Flashback: Build a Burrell
Building History:
The Steam Apprentice Club’s Burrell Project
From 2012 to 2014, young members of the Steam Apprentice Club took on an incredible challenge – building a 4-inch scale Burrell traction engine from a kit of parts. Piece by piece, they worked together to meticulously assemble this iconic steam-powered machine, learning real engineering skills and keeping the spirit of steam alive for future generations.
This page is more than just a history lesson – it’s a tribute to the dedication, teamwork and passion that went into the Build a Burrell project. Every nut tightened, every bolt secured and every lesson learned along the way made this experience unforgettable. By keeping this flashback page live, we honour the hard work of our past apprentices and celebrate the hands-on learning that makes the Steam Apprentice Club so special.
Why does this matter? Because projects like this inspire new generations of steam enthusiasts! Seeing what others have achieved shows today’s apprentices what’s possible with patience, skill, and determination. It’s a reminder that anyone, no matter their age, can take part in preserving our steam heritage.
Below, you’ll find our Build Diary, filled with step-by-step progress, photos, and stories from the team. Dive in and discover the amazing work that went into bringing this miniature Burrell traction engine to life. Who knows? You might be inspired to take on your own steam project one day!
Summer 2014
Here are some build a Burrell dates for this year which should take us to the end of the project and a fully working model.
-
26th April Market Harborough
(Fitting motion parts) 10th May Astwood Bank Redditch (Refitting painted parts and plumbing up tender) -
6th and 7th June TBA Cambridgeshire
(Fitting Plumbing injector and clack) 5th and 6th July Elvaston Castle Steam Rally Derby (Fitting safety valvesand additional cylinder parts including regulator) 1st 2nd and 3rd August South Cerney Rally (Finishing off any remaining jobs and assy testing) TBA August older apprentices running up and testing if there is interest, possibly based in Cambridgeshire. - 13th Sept at Bedford Rally will be our Launch Party!
- 27th Sept is the NTET 60th road run. Our Burrell will lead the engines out at the start of the road run.
Autumn 2013
The dates for the Autumn Build workshops have been confirmed.
- Classic car show 16th & 17th November Birmingham NEC under special invitation of the FBHVC to showcase heritage skills in youngsters. A great opportunity for us !
- Sandown Park Model Engineering Show 14th &15th December. Another chance to revisit this great venue !
Summer 2013
The dates for the next five Build workshops have been confirmed.
- Welland Valley Steam Club, Market Harborough, Leicestershire - 11th May
- East Anglian Traction Engine Society, held at Craftsmaster Paints, Over, Cambridgeshire - 15th June
- Elvaston Steam Rally, Derbyshire - 6th & 7th July
- Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza - 3rd & 4th August
- Great Dorset Steam Fair - 28th August to 1st September
Spring 2013
The Build A Burrell workshop visited the Sandown Park Model Engineering Exhibition
- Alexandra Palace MEX - 18th-20th January
- Robey Trust, Tavistock - 16th-17th February
- SE Davis & Sons, Astwood Bank, Redditch - 16th-17th March
2013
The Steam Apprentice Club can announce our first Build A Burrell workshop.
It will be held at the Model Engineering Exhibition at Sandown Park on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th November.
We can also announce further build workshops for 2013:
- Robey Trust, Tavistock - February 2013
- Dyson's Haddenham - April 2013
- Welland Valley Club - May 2013 (TBC)
- East Anglian Traction Engine Society - June 2013 (TBC)
- Elvaston Rally, Derby - July 2013 (TBC)
- South Cerney Rally - August 2013
- Great Dorset Steam Fair - August 2013
- Summer 2014
Build A Burrell Dates - Summer 2014
Here are some build a Burrell dates for this year which should take us to the end of the project and a fully working model.
-
26th April Market Harborough
(Fitting motion parts) 10th May Astwood Bank Redditch (Refitting painted parts and plumbing up tender) -
6th and 7th June TBA Cambridgeshire
(Fitting Plumbing injector and clack) 5th and 6th July Elvaston Castle Steam Rally Derby (Fitting safety valvesand additional cylinder parts including regulator) 1st 2nd and 3rd August South Cerney Rally (Finishing off any remaining jobs and assy testing) TBA August older apprentices running up and testing if there is interest, possibly based in Cambridgeshire. - 13th Sept at Bedford Rally will be our Launch Party!
- 27th Sept is the NTET 60th road run. Our Burrell will lead the engines out at the start of the road run.
Spaces are currently available for all dates please email hugh.dyson@inbox.com to book a session. All ages and abilities welcome.
- Autumn 2013
Autumn Build A Burrell Workshops 2013
The dates for the Autumn Build workshops have been confirmed.
- Classic car show 16th & 17th November Birmingham NEC under special invitation of the FBHVC to showcase heritage skills in youngsters. A great opportunity for us !
- Sandown Park Model Engineering Show 14th &15th December. Another chance to revisit this great venue !
If you would like to attend please email hugh.dyson@inbox.com Both events will provide passes for Build a Burrell aprrentices.
Places are limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Summer 2013
More Build A Burrell Workshops 2013
The dates for the next five Build workshops have been confirmed.
- Welland Valley Steam Club, Market Harborough, Leicestershire - 11th May
- East Anglian Traction Engine Society, held at Craftsmaster Paints, Over, Cambridgeshire - 15th June
- Elvaston Steam Rally, Derbyshire - 6th & 7th July
- Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza - 3rd & 4th August
- Great Dorset Steam Fair - 28th August to 1st September
If you are interested in taking part, please contact the organiser Hugh Dyson on hugh.dyson@inbox.com for more details.
Places are limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Spring 2013
Burrell Update - Jan 2013
The Build A Burrell workshop visited the Sandown Park Model Engineering Exhibition
- Alexandra Palace MEX - 18th-20th January
- Robey Trust, Tavistock - 16th-17th February
- SE Davis & Sons, Astwood Bank, Redditch - 16th-17th March
If you would like to attend please email hugh.dyson@inbox.com Both events will provide passes for Build a Burrell aprrentices.
Places are limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 2013
Burrell Build Workshops
The Steam Apprentice Club can announce our first Build A Burrell workshop.
It will be held at the Model Engineering Exhibition at Sandown Park on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th November.
We can also announce further build workshops for 2013:
- Robey Trust, Tavistock - February 2013
- Dyson's Haddenham - April 2013
- Welland Valley Club - May 2013 (TBC)
- East Anglian Traction Engine Society - June 2013 (TBC)
- Elvaston Rally, Derby - July 2013 (TBC)
- South Cerney Rally - August 2013
- Great Dorset Steam Fair - August 2013
Other locations are still being planned. When we have exact dates they will be published in Raising Steam and here on the website.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact the organiser Hugh Dyson on hugh.dyson@inbox.com for more details.
Places are limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Project Launch
The Steam Apprentice Club Build a Burrell Project Launch
The Steam Apprentice Club launched our Burrell Project at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Colin Tyson, editor of Old Glory gave the signal for work to begin by firing a party popper!! The 4 inch scale Burrell model has been supplied by Steam Traction World, one of the main sponsors of the project. The model comes in 24 kits which will combine to make an excellent engine which can be used by SAC members.
The launch can be seen on Youtube HERE
Over three days steam apprentices worked to produce a completed front end consisting of a completed front axle assembly, perch bracket, smoke box, chimney base and chimney. Work was well advanced on the hornplates and a lot of preparatory work had been completed on the rear wheels.
Here are some photos of the build:
- Help us
Build A Burrell Hoodies and Mugs
To promote this project, and to help raise funds, the Steam Apprentice Club has produced the "Build A Burrell" Hoodies Featuring the club logo on the front, and the Burrell project logo on the back, and also a set of "Build A Burrell" Mugs These can now be bought online.
Sponsors
The Steam Apprentice would like to thank the people and organisations who have sponsored the Build A Burrell Project.
The Club would be very grateful for any assistance that can be provided, whether it be financial, professional, providing tools and equipment, or just lending a hand. If you are able to sponsor the Build A Burrell project, please contact our Chairman, Elaine Massey, on sac.chairman@ntet.co.uk
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The NTET is a registered charity (Reg. Charity No 291578) and is governed by a formal constitution. Company No. 1302197