Meccano Showman's Traction Engine

This CAD model is my modified version of a Meccano Showman’s Traction Engine (Model No. 10.15) from 1971. Also known as road locomotives, traction engines were commonly used by traveling circuses in Great Britain in the early 1900s for hauling wagons and animal cages, and to provide electrical power for amusement rides and lighting.

Traction engines were originally developed as a powerful alternative to draught horses for agricultural use and road haulage. They were coal-fired, steam-driven, very heavy and slow. Showman’s engines were highly decorated versions and included a dynamo for electrical power generation and a full-length canopy to provide shelter from the rain for the dynamo and the driver.

Unfortunately, most of them were scrapped but many also survived into preservation. The Road Locomotive Society, based in the United Kingdom, is dedicated to preserving knowledge about the history of all types of self-propelled and stationary steam engines.

The model includes an electric motor for driving the rear wheels, crankshaft, piston and valve rods, and the flywheel for the generator. Steering for the front wheels is provided through a worm gear and chain drive. The actual model is about 32 inches (81 cm) long.