THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCENIC RAILWAY RIDE
The Randall Williams - Scenic Motors
The first Electric Scenic Railway ride was introduced in 1910 and was a development of the earlier Switchback Ride. It became the largest circular ride in the Fairgrounds. Eight cars coupled as a continuous train ran on a circular track with two hills and two dips. The difference between the highest and lowest point was around 6 feet. Each car had its own electric motor taking a current from a live electric rail. In the centre of the ride was a large organ and often an electrically powered waterfall. Overall the rides had a diameter of around 55 feet and a height of 30 feet. It took several trucks to transport the rides. Initially the rides were built by Savages of Kings Lynn. Steam traction engines provided the electrical power using their dynamos.
It soon became apparent that the heavy current demands when the ride started caused difficulties in control. A sudden load caused the dynamo belt to fly off or be broken. Gradual starting wasted time and caused overheating. Experiments using the liquid resistance of soda was tried but proved messy and cumbersome. An invention patented by L.A. Hackett and E.W Whatham (who worked for Fosters - a competitor of Burrells) solved the problem. An auxiliary dynamo was used to "excite" the field coils of the main dynamo which allowed the cars to be started smoothly and slowly before reaching their top speed. Fosters designed a plate to carry the auxiliary dynamo that fitted behind the engines chimney. The engines had longer boilers to allow space for the auxiliary dynamo and were rated at 65 BHP. The first Foster engine with the extra dynamo was MEDINA supplied new in 1912.
More about the Scenic Rides here http://www.fairground-heritage.org.uk/newsite/learn/learn-scenics.html
THE BURRELL SPECIAL SCENIC ROAD LOCOMOTIVE
Sydney Harrison (pictured on the right) was Burrell's sales manager and had supplied a lot of showman's engines. He was on good terms with Orton and Spooners who made the Scenic Rides after Savages lost interest and was able to adopt the Hackett system as Whatham had left Fosters to work in the boot and shoe industry. Burrell engines had gearing arranged on 3 shafts which made it particuarly easy to fit the auxiliary dynamo patform between the cylinder block and the chimney. The first engine fitted from new with the extra dynamo platform was No. 3441 William IV.
SPECIAL SCENIC ENGINE FEATURES
The Auxiliary Dynamo
The Scenic rides required a large current to start the cars. The Auxiliary Dynamo fitted to the Scenic engines was designed to provide the extra current to excite the main dynamo. Some engines were fitted with the platform at the works but never had the auxiliary dynamo fitted. Some engines were returned to have the platform and auxiliary dynamo fitted retrospectively.
The Jib Crane Bunker Extension
The need to handle the heavy Scenic cars made the provision of heavy lifting gear a necessity. Savages are believed to have supplied a pole crane that could be bolted to the rear of an engine. It was Fosters who first extended the bunker sides upwards to create a stronger attachment for the crane jib. Sydney Harrison recalls a draftsman was sent to the Nottingham Goose Fair to examine the Foster engine. Victory was the first engine with the bunker extensions and crane. Subsequently most Burrell Special Scenics left the works with tender mounted crane 'tower' with the exception of 4092, SIMPLICITY and Burrell 3888 GENERAL GOUGH.
Jib Crane and Swingle Tree
The Jib crane was used for moving the heavy scenic ride cars from their packing trucks onto the ride itself. First the jib would have to be fitted to the engines' drawbar and guide ropes were attached to keep the jib under control. Then the engiens winding drum cable was used to raise the jib. Special pulleys were fitted to allow the cable to run smoothly. The swingle tree was a metal bar with chains at each end whcih allowed the load to be balanced and controlled during the lift.