Our Gladiator Traction Engine
08.25.09
Charles Burrell’s so-called ‘Scenic Road Locomotives’ were developed from about 1912 in order to cope with the larger rides that were then becoming popular on the fairgrounds of Britain. The ‘Scenic Railway’ type of ride consisted of a circular track with two ‘hills’, some 40ft in diameter. Riders were carried in eight cars coupled together, with electric motors on four of the cars. Since each car, empty, weighed nearly a ton, the power needed to start a fully laden ride was considerable. The road locomotives in use at the time found this a real problem ; the initial effort required produced such a resistance at the dynamo that the drive belt either slipped, flew off the pulley or flywheel, or in bad cases simply broke. Various experiments, both electrical and mechanical were carried out, one Burrell was even fitted with a chain drive to the dynamo, but apparently without success. Eventually it was found that the simplest solution was to provide a second, smaller, or ‘excite’ dynamo, which would come into use when the extra starting power was needed.
Scenic Road Locomotives were also fitted with a crane to facilitate building the ride and, of course to lift those heavy cars into place. The mountings and pulleys for the crane can be seen at the rear, along with the engines own winding drum and cable mounted inside the rear nearside wheel.
‘Gladiator’ was completed on 14th March 1921, and supplied new to Fred Gray, a London showman based in Hamstead. Originally called ‘Wonder’, her name was altered to ‘Gladiator’ at some stage in her career. When her showland days with Gray’s were over, she passed through four owners from 1955 to 1988, when the engine was occasionally rallied, before a major overhaul was required. In 1988, ‘World of COuntry Life’ bought her and decided to restore her to her former glory!.
The boiler was removed and was found to be in good shape, but the firebox was beyond redemption. Further investigations showed the rest of the engine was in quite good order. Apparently she usually hauled her owners living van, then spent her time generating while the fair was operating. Consequently her gears, axle and running gear were less worn that if she had regularly pulled the more conventional loads that her unfortunate sister tool. Other work included; new dynamo pulleys fabricated, and new steel cladding sheets made and fitted. Additional fluted brass-w2ork had to be obtained and end fittings cast and machined, along with a brass star decoration for the intersection of the front canopy supports. Many other fittings were replaced and a lot of detail work was done. Finishing with a full re-paint and coach-lining with gold leaf. I think you will agree that ‘Gladiator’ is now looking magnificent and is a tribute to the craftsmanship of yesterdays builders and today’s restorers.
Tags: Steam engines
