3896 EARL BEATTY - Built 1921 - Anderton & Rowland - Survived
Supplied new to Anderton & Rowland, the well-known West Country showmen, on 13th May 1921 at a cost of £3,500. The engine was given a Plymouth registration and named by the firm's manager of the day, Mr.George De Vey Snr, as Earl Beatty. On completion at the Burrell works in Thetford the engine was steamed direct to Messrs Orton & Spooner at Burton-On-Trent, Staffs and was set to test run the new Scenic Railway that the firm had just purchased. The engine went on to spend its working life in Devon & Cornwall, with the exception of a trip to the works of Fowlers in Leeds for an overhaul. During the overhaul the rear wheels were replaced by a new pair cast by Fowlers, hence the lack of the Burrell name on the rear hubs. The spoke T ends have Fowler-style rivits in a line rather than staggered which was the Burrell practice. The engine worked until 1940 and was eventually sold to John Weaver of Cinderford, Gloucestershire. At the same time they sold all their fleet of steam engines. In 1953 John Weaver sold her to Jack Wharton of Witney who purchased her as a christening present for his son John Wharton. Jack roaded the engine from Cinderford to Minster Lovall with the help of John Hirons, Neville Melhuish and Joe Powell. Jack Wharton is best known for his meticulous restoration of the last Fowler Showman's engine 'Supreme' which he had bought in a derelict state from the well known engine scrap merchants, Hardwicks of Ewell. He also owned and rallied the Burrell showmans engine 'King George VI', which had previously been named 'City of London' when she worked for the famous London heavy haulage contractors JB Hickey & Sons of Richmond.
Earl Beatty 1938
Dragon (front) and Earl Beatty
Earl Beatty en route to Minster Lovall in 1953 after being purchased by Jack Wharton from John Weaver.
Seen here passing the Swan Hotel in Cinderford. John Weaver had purchased her from Anderton and Rowlands.
Seen here passing the Swan Hotel in Cinderford. John Weaver had purchased her from Anderton and Rowlands.
Earl Beatty with Jack Wharton (second in from left) on arrival in Minster Lovall