The steam-powered fire engine

A steam fire engine tearing down the streets was a spectacular and unusual sight in Victorian Britain. It took a few decades before the invention, with a history dating back to 1829, gained public favour. However, once it did, fierce competition broke out between the companies Messrs Merryweather and Sons, and Shand Mason and Co.

In The Engineer’s archives, an article about Merryweather and Sons’ entry of a steam fire engine at the International Exhibition of 1862 in Hyde Park takes a look at some of its unique characteristics. ’The carriage consists of a strong wrought iron frame of a novel form, pivoted upon a wrought iron fore carriage, to prevent straining in passing over uneven roads; an arched recess in the side frames permits the locking of the fore carriage as may be required,’ said the report. ’The wheels are large, especially the hinder ones, and the carriage is hung upon springs so as to be well adapted for travelling.’