Steam lawnmower

We've had some weird and wonderful contraptions in our time, but this is probably one of the most eccentric.

A steam powered lawnmower, with ride behind seat and roller. You will be unsurprised to hear there have been very few built over the last hundred years...

This one has been ingeniously constructed, using a boiler and engine supplied by Maxitrak, designed originally for their "Chaloner" 7 1/4 inch gauge vertical boiler locomotive. It's all mounted on a vintage "cricket pitch size" Atco lawnmower and connected up by dog clutch and chains.

It steams freely and runs well - boiler is well-matched to the engine, as might be expected given their original intended use.

The exposed chain drive, rapidly revolving cylinder blade and high pressure steam all contribute to the Station Road Steam "extremely hazardous, preferably operated by others" safety rating we've awarded it.

Could be further developed for lawn mowing, however there's the basis of a decent 7 1/4 inch gauge locomotive here - the boiler is in good order with recent hydraulic and steam test, the engine runs well. Something deWinton-esque possibly, or even grafted onto a simple sit aside chassis for minimal gauge railwaying.