Sold July 2013 Back to Archive

Ploughing engines are rare birds in any scale - I've had two BB1s and a Z7 in 2 inch scale in the last 12 years. I suspect the size on the one hand and complexity of the winding drum and coiling gear on the other, combined with it being a double crank compound, deters many from taking on such a project.

This is a finely made pair of Fowler BB1 ploughing engines, well-advanced with a large amount of work completed to a good standard. Commercially-built silver-soldered copper boilers are by Kellett of Manchester.

Work to date comprises a pair of "rolling chassis" with boilers, hornplates, crankshaft fitted with flywheel and valve eccentric sheaves, all gearing, smokeboxes with perch bracket and front axle, wheels, tender and steering gear. Winding drums and coiling gear are fitted, in the tenders are loose drives pins and dummy manhole doors for the boilers.

Loose parts include machined cylinder blocks complete with end covers and safety valves, glands, piston and rods with rings, connecting rods complete with cottered big end straps, expansion links, lifting links, maker's works plates, smokebox doors with "Fowler" plates, a whole herd of beautifully made clacks, lubricators and a set of drain cocks.

If you need some inspiration for this project, there are pictures and some video of a good BB1 we sold back in 2008 here (the last time we had a ploughing engine in).

Length 48 inches
Weight when completed approx 180 pounds