleads.

The rear of the canopy has been cut away to allow easier access for driving - there is a tender-mounted seat which gives a very comfortable riding position. With its rubber tyres and long-legged high ratio, this would be a very capable engine for the local traction engine club road runs.

The dynamo generates 24 volts to power the canopy lights. It works very well, although substituing clear bulbs in place of the current coloured items would show off the brass to considerably better effect as well as making the thing look less like a mobile bordello.

In addition to the engine, there is a 20 Keyless McCarthy organ with over 35 books of music and a pneumatic-tyred trolley - this can be used either for the organ or, with its seat attached, passengers. The engine will generate to drive the organ, alternatively it can run off its own internal batteries.

I have steamed and driven this engine several times and rate it highly. Underneath the rather tired paint and grubby exterior is a very well built engine which is still in fine mechanical order, with an excellent boiler. Last week I steamed it for a friend who wanted to have a play - it was in steam from 5 o'clock in the afternoon until after dark, the last two hours it generated continuously on the belt, gently rocking back and forth with a roaring fire, the needle never below 140psi.

There are two things which will require immediate attention on the engine. Firstly, the electrics (both engine and organ) are all 24 volt which is completely safe, however they have been wired up with 240 volt plugs and fittings, which would allow them inadvertently to be plugged into the mains. This is lethal and new plugs need to be fitted. Secondly, the boiler has never been fitted with a fusible plug from new - on an engine this size, it is essential. The firebox is of 8mm plate throughout, a 1/4 BSP plug could be threaded in directly.

Length 84 inches
Weight approx 3/4 ton