Skip to content

Old steam engine Talisman recreated from scratch

A type of steam engine in use about 100 years ago including carrying parts for the Titanic is being recreated from scratch.

The huge Talisman machines once carried loads in excess of 100 tonnes, although just five were made - and only one remains.

That is set to change thanks to efforts to build a Talisman from the ground up in Cumbria.

Behind the build is Alex Sharphouse, from Bouth near Ulverston, who owns John Fowler & Co (Leeds) Ltd - one of the leading manufacturers of steam engines throughout the 1800s and 1900s.

The project is sponsored by Shrewsbury-based Morris Lubricants which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019 - the year Mr Sharphouse hopes to take the engine on tour, following a planned August unveiling at Shrewsbury Steam Rally.

Video journalist: John Bray

13 February 2018

Explore More

Composite image of Sir Keir Starmer and BBC Radio WM presenter Kath Stanczyszyn, who is pictured wearing headphones and speaking into a purple microphone

Will there be a Birmingham pub bombings inquiry?

Birmingham & Black Country

A huge Christmas tree on a flatbed lorry in font of the US Capitol building

US Capitol Christmas tree arrives in DC

Blurred still image from video clips shows people being taken out of a car

Migrants asked to rate trip in smuggler review videos

John Darvall sat on the left of a composite image, in a purple studio with a microphone in front of him. On the right is Keir Starmer with grey hair and brown glasses.

PM challenged on West's councils facing bankruptcy

BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

A road sign for Blue Lagoon with flames in background

Lava engulfs Iceland's Blue Lagoon car park

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

Mural of The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke unveiled

Parts of West Burton A power station being demolished

Power station demolition captured by drone

Man clinging to a cliff being rescued

Moment person clinging to cliff is rescued by helicopter

A woman in a hospital gown grins on the left and a monitor lit up with lungs is on the right of a split screen.

Woman gets first double lung transplant done by robot

Ryan Borgwardt

US kayaker who faked own death thought to have fled to Europe

Ruth Dodsworth in the BBC studios in Cardiff. She is sitting on an orange sofa. She has cropped blonde hair and is wearing a fitted mauve top,

Stalking was part of my daily life, says presenter

A Christmas tree with lots of blue and green lights. A building nearby has yellow lights and a red bow so it looks like a present. You can see people stood in front of the building.

Manx capital sparkles at Christmas lights switch-on

BBC News

East of England weather forecast

A woman has her make up done in a Swansea salon for Beaujolais Day

'Beaujolais day is Swansea's Christmas'

A woman polished a large Gromit statue at the launch of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail in Bristol. The statue has a multicoloured sparkly pattern. The woman is wearing a red and white shirt and a black dress over the top and she has red hair cut in a bob style

Aardman unveils new Wallace and Gromit trail

Dylan Thomas, who is wearing a blue jumper and has brown hair, is smiling at the camera

Watch: Cardiff murderer's 999 call and arrest

Crowds of people walking streets at night

Thousands rush to US border before Trump takes office

Weather

Strong winds and flooding as Storm Bert arrives

Group of people next to a camper van

Van returns home after epic drive around the world

Chris and Marianne Fisher completed a 66,000-mile trek in 20-year-old camper van.

Daniel Kawczynski standing in a car park next to several cars. He wears a dark suit over a white shirt with a green tie and a blue rosette pinned to his suit. He has white, grey hair and wears glasses

Losing Tory hails his record as town's MP

Daniel Kawczynski, who was Shrewsbury MP for 19 years, loses but says he will stay in the area.

Oakengates landslip

Drone reveals scale of rail line landslip

About 5,000 tonnes of material moved when the landslip happened on the rail line near Oakengates.

Amelia Richardson

The teen teaching people to fly

Pilot Amelia Richardson, 17, is among the UK's youngest glider instructors.

Bridgnorth Cliff Railway

Bridgnorth Cliff Railway finally ready to reopen

Final testing is under way at the funicular railway which has been closed since December 2022.

Darren Edwards

Disabled adventurer plans 20-day Antarctic feat

Darren Edwards - who finished seven marathons in seven days - aims to clock up 333km (206.9 miles).

The widowed swan

Swan goes to school daily to stare at reflection

Staff were told Sally was most likely widowed with the image reminding her of her mate.

Incident outside Bescot Stadium

Fan cleared of assaulting 'disgraceful' PC

Fan Edward Papas is considering legal action against the police after the incident.

Flames coming from telegraph pole

Sparks fly as telegraph pole catches fire

The blaze at Bomere Heath in Shropshire was brought under control within an hour.

ironbridge

Drone footage shows Severn surge through Ironbridge

Flood barriers are protecting homes and businesses from the River Severn.

Pine marten

Tree cameras capture rare pine martens

A Shropshire group is helping the critically endangered animals to flourish in the county.

Lightning brightens dark sky amid the loud bang

Loud bang heard amid Storm Gerrit

Shropshire saw high winds and storms as residents report lightning strikes.

First UK night water parachute display

Footage of UK's first night water parachute display

A team from Shropshire trained for months to prepare for the jump into Alderford Lake in Whitchurch.

Players on the pitch during applause at Croud Meadow

Boys remembered with applause ahead of football match

Fans clapped in memory of four Shrewsbury teenagers who died in a car crash in north Wales.

James and Alfie pay tribute to their four friends

Friends of teens killed in crash pay tribute

James and Alfie light candles in memory of their four friends who died in a crash in north Wales.

In order to remove the animal, the crew had to prize the tree apart

Firefighters free cow's head from tree

Crews had to prize apart the tree to rescue the trapped cow in a field in Shropshire.

Telford lights

Neighbours light up street in festive fundraiser

A Christmas lights tradition continues in a Telford cul-de-sac to benefit a dogs' home.

Keyframe #1

'Hero' bin crew help pupils stranded by flooding

Flooding caused by Storm Babet continues to force road closures and travel disruption in Shropshire.

Rea Brook

River levels remain high in Shropshire

River levels are falling in Shropshire after heavy rain on Friday, but remain high.

Telford waterfall

Storm turns flight of steps into waterfall

After heavy overnight rain, water cascades down steps in St Georges, Telford.