The 1923 Fowler B6 8hp compound three-speed Big Lion colonial road locomotive No. 15861 (drawing No. E5993/B2224) was only purchased on the 25 November 2019 by Gary of Forgedale, Kurwongbah, Queensland, Australia. After three years restoration it was in steam and out of the shed on 2 December and its first road outing was on 11 December 2022.
The Fowler was based in the McLucas suburbs of Toowoomba in Queensland in 2018 when Gary went to look at it with the thought of buying it. The engine was largely intact and was able to be driven. When new it did less than 30 years work, and was eventually ousted by combustion-engined alternatives. Luckily the wear in the driving gears and the motion was not significant. Since 1960 it was often run and exhibited along with the other engines in this location. From 2009 it had a functional roof fitted and from 2015 it received basic care at least a couple of times each year.
Fowler’s products were exported worldwide and the factory covered 14 acres employing about 3,000 men and boys in 1918. But by 1923 things were getting tough for Fowlers who only built some 20 road
