3912 DRAGON - Built 1921 - Anderton & Rowland - Survived
In November 1921 DRAGON was supplied to Anderton & Rowland to work with her identical twin engine EARL BEATTY and the older Burrell LORD NELSON No. 3443. DRAGON and EARL BEATTY were the two most famous engines on the West Country circuit. The trio of engines travelled the Dragon Gondola Ride until 1936 when the ride was broken up. Dragon was then used with the Brooklands Racers ride and later the Dodgems. Both engines had special smaller than normal 6 foot diameter rear wheels. These were considered as better for negotiating steep hills in the Devon and Cornish countryside. Earl Beatty had a full jib crane but Dragon never carried a jib although she had the extended bunker sides. The engine had been originally ordered by Pat Collins and the specification included press on rubber tyres with 20 inch wide wheels instead of the usual 22 inches. In 1943 the engine was sold to Sam Smart of Bristol to work with a set of gallopers but after the war it was out of use and by 1950 had been sold to Gloucestershire engine dealer Jesse Vines of Hardwicke. Eventually the engine was sold to Winston Chamberlain of Farcet, Peterborough, cared for and driven by Bill Gale.
Dragon is currently for sale at around £825,000....see below for details
Dragon is currently for sale at around £825,000....see below for details
Dragon being taken by GWR horse power to Paddington Station. Displayed when new at the Agricultural Halls in Islington in 1921 to showmen before delivery to Anderton and Rowland in Plymouth. Bye laws may have prevented steaming her or maybe cheaper by horse power??
Taken circa 1934 with polished lagging (not painted)
Dragon and Earl Beatty
Dragon was offered for sale to Mr Lillywhite for £60 in 1950. Dynamo extra £75! He declined the engine which was then bought and saved by Jessie Vines, engine dealer of Hardwicke, Gloucestershire. He then asked £200 for the engine. Bought by Mr Chamberlain.
Next views of Dragon were taken in 1965 by Geoff Sutton.
Dragon is currently for sale via Berrybrook Steam - 20/10/20 £825k
Following is taken from Berrybrook Steam website
Dragon is an 8NHP Showmans Road Locomotive and has become known as one of the ‘Special Scenics’. It is plated to weigh 17 ½ tons, was supplied new to Anderton & Rowlands in November 1921 and was registered for the road in February 1922. We are delighted to have Dragon available for viewing on our premises, near Exeter, fittingly only a 5-minute drive from Anderton & Rowland’s Exeter yard which was used for storing some of their Showmans engines when not on the road. We have sourced a photo from July 1921 which showed Dragon at the Royal Show in Derby in an incomplete condition, including on larger diameter, straked wheels and with no name plate. Dragon was supplied new, later in 1921, alongside its sister engine, Earl Beatty and was worked alongside Lord Nelson for running the Dragon Gondola Ride, throughout the southwest, until 1936.
We have records detailing that Dragon underwent a major rebuild at John Fowler & Co, Leeds in 1932/3, to include boiler work, a motion overhaul and repaint. It was allegedly during this rebuild that Dragon was fitted with the new, smaller diameter rear wheels bearing rubber tyres and no strakes. The fitting of these smaller diameter rear wheels was at the request of Anderton & Rowland to allow for the easier ascension of some of the steep, West Country hills in high gear. Between 1936 and 1943, this fantastic engine was used on the Brooklands Racers ride and the Dodgems before being sold to Sam Smart of Bristol to run a set of gallopers.
According to the records, in 1948 the engine was in the hands of a dealer before heading to the current family in 1951. Dragon was purchased by Winston Chamberlain, a butcher and early steam enthusiast, from Farcet near Peterborough. Mr Chamberlain spent several years restoring the engine to its former glory and it was at this point that the awning side boards were repainted to bear the famous ‘Pride of the Fens’ to celebrate its new home beside the Cambridgeshire Fen. In 2008 the driver’s side was reverted to the engines original ‘Anderton & Rowland’s Golden Dragons’ signwriting which is found on it today. In the years between 1978 and 1981, Dragon underwent a major rebuild by Bill Gale, the driver of Dragon for over 50 years and who has spent much of his life caring for this Scenic to a high standard. During this rebuild, it had a new firebox (by Wilcox Engineers, Oundle), a smokebox, set of tubes and tubeplate. Since this rebuild, Dragon has become a familiar sight in the steam preservation movement. In more recent years, Dragon was used for filming in the 2017 film of Paddington 2, during the fairground sequence. Unfortunately, Dragon did not make the final cut of the film aside from a chimney extension in one shot! Admittedly not the greatest claim to fame but certainly an interesting addition to Dragon’s ongoing life story. After 69 years of ownership by the same family, and with the current owners not being steam enthusiasts, the difficult decision has been made to put Dragon on the market to allow the new owners to begin the next chapter in its fantastic history.
The engine is, of course, a double crank compound road locomotive with 3-speeds. Fitted with a 110v dynamo and exciter as typical on the ‘Scenic’ Showman’s Road Locomotives. This example was originally fitted with the crane gear and pulleys for the rear which have since been removed (seemingly during the rebuild at the Fowler Works in 1933); despite this removal, Dragon is considered a ‘Special Scenic’ owing to its extended coal bunker sides and capacity for lifting gear. According to the build sheets, Dragon was fitted from new with a single injector and a water pump, matching what is on the engine today. Whilst many showman’s engines seemingly went through their working lives with very little in the way of brass and decoration, Dragon left the Burrell workshop with many of the brass decorations found on it today, including (but not limited to) the raised brass bands, the twisted brass columns supporting the awning, the brass ring on the flywheel and the rings with stars on the motion covers. It is certainly an example which has remained almost entirely true to the build sheet, a copy of which is made available for those viewing Dragon at our showroom and which makes a fascinating read.
There is no doubt that Dragon has been very well cared for during its time near Peterborough; those who have looked after the engine over the years have done a superb job of maintaining this fantastic piece of showman history. Inevitably, however, the work comes around eventually, and Dragon is no exception. The engine is now due extensive boiler work with the inspector suggesting a minimum of a firebox, throatplate, back head and tube plate will be needed, with the recommendation to further assess the remaining boiler once the firebox is removed. Whilst this work is not unexpected, it is certainly essential prior to the engine’s next steaming. The decision to sell without undertaking this necessary work was not taken lightly, however, the feeling stands that in carrying out the boiler repairs, the upcoming rebuild will give the new owner the opportunity to carry out any other work they see fit. The remainder of the engine can be considered to be in either good or serviceable condition, having been last used on the rally field last year with no major issues. To further assess the general condition of Dragon we would invite any interested parties to give us a call or send us an email to arrange an appointment to view the engine in person.
Due to the boiler work needed, we will only be allowing ‘cold’ viewings of Dragon and we will ensure all appropriate mudhole doors and access points are open for your inspections. We also have no problem with the commissioning of third-party boiler inspectors being instructed to look over the boiler on behalf of any interested parties. Any visits are strictly by appointment only and we ask anyone to contact us directly before making viewing or inspection arrangements. As mentioned at the start of this write up, Dragon is being securely stored at our showrooms in Exminster, near Exeter during the viewing and handover process.
This is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to own an outstanding piece of showman history; this is certainly not an engine many of us have seen on the market before and we look forward to seeing where Dragon will go next.
To express an interest and to book an appointment to view Dragon, please either phone 01392 833301 or email [email protected].
Dragon is an 8NHP Showmans Road Locomotive and has become known as one of the ‘Special Scenics’. It is plated to weigh 17 ½ tons, was supplied new to Anderton & Rowlands in November 1921 and was registered for the road in February 1922. We are delighted to have Dragon available for viewing on our premises, near Exeter, fittingly only a 5-minute drive from Anderton & Rowland’s Exeter yard which was used for storing some of their Showmans engines when not on the road. We have sourced a photo from July 1921 which showed Dragon at the Royal Show in Derby in an incomplete condition, including on larger diameter, straked wheels and with no name plate. Dragon was supplied new, later in 1921, alongside its sister engine, Earl Beatty and was worked alongside Lord Nelson for running the Dragon Gondola Ride, throughout the southwest, until 1936.
We have records detailing that Dragon underwent a major rebuild at John Fowler & Co, Leeds in 1932/3, to include boiler work, a motion overhaul and repaint. It was allegedly during this rebuild that Dragon was fitted with the new, smaller diameter rear wheels bearing rubber tyres and no strakes. The fitting of these smaller diameter rear wheels was at the request of Anderton & Rowland to allow for the easier ascension of some of the steep, West Country hills in high gear. Between 1936 and 1943, this fantastic engine was used on the Brooklands Racers ride and the Dodgems before being sold to Sam Smart of Bristol to run a set of gallopers.
According to the records, in 1948 the engine was in the hands of a dealer before heading to the current family in 1951. Dragon was purchased by Winston Chamberlain, a butcher and early steam enthusiast, from Farcet near Peterborough. Mr Chamberlain spent several years restoring the engine to its former glory and it was at this point that the awning side boards were repainted to bear the famous ‘Pride of the Fens’ to celebrate its new home beside the Cambridgeshire Fen. In 2008 the driver’s side was reverted to the engines original ‘Anderton & Rowland’s Golden Dragons’ signwriting which is found on it today. In the years between 1978 and 1981, Dragon underwent a major rebuild by Bill Gale, the driver of Dragon for over 50 years and who has spent much of his life caring for this Scenic to a high standard. During this rebuild, it had a new firebox (by Wilcox Engineers, Oundle), a smokebox, set of tubes and tubeplate. Since this rebuild, Dragon has become a familiar sight in the steam preservation movement. In more recent years, Dragon was used for filming in the 2017 film of Paddington 2, during the fairground sequence. Unfortunately, Dragon did not make the final cut of the film aside from a chimney extension in one shot! Admittedly not the greatest claim to fame but certainly an interesting addition to Dragon’s ongoing life story. After 69 years of ownership by the same family, and with the current owners not being steam enthusiasts, the difficult decision has been made to put Dragon on the market to allow the new owners to begin the next chapter in its fantastic history.
The engine is, of course, a double crank compound road locomotive with 3-speeds. Fitted with a 110v dynamo and exciter as typical on the ‘Scenic’ Showman’s Road Locomotives. This example was originally fitted with the crane gear and pulleys for the rear which have since been removed (seemingly during the rebuild at the Fowler Works in 1933); despite this removal, Dragon is considered a ‘Special Scenic’ owing to its extended coal bunker sides and capacity for lifting gear. According to the build sheets, Dragon was fitted from new with a single injector and a water pump, matching what is on the engine today. Whilst many showman’s engines seemingly went through their working lives with very little in the way of brass and decoration, Dragon left the Burrell workshop with many of the brass decorations found on it today, including (but not limited to) the raised brass bands, the twisted brass columns supporting the awning, the brass ring on the flywheel and the rings with stars on the motion covers. It is certainly an example which has remained almost entirely true to the build sheet, a copy of which is made available for those viewing Dragon at our showroom and which makes a fascinating read.
There is no doubt that Dragon has been very well cared for during its time near Peterborough; those who have looked after the engine over the years have done a superb job of maintaining this fantastic piece of showman history. Inevitably, however, the work comes around eventually, and Dragon is no exception. The engine is now due extensive boiler work with the inspector suggesting a minimum of a firebox, throatplate, back head and tube plate will be needed, with the recommendation to further assess the remaining boiler once the firebox is removed. Whilst this work is not unexpected, it is certainly essential prior to the engine’s next steaming. The decision to sell without undertaking this necessary work was not taken lightly, however, the feeling stands that in carrying out the boiler repairs, the upcoming rebuild will give the new owner the opportunity to carry out any other work they see fit. The remainder of the engine can be considered to be in either good or serviceable condition, having been last used on the rally field last year with no major issues. To further assess the general condition of Dragon we would invite any interested parties to give us a call or send us an email to arrange an appointment to view the engine in person.
Due to the boiler work needed, we will only be allowing ‘cold’ viewings of Dragon and we will ensure all appropriate mudhole doors and access points are open for your inspections. We also have no problem with the commissioning of third-party boiler inspectors being instructed to look over the boiler on behalf of any interested parties. Any visits are strictly by appointment only and we ask anyone to contact us directly before making viewing or inspection arrangements. As mentioned at the start of this write up, Dragon is being securely stored at our showrooms in Exminster, near Exeter during the viewing and handover process.
This is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to own an outstanding piece of showman history; this is certainly not an engine many of us have seen on the market before and we look forward to seeing where Dragon will go next.
To express an interest and to book an appointment to view Dragon, please either phone 01392 833301 or email [email protected].