Inventor to showcase engine on the Thames

An eccentric inventor will take his replica of a famous train on the River Thames for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee – and he is looking for people to join him.

Robert Merlyn Farwell has made a scaled-down version of the Stourbridge Lion, which was the first locomotive to run in America. The original was built at the town's Foster and Rastrick works back in 1828 and earned its name from the picture of a lion's face that was painted on the front.

Mr Farwell, aged 65, spent three weeks making his replica, which also contains a glass-making furnace that he has used at local events. He has secured the MV Kingwood barge to use on June 4 – which he is billing as "The Bostin' Day Out".

The 100 places on the trip are being snapped up quickly but there are still a few available. Mr Farwell could not get permission to join the flotilla on June 3 so instead organised a day trip for locals.

A number of glassmakers will also be blowing glass from the furnace on the boat.

Mr Farwell said: "The purpose of the trip is to celebrate not only the Jubilee but also 400 years of glassmaking in the Stourbridge area. We will also publicise the Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge and the town's International Festival of Glass and show that glassmaking is still alive and well in this country."

Coaches will leave the Ruskin at 7am and head to Kew Gardens, where the group will board the boat, which was built in 1919 and featured in the Dunkirk landings. Tickets are £44 and can be booked on 01384 374829.