Morris Lubricants are releasing a series of short videos documenting the first serious road tour and pull by a classic 20th century steam engine that was built from scratch by Cumbrian engineer Alex Sharphouse.
For more than six years, Alex had a mission to recreate Talisman, a Fowler B6 Big Lion Road Locomotive, the ‘King of the Road’ of its era, capable of hauling loads in excess of 100 
tonnes. You are able to view the first series of videos here. Having achieved his dream of completing the build, he decided at the end of last year to take Talisman for a 50-mile tour near his Lake District home, doing what it was built for in the 1920s - moving heavy equipment, in this case a 50 tonne engine on a trailer.
The videos feature Alex chatting to Guy Martin, Morris Lubricants’ brand ambassador, TV presenter and engineering enthusiast. Guy who was involved in the original build, finds out from Alex what Talisman has been up to, since its last visit to the Shrewsbury Steam Rally in 2019 and future plans.
Talisman weighs 20 tonnes, has mighty back wheels seven feet high and produces 10 hp - not to be confused with brake horsepower. It’s the equivalent of a very large, modern lorry with a top speed of 20mph. The engine was one of only five Fowler B6 Locos that were built for the famous Norman E. Box haulage company in Manchester up to 1931.
Besides being its first serious challenge, Talisman’s road tour helped raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Trust in memory of Angus McIntosh, Alex’s nephew who sadly died in 2018 aged 25 after a lifelong battle with the genetic condition.
Angus filmed and produced the original video to launch the Talisman fundraising campaign which attracted vital sponsorship for the build.
Donations can be made online at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Talisman-Tour/
You can view the second series of videos below.
SERIES TWO, RECAP OF HOW TO BUILD A STEAM ENGINE
Engineer Alex Sharphouse built a Fowler B6 called Talisman from scratch, which took him six years to build. With a little help from TV presenter, TT racer and engineering enthusiast Guy Martin and oils, lubricants and greases manufacturer, distributor and supplier Morris Lubricants, Alex is now taking on the challenge of a lifetime. Talisman will be travelling on a 50 mile journey, whilst pulling 50 tonnes on Talisman through the Cumbrian countryside. Can Alex and the team do it? Find out in How to Build a Steam Engine.
SERIES TWO, EPISODE ONE
In this episode of How to Build a Steam Engine, engineers Alex Sharphouse and Guy Martin catch-up at the Morris Lubricants headquarters to discuss Talisman’s progress, what it has been doing in the two years since it was built and the plans for the pull that will take place in the coming days. The Morris Lubricants ambassadors return next time for a trial run in Talisman around the streets of Shrewsbury.
SERIES TWO, EPISODE TWO
During this episode of How to Build a Steam Engine, Talisman engineer and builder Alex Sharphouse takes TV presenter, engineering enthusiast and fellow Morris Lubricants ambassador Guy Martin for a ride on Talisman around the streets of Shrewsbury. They also discuss the brakes on Talisman and how they will cope in the rugged hills of the Lake District.
SERIES TWO, EPISODE THREE
In this episode, Alex Sharphouse, Talisman and the team finally departs the Threlkeld Mining Museum, pulling a 50 tonne engine as it makes its way through Cumbria and the Lake District. The Morris Lubricants ambassador talks about the journey ahead and how the weather may effect the challenge over the coming days.
SERIES TWO, EPISODE FOUR
In the final episode of the series, Alex Sharphouse and the team are on the final stretch of their journey as they make their way to Bouth on Talisman. This episode highlights the support along the way from Morris Lubricants and the members of the public who came out to see Talisman on the journey; to see if this mammoth feet of British engineering can earn its place in history.
SERIES TWO, EPISODE FIVE
How to Build a Steam Engine and Talisman's First Major Pull could not have been possible without Alex Sharphouse's nephew Angus, who helped Alex find sponsorship from Morris Lubricants when the project first began. Here, Alex discusses the projects, Angus and the fundraising page that has been set up in memory of Angus for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust with Guy Martin.