Name/TitleTraction engine 'Empress Of Britain'

About this objectBurrell general purpose steam traction engine No 3399, 7 NHP single crank compound, completed at Charles Burrell's Thetford works on 24 July 1912. For most of its working life it was used for threshing and agricultural haulage, owned by Messrs A.J. Farrow who bought the engine through George Thurlow & Sons Ltd of Stowmarket, Burrell's principal East Anglian agents. It underwent restoration in 2001/2 before taking pride of place during the Queen's jubilee visit to Stowmarket on the 17th July 2002. Further work was undertaken to the boiler in 2018 thanks to external funding.

MakerCharles Burrell & Sons Ltd. Thetford

Maker RoleManufacturer

Date Made1912

Medium and MaterialsBody - mainly metal
Boiler - metal with copper bands
Top of chimney - copper
Tyres - rubber
Toolbox, stand - wood

Inscription and MarksBrass Plate on Smokebox Door : The Empress of Britain, The " Burrell Traction Engine, Charles Burrell & Sons Ltd. Thetford, 9 1/2 Tons.

Number Plate on Chimney : AH 5446, Hills (hand written note on card from 1985, not now completely legible.)

On Cylinder Block : Burrell's Compound Engine
On Cylinder Block : Chas Burrell & Sons Limited Manufacturers Thetford England No. 3399

Outside of Rear Wheels : C. Burrell & Sons Ltd. Engineers Thetford

Outside of Coal Bunker : Sold Through George Thurlow & Sons Stowmarket

Water Gauge : D E Wrance - London

Pressure Gauge : Gauge marked from 0 to 250 in increments of 50. Underneath : Trtaction Pounds Pressure per sq, Inch

Then : Geo. Thurlow & Sons Ltd. Stowmarket, Suffolk

MeasurementsBore HP 6 inches, LP 10 inches, Stroke 12 inches
Steam pressure, 185 lbs/sq.in. (1912), 180 lbs/sq.in. (1985)
Height: 3m. 52cms; length: 5m.50cms; width: 2m. 28cms; wheel base: 3m. 17cms.

Object Typetraction engine

Object numberSTMEA:83.A.73.1

Copyright LicenceAttribution - Non-commercial (cc)