Showman's road locomotive

This article is about the steam-powered vehicle. For the modern diesel equivalent, see Ballast tractor.
Night-time view of showman's engines, at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, 2007
The Iron Maiden, a preserved showman's engine

A showman's road locomotive or showman's engine is a steam-powered road-going 'locomotive' designed to provide power and transport for a travelling funfair or circus. Similar to other road-going traction engines, showman's engines were normally distinguished by the addition of a full-length canopy, a dynamo mounted in front of the chimney, and brightly coloured paintwork with ornate decorations. The dynamo was used to generate electricity to illuminate and power various fairground rides. Although originally the ride's motion was powered by an internal steam engine, some later rides were driven direct from the showman's engine via a belt drive.

Showman's road locomotives were built in varying sizes, from relatively small 5, 6 and 7 NHP engines, right up to large 8 or 10 NHP engines. Probably the most popular design was the Burrell 8NHP single-crank compound design. The far greater distances involved meant they never caught on in the United States, where a combination of trains and horses was preferred.[1]

  1. ^ Burton, Anthony (2000). Traction Engines Two Centuries of Steam Power. Silverdale Books. pp. 104–105. ISBN 1856055337.