This is the last of 18 such Showmans Engines purchased new by Tom Whiteleg of Whitelegs Fair. It was new in 1948. Robbie Richards bought and restored it in 1965. It generated electricity for many of the amusements in the fairground, dodgems, the merry go round and other fairground entertainment. Whitelegs Fair travelled around Southern England. this generator vehicle was a real classic in its day and still is. It meant the fairground could be set up and remain self sufficent for electrical supply.
Scammell Show Trac City of Exeter
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Hello.The magnificent fairground lorry in the above photograph is:-
Scammell Showtrac Showmans Diesel Road Locomotive,CITY OF EXETER,Chassis No.6595,Reg'No.JFJ 457,built in Sepember 1948.This Fairground Lorry was the only Scammell Showtrac to be bought and operated by the travelling fun fair outfit,T.Whitelegg & Sons,Plymouth.This Showtrac (that is it's actual model name and designation) was the last of 18 examples to built,and were made from December 1945 to September 1948 and all but one survive and are preserved by motor vehicle enthusiasts.The Showtrac Showmans Diesel Road Locomotives,and other marques and models,are the heavy motor lorry equivalents of the earlier traction engine-based Showmans Steam Road Locomotives that hauled fun fair rides and equipment,with roadtrains of trailers,from town to town and generated electricity to power the fun fairs. Showtracs did,and modern day Showmans Diesel Road Locomotives,do exactly the same kinds of work. Quite a number of today's showmen have signs and plaques on their road locomotives which state ROAD LOCOMOTIVE,or SHOWMANS ROAD LOCOMOTIVE.George Thomas Tuby,of Doncaster, had a sign on the front of his Scammell Pioneer which stated:"CAUTION ROAD LOCOMOTIVE AND THREE TRAILERS". And the West Yorkshire-based Tucker fun fair family very appropriately named their Foden S36 6XB6/22 6X4,RPY 296G:FODEN 180 LOCOMOTIVE.
The 18 Scammell Showtracs (short for Showmans Tractor) were bought by many famous travelling fun fair outfits,including Pat Collins in the Midlands,Anderton & Rowland of Plymouth - they bought four Showtrac's,Hibble & Mellors of Nottingham and the Arnold Brothers of the Isle of Wight. Most of these Scammell Showtrac Showmans Diesel Road Locomotives have been restored to back to roadworthy and working condition,and can be seen at Steam & Vintage Vehicle Rallies all over the country.......and at least some of them generate electricity for the Old Time Fun Fairs at some of these rallies. The remaining Showtracs are currently being restored.
Returning now to the Scammell Showtrac Showmans Diesel Road Locomotive,CITY OF EXETER,JFJ 457,in the above photograph,with respect,it was bought from the previous owner,Peter Startup,in 2005 by Fairground Vehicle Enthusiast,Robbie Richards of Redruth,Cornwall,and restored by him into it's present beautiful condition.If you want to know more about Scammell Showtrac Showmans Diesel Road Locomotives with complete detailed lists of all 18 Showtracs,please go on the link below from the free BIGLORRBLOG Website,for Lorry and Motor Truck Enthusiasts:-
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Thanks. Cheers.
SCANIAVOLVO7.