Fowler 7NHP Showman's Road Locomotive 'The Iron Maiden'

  

This engine was built in September 1920 as a road locomotive of the R3 class, with the works number 15657 and the registration number FX 6661. It was supplied new to F Barnes Ltd of Portland, Dorset for various duties including hauling heavy blocks of stone from the nearby quarries down to Portland Harbour - as shown in the photograph below.

Later on she was sent back to the Fowler factory for a complete overhaul and conversion to full showman's specification. Once completed she entered fairground service with Mrs H. Oadley of Alfreton, Derbyshire and passed into preservation in 1952 when 'Kitchener' as she was then known was sold to John Crawley, the highly respected steam engine preservationist from Bedfordshire.

The engines claim to fame came about in the 1960's when she starred in the feature film 'The Iron Maiden' and she has carried this name ever since. Mr Crawley sold her on to Mr George Hawkins of Wadebridge, Cornwall who travelled her far and wide to steam rallies all over the country.

In the early 1990's she passed in to the ownership of Dr Tony Marchington who commissioned a restoration and then used her at his own events and on occasion those organised by others. Since being purchased by Graham Atkinson  in 2003 much more additional restoration work has been carried out to keep her in fine shape. Today, she still carries the famous legend 'Mighty In Strength And Endurance' and continues to attract considerable interest both at home and on her travels abroad.