THE BURRELL 'SPECIAL' SCENIC ROAD LOCOMOTIVE
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This website is dedicated to the Burrell 'Special Scenic' Showman's Road Locomotive - the ultimate steam traction engine. Charles Burrell & Sons of Thetford in the county of Norfolk were the main suppliers of steam road locomotives to the travelling showmen. They built a total of 43 Scenic Road Locomotives Locomotives to power the new Scenic Rides. The last 22 engines have become known as 'Special' Scenic engines. They were the largest and most powerful of the fairground steam engines and over half have survived in preservation. This website looks at the history of each engine and has photographs of them in preservation and in the working lives.
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3887 The Prince of Wales pictured when new in 1922.
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DESIGNED TO HAUL AND POWER THE ELECTRIC SCENIC RAILWAY RIDES
The Electric Scenic Railways were the biggest rides at Fairs.
Burrell did not actually use the term 'Scenic' or "Special Scenic" on works drawings or orders. The engines that generated electricity for the Electric Scenic Railway Rides became know as the 'Scenic engines'.The final 20 engines have become know as the 'Special Scenics'. Most of these engines left Burrell's Thetford works with an auxiliary dynamo and extended bunker crane towers for use with a jib crane. They were all rated 8 NHP (Nominal Horse Power) and had 6.75 in. x 11.5 in. x 12 in. DCC cylinders. The Scenic engines had cylinders which were marginally smaller 6.75 in. x 11.25 in. x 12 in. The last 3 engines had larger LP cylinders at 7 in. which made them the most powerful of all.
LIST OF THE 22 'SPECIAL SCENIC' ENGINES BUILT BETWEEN 1921 to 1925
Engines are listed in works number order. Red = scrapped. Reg is Registration Number
Names in brackets are the original name of the engine.
3827 - VICTORY - 1921 - Reg. CL 4299 - Charles Thurston, Norwich
3840 - QUEEN ELIZABETH - 1921 - Reg. FA1072 - John Wilmot, Glasgow
3865 - No. 1 - built 1920 - Reg. DH 2507 - Pat Collins, Bloxwich, Staffs
3866 - Vanguard - built 1920 - Reg. HT 2914 - Marshall Hill, Bristol
3872 - HERO - 1921 - Reg. BB4862 - John Caris - Newcastle
3879 - JACK - 1921 - Reg. R 6073 - John Proctor, Belper, Derbyshire
3884 - GLADIATOR (THE WONDER) - 1921 - Reg. CO 3823 - Fred Gray, Hampstead, London
3886 - LORD LASCELLES - 1921 - Reg. XF 8162 - Harry Gray, Battersea, London
3887 - THE PRINCE OF WALES - 1922 - Reg. HR 6658 - Henry Jennings, Devizes, Wiltshire
3888 - GENERAL GOUGH - 1921 - Reg. NO 2379 - Swales Bolesworth, Dagenham, Essex
3896 - EARL BEATTY - 1921 - Reg. CO 4052 - Anderton & Rowland, Bristol
3909 - WINSTON CHURCHILL (PRINCE ALBERT) - 1922 - Reg. NR 965 - A. Holland, Swadlincote
3912 - DRAGON - 1921 - Reg. CO 4485 - Anderton & Rowland, Bristol
3936 - RENOWN- 1922 - Reg. DW 2833 - E. Danter & Sons, Newport, Wales
3938 - QUO VADIS - 1923 - Reg. XL 9086 - William Wilson, Peckham, London
3948 - JOHN BULL - 1923 - Reg. ??? - H. Studt, Swansea, Wales
3968 - THE WHALE* - March 1924 - Reg. CH 4111 - Harry Hall, Derby
3969 - MAJESTIC* - February 1925 - Reg. WT 2255 - Enoch Farrar, Doncaster, Yorkshire
4030 - DOLPHIN* - September 1925 - Reg. FA 2316 - William Davies, Stoke on Trent
4000 - EX-MAYOR - February 1925 - Reg. WT 8606 - G.T. Tuby, Doncaster, Yorkshire
4021 - LORD CURZON - 1925 - Reg. CH 4029 - Harry Hall, Derby
4092 - SIMPLICITY - 1930 - Reg. EU4439 - A. Deakin, Brynmawr, Wales
*these 3 engines built with larger cylinders - 7 in. x 11.5 in. x 12 in.
Of the 22 Special Scenic engines above, 12 have survived into preservation. Hardwick's of West Ewell scrapped many traction engines, rollers and steam wagons but luckily the Hardwick family (Jack Snr and his two sons Jack Jnr and George) loved classic road vehicles and steam. They sold on many traction engines and steam rollers to preservationists including three Burrell Special Scenics No. 3884 GLADIATOR, No. 3886 LORD LASCELLES and 3938 QUO VADIS. They later bought and rallied No. 3909 WINSTON CHURCHILL.
Between 1913 to 1918 Burrell built 11 'Scenic' engines with new with longer boilers and auxiliary dynamo platforms to meet the demand for the new scenic rides. All except one (3590 Kitchener) were subsequently fitted with a 'Feast' crane post. Some were later fitted with a bunker extension crane.
3483 - PERSEVERANCE II - built 1913 - Reg. WB 9110 - Harniess, Swinton, Yorkshire
3547 - AMY (TUCKER) - Built 1913 - Reg. FT 643 - Walter Murphy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
3561 - FEARNOUGHT- built 1914 - Reg. DW 2200 - Edward Danter, Newport, Wales
3579 - MONARCH - built 1914 - Reg.DW 2236 - Jacob Studt Junior, London
3590 - KITCHENER - built 1914 - Reg. NC 2250 - John Collins, Liverpool
3599 - KITCHENER - built 1914 - Reg. ??? - H Studt, Swansea, Wales
3610 - WILLIAM V - built 1914 - Reg. J 6857 - William Murphy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
3659 - LORD KITCHENER built 1915 - Reg. XC 9891 - O'Brien Bros, Winchester
3715 - CITY OF CARDIFF - built 1916 - Reg. HB 1639 - White Bros, Cardiff, Wales
3724 - VICTORY - built 1916 - Reg. AY 9836 - Holland Bros, Swadlincote
3787 - THOMAS WILLIAM (HER MAJESTY) - built 1918 - Reg. WR 6641 - Goldthrope Marshall Junior
At least 10 older Scenic engines were converted to the 'Scenic' specification by Burrell and others
2780 - Edward VII - built 1903 - Reg. CL 4300 - Charles Thurston, Norwich
2788 - ALFRED THE GREAT - built 1906 - Reg. DH2542 - A Ball & Son, Leytonstone, Essex
2796 - JOHN BULL - built 1906 - Reg. R 6163 - John Proctor, Belper, Derby
2988 - THE MASCOT - built 1908 - Reg. WR 6649 - John Proctor, Belper, Derby
3163 - DONCASTER - built 1910 - Reg. ??? - G.T. Tuby & Sons, Doncaster
3279 - PRINCE ALBERT - built 1911 - Reg. ??? - Jacob Studt, Maesteg
3285 - King George V - built 1911 - Reg. AH 5304 - Abbot & Barker, Norwich
3291 - EMPEROR - built 1911 - Reg. DH 2476 - Pat Collins, Bloxwich
3371 - LORD GEORGE - built 1912 - Reg. BK 4931 - Jacob Studt, Maesteg
3441 - William IV - built 1913 - Reg. J 6858 - William Murphy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Names in brackets are the original name of the engine.
3827 - VICTORY - 1921 - Reg. CL 4299 - Charles Thurston, Norwich
3840 - QUEEN ELIZABETH - 1921 - Reg. FA1072 - John Wilmot, Glasgow
3865 - No. 1 - built 1920 - Reg. DH 2507 - Pat Collins, Bloxwich, Staffs
3866 - Vanguard - built 1920 - Reg. HT 2914 - Marshall Hill, Bristol
3872 - HERO - 1921 - Reg. BB4862 - John Caris - Newcastle
3879 - JACK - 1921 - Reg. R 6073 - John Proctor, Belper, Derbyshire
3884 - GLADIATOR (THE WONDER) - 1921 - Reg. CO 3823 - Fred Gray, Hampstead, London
3886 - LORD LASCELLES - 1921 - Reg. XF 8162 - Harry Gray, Battersea, London
3887 - THE PRINCE OF WALES - 1922 - Reg. HR 6658 - Henry Jennings, Devizes, Wiltshire
3888 - GENERAL GOUGH - 1921 - Reg. NO 2379 - Swales Bolesworth, Dagenham, Essex
3896 - EARL BEATTY - 1921 - Reg. CO 4052 - Anderton & Rowland, Bristol
3909 - WINSTON CHURCHILL (PRINCE ALBERT) - 1922 - Reg. NR 965 - A. Holland, Swadlincote
3912 - DRAGON - 1921 - Reg. CO 4485 - Anderton & Rowland, Bristol
3936 - RENOWN- 1922 - Reg. DW 2833 - E. Danter & Sons, Newport, Wales
3938 - QUO VADIS - 1923 - Reg. XL 9086 - William Wilson, Peckham, London
3948 - JOHN BULL - 1923 - Reg. ??? - H. Studt, Swansea, Wales
3968 - THE WHALE* - March 1924 - Reg. CH 4111 - Harry Hall, Derby
3969 - MAJESTIC* - February 1925 - Reg. WT 2255 - Enoch Farrar, Doncaster, Yorkshire
4030 - DOLPHIN* - September 1925 - Reg. FA 2316 - William Davies, Stoke on Trent
4000 - EX-MAYOR - February 1925 - Reg. WT 8606 - G.T. Tuby, Doncaster, Yorkshire
4021 - LORD CURZON - 1925 - Reg. CH 4029 - Harry Hall, Derby
4092 - SIMPLICITY - 1930 - Reg. EU4439 - A. Deakin, Brynmawr, Wales
*these 3 engines built with larger cylinders - 7 in. x 11.5 in. x 12 in.
Of the 22 Special Scenic engines above, 12 have survived into preservation. Hardwick's of West Ewell scrapped many traction engines, rollers and steam wagons but luckily the Hardwick family (Jack Snr and his two sons Jack Jnr and George) loved classic road vehicles and steam. They sold on many traction engines and steam rollers to preservationists including three Burrell Special Scenics No. 3884 GLADIATOR, No. 3886 LORD LASCELLES and 3938 QUO VADIS. They later bought and rallied No. 3909 WINSTON CHURCHILL.
Between 1913 to 1918 Burrell built 11 'Scenic' engines with new with longer boilers and auxiliary dynamo platforms to meet the demand for the new scenic rides. All except one (3590 Kitchener) were subsequently fitted with a 'Feast' crane post. Some were later fitted with a bunker extension crane.
3483 - PERSEVERANCE II - built 1913 - Reg. WB 9110 - Harniess, Swinton, Yorkshire
3547 - AMY (TUCKER) - Built 1913 - Reg. FT 643 - Walter Murphy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
3561 - FEARNOUGHT- built 1914 - Reg. DW 2200 - Edward Danter, Newport, Wales
3579 - MONARCH - built 1914 - Reg.DW 2236 - Jacob Studt Junior, London
3590 - KITCHENER - built 1914 - Reg. NC 2250 - John Collins, Liverpool
3599 - KITCHENER - built 1914 - Reg. ??? - H Studt, Swansea, Wales
3610 - WILLIAM V - built 1914 - Reg. J 6857 - William Murphy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
3659 - LORD KITCHENER built 1915 - Reg. XC 9891 - O'Brien Bros, Winchester
3715 - CITY OF CARDIFF - built 1916 - Reg. HB 1639 - White Bros, Cardiff, Wales
3724 - VICTORY - built 1916 - Reg. AY 9836 - Holland Bros, Swadlincote
3787 - THOMAS WILLIAM (HER MAJESTY) - built 1918 - Reg. WR 6641 - Goldthrope Marshall Junior
At least 10 older Scenic engines were converted to the 'Scenic' specification by Burrell and others
2780 - Edward VII - built 1903 - Reg. CL 4300 - Charles Thurston, Norwich
2788 - ALFRED THE GREAT - built 1906 - Reg. DH2542 - A Ball & Son, Leytonstone, Essex
2796 - JOHN BULL - built 1906 - Reg. R 6163 - John Proctor, Belper, Derby
2988 - THE MASCOT - built 1908 - Reg. WR 6649 - John Proctor, Belper, Derby
3163 - DONCASTER - built 1910 - Reg. ??? - G.T. Tuby & Sons, Doncaster
3279 - PRINCE ALBERT - built 1911 - Reg. ??? - Jacob Studt, Maesteg
3285 - King George V - built 1911 - Reg. AH 5304 - Abbot & Barker, Norwich
3291 - EMPEROR - built 1911 - Reg. DH 2476 - Pat Collins, Bloxwich
3371 - LORD GEORGE - built 1912 - Reg. BK 4931 - Jacob Studt, Maesteg
3441 - William IV - built 1913 - Reg. J 6858 - William Murphy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
For more information see https://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/merl/Microsoft_Word_-_Burrell_Catalogue.pdf
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If you have any photographs, stories or information (or correct a mistake!) about a particular Burrell Special Scenic engine you would like to share please send me a message via the Contact Page.
Many thanks for your interest.
Acknowledgements
This website is intended for enthusiasts only. It is not for profit. As far as I know this is the first website dedicated to the Burrell Special Scenic Engines. I found it frustrating to have to look in many sources for basic information so I decided to create a website. If I have used any photographs from a known source I will include an acknowledgement. Photos and information has been taken from a variety of sources but mainly Michael Lane's excellent book on the Burrell Showman's Road Locomotive (now out of print). John Crawley's excellent books 'Steam Engines in Camera' and 'Fairground Engines in Focus' have photographs of many of the Scenic engines during their working lives. The National Traction Engine Trust published a special SHOWMAN'S ENGINES ISSUE in 1968 with many photographs of engines in their working days. You can find more information by using the Search facility on the Traction-Talk web forum, Midsummer Models website, Corgi models website any superb photographs of restored and preserved Burrell Showmans engines can be seen on the SteamScenes website http://www.steamscenes.org.uk
