About Showmans Road Locomotives

The showmans road locomotive was a modification of the standard road locomotive which first appeared in the 1880's and was additionally fitted with electrical dynamo at the front of the engine and a full length canopy to protect this dynamo.

Their job was hauling then powering fairground rides of the day, they were amongst the hardest worked of all engines. Burrell built the most examples of this type of engine, followed by Fowler, then Foster.

Some, but not all, were more ornately decorated than other types of engines with additional brasswork, bright paint and electric lighting to allow the engines to be operated after nightfall. They were almost always named and are now most sought after by traction engine enthusiasts.

This area will be expanded soon.