H E Taylor Ltd. Burrell Road Locomotive 1927

On April 26th 1927 Edward Thrower Taylor purchased a 1.5 ton Burrell Double Crank Compound 3 speed Spring Road Loco, No. 4066.  This was delivered to the Taylor Timber Yard on July 27th of the same year. This was the last true road locomotive built at St Nicholas works in Thetford by Charles Burrell and Sons Ltd as the company ceased trading the following year. 

Taylor’s used it for their timber yard, hauling large tree trunks (usually oak) from around the county of Norfolk.

The locomotive variant of the steam engines were the early heavy commercial trucks of their day and were slightly modified versions of their general-purpose engines to allow for faster rates of travel over long journeys.  

A general-purpose engine was designed to spend much of its life stationary, powering belt-driven equipment, whereas a road locomotive was constantly on the move, therefore subtle design differences were needed. These modifications included stronger drive shafts, gears and wheels; additional water-carrying capacity; a canopy was fitted; solid flywheels and additional platework around the engine's cylinder motion.

A large oak tree trunk would have a considerable weight and a Burrell could pull over 30 tons.  When back at the yard in Cringleford these trunks will have been sawn into planks and stored to dry before further machining.  Originally the wood will have been sawn by hand, but I imagine that the locomotive could also have been used to run a circular saw by belt. 

The old girl had an eventful life and even featured in the Eastern Daily Press having collapsed the weighbridge at Norwich Station!

 

 

As She Is Now

H E Taylor sold the loco in 1944 to Bertie Sheldrake of Wymondham for use in contract threshing. In 1961, it was purchased by the former Chairman of The National Traction Engine Club, the late Eric Deamer of Chatteris, who presented it at several of the early rallies held in East Anglia.

Following the purchase by John and Brenda Newton of Hungerford in May 1971, it was re-named 'John of Gaunt' - in deference to the town's 14th century benefactor. Then followed an initial restoration, during which the engine was returned to its full road locomotive specification.

Now on Holiday with his Norfolk Family Ben Easton & Scott Bunting, They have just completed the 10 year steam test over winter 2022 which entailed boiler work and general maintenance.