Fowler BB Excelsior and Excalibur steam plough locomotives
Description
This collection comprises two machines: one called ‘Excelsior’ and one called ‘Excalibur’.
These two machines are basically identical, the only difference being a single serial number, which indicates that they have always been used in pairs. They were purchased during a trip to England in 1996, in Reading, not far from London, by a local collector named Smith.
It took more than two years to restore them, and a demonstration of cable ploughing took place for the first time in August 1999 at the San Biagio festival in San Felice sul Panaro (Modena, Italy).
This event has been held almost annually for several editions of the festival, which shows just how much interest there is in the reproduction of this type of ploughing.
These two are the only ones currently working in Italy.
Technical Data Sheet
Type: Steam plough locomotive
Manufacturer: Fowler BB
Serial number: 14382 Excelsior
14381 Excalibur
Year of manufacture: 1917
Place of manufacture: Leed, England
Operating pressure: 12 bar
No. of cylinders: 2 double expansion
Stroke: 12 inches (305 mm)
Bore: 7;10 inches (178;254 mm)
Rotational speed: 250 rpm
Length:7000 mm
Width: 2550 mm
Height: 3700 mm
Weight: 18500 kg
Flywheel diameter: 1350 mm
Timing: slide valve