LTEC Journal June '12

The Journal of

The Lancashire Traction Engine Club

June ‘12 www.lancashiretec.co.uk www.facebook.com/LancashireTEC

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Malcolm Hartley

Diane Carney

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Hazel Bregazzi

Neil Carney

Suzanne Fisk

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Joan Heselwood

Neil Carney

Neil Carney

George Coles

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Whilst every care is taken that information contained herein is true, accurate and fair, the publisher, editor or the Lancashire Traction Engine Club Ltd cannot take any responsibility for events araising from the use of this information. Any statements or opinions given in the journal are not necessarily those of the publisher or the club.

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Hazel Bregazzi address as above email - journal@lancashiretec.co.uk Hazel Bregazzi Creative Design, Todmorden

Peter Flitcroft

Editor:

Lay-out & Design: Printing:

our NEW PRESIDENT At the club’s AGM in March this year, it was unanimously agreed that we should invite a lady who has been a member of the club since it was formed, to be our Honorary President.

Her late husband, Mr Walter Fitter, was a founder member of the LTEC, a man who has worked with steam all his life and one of the original steam preservationists. He was held in very high regard by all steam men who knew him and Mrs Fitter, or Betty as everyone knows her, was always by his side. Even after Walter’s death Betty still comes to see us at almost every event, usually with her daughter Chris and her husband Mike. She still takes a keen interest in all the news and happenings in the club,

especially amongst the younger members and children, and we are very pleased that she has accepted the position, saying she was ‘highly delighted’ and ‘honoured’ to be asked.

Betty and Walter Fitter

engine notes

By George Coles The season is upon us and several early season events have taken place. The Riverside rally at Banks near Southport proved to be another successful event. After three good, fine years, showers and a damp ground were the order this year. I couldn’t get to the Budworth Steam party as I was away on holiday, but I gather that the local enginemen had a good do.

I visited the Llandudno Victorian Fair and rally for the first time this year. I had never had the opportunity before due to the clash with May Day Steam. I was surprised how big the event is now and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The event at the Last drop at Bolton over the May Day weekend was not well supported, with the Peter Walker/Diane Carney S6 Sentinel being the only steamer present. I had considered taking the Clayton but, with a boiler test booked for the following week, it required too much effort. I would have had to re-fit all the fire bars, ash pan, mud hole doors, etc. and then take them all out again the week after the event and clean out the boiler, firebox, smokebox, etc. for inspection. I don’t know whether others have noticed this effect, but my fire bars seem to get heavier every year!

When I was having the steam test on the Clayton I was talking to the boiler inspector, waiting for the safety valves to lift, when a delivery van pulled into the yard. The grey-haired driver

looked over at my engine and said to Tony Evens, the yard owner, “My Physics Teacher used to have a steam engine like that.” Tony replied “He still does. That’s him over there!” The teenager from nearly 50 years ago is 62 now. It makes you think. No wonder fire bars are getting heavier.

I have done very little on the Clayton this winter, having devoted my time to the restoration of my garden railway. I have just done routine jobs, repacking glands, sorting out a lose key and fitting the replacement works plate which I have had for some time.

I see from Old Glory the Ruston & Hornsby Traction Engine No. 122300 came up for sale at the recent Cheffins’ Auction. This used to belong to the late Bernard Jeffs and following his death in 2007 it sold at auction for £187,000. This time bidding reached £145,000 (a good price in my opinion) but this did not meet its reserve.

NOTICES I am involved in organising a three day family event at Haslam Park in Preston over the August Bank Holiday (August 25/26/27) and my steam engine contacts have not been able to help... I wonder whether you might have one (or two - or more ???) engines/engineers who might like to come to Preston to our event.

This is only a preliminary enquiry and I can, of course, let you have more details as you wish. We are already well on the way to completing the bookings for the attractions/activities and anticipate an attendance of at least 2000 on each of the three days. Briefly, the event is the first major public entertainment of the Preston Guild celebrations combining an Inland Waterways Festival on the Lancaster Canal which borders the park for approximately 3/4 mile - where we already have nearly 30 boats booked in for the festival.

I hope you might be able to come along and join us ...

Trisha Buzzard Events Co-Ordinator pbuzzard@o2.co.uk

I am hoping you might be able to help me. I am trying to find a steam traction engine in the Manchester area. We are making a series for Channel 4 and are looking for a steam engine to feature in an episode which will be filmed in central Manchester on the 19 July.

I was wondering whether you might be kind enough to send me some contact details of any owners (who ideally, also have a trailer) you may know of in the area? I am happy to contact them.

Thank you for your time, I hope to hear from you.

Clare Kingston Assistant Producer DD: 020 7290 0668 E: clare.kingston@betty.co.uk Front Cover - a beautiful matching pair of Marshall Traction Engines, Nos 49725, the big one dating from 1908. The photo was taken at Belvoir Traction Engine Rally in May 2011 For those of you on Facebook, we now have our own page open for any LTEC related chat. www.facebook.com/LancashireTEC

GOOD LOOKING, SWEET RUNNING & FREE STEAMING J. Bonser It began with the County of Salop Steam Engine Society wishing to commemorate their 50th Anniversary. This was to be accomplished with a road run around the county, visiting the past sites of the club events. A main aim was to invite as many engines from the first event as possible. Some organisational feat! Hats off to C.O.S.S.E.S! One of the engines invited to take part was Mr. Raymond ‘Rusty Nuts’ Pearson’s roller, ex Herefordshire County Council Aveling F type Piston Valve Compound Roller No.11788. But a challenge to Raymond came from longstanding but youthful friends Jack and Roger Dibnah after certain remarks were made concerning Raymond’s engine, such as it being ‘all paint and prettiness but no stamina’ and one of the Dibnah boys offering to fit a stair lift to the engine to get Raymond’s elderly crew could get on board! This kind of banter carried on for most of the rally season, or whenever the two arrived from over the water.

However, the greatest insult came when the dynamic duo was seen using a tape measure around the front of the roller. Raymond asked what was going on, the reply was: “Just measuring up for chains so we can tow you along behind the van.”

“That’s it!”

Raymond dastardly smirked, “We will beat you! By fair means or foul!”

The plan was devised and ironed out over the course of the summer. J.C (Not that J.C, this J.C lives in Sheffield, the opposite to

Heaven.) would provide a water cart which, usefully, was fully equipped with air brakes.

He was also (supposedly) to provide firing expertise. Raymond would provide a prepared machine and driving expertise. I was along to provide muscle to lift, lug, push and whatever else was needed to aid the aged. Andrew, as planned would provide a diversion. He was going on the Debe’s brothers ploughing engine The Chief so plenty of smoke was the order of the day. If that failed to stop the Brothers Grimm, he could always shove a log off the trailer they were towing.

The execution of the plan saw J.C, Andrew and myself travelling south west to Salop, in Andrew’s 1966 Land Rover, towing J.C’s 1967 caravan (I must point out these are not our exhibits). The weather was deteriorating rapidly and, unfortunately, so was the mood. Maybe it had something to do with the fact we were lost for the fifth time that day.

The ‘Prat Nav’ had decided to quit on us and Foster Traction Engine ‘Sprig’ had passed us, yet again! J.C barked for us to follow them, and follow we did. I now know the pleasure of caravan off-roading, having also discovered the reverse, multipoint turn, the un-hitch and total jack knife positions! My thanks must go to J.C for supplying the cigar smoke that so fondly stuck to my clothes and swirled about, and Andrew for the disco. Following ‘Sprig’ through the woodyard at Bishops Castle soon gained us to the parking field; the starting point of

Road Run. Raymond greeted us in one of the kindest, gentlest and most soothing ways, considering the ordeal we had gone through thus far.

“Let’s get the roller off so the loader can go.”

“Let’s not bother...” J.C replied. “Its muddy, horrible, wet and I haven’t had a cup of coffee yet.” It was at this point the eldest of the Brothers Grimm walked up: “What’s that?!” he pointed at the water cart.

“Well,” J.C smirked. “We are going to be towing water behind us. It’s useful. You are towing the fire wood.” He pointed to the living van.

“And you ain’t dangling your thing in that tank either!” Raymond pointed out.

So, the roller was unloaded and a halfhearted attempt was made to clean it. As part of the master plan, steam was to be raised to 601bs and the fire banked down for the night.

You know when I said the plan was ironed out?

Well, unbeknownst to us the steam pressure was continuing to rise. Our attention had been diverted to an unnameable member of ‘Sprig’’, crew, as they attempted to get into an all over green condom suit! He was struggling to get his left foot plus boot through the elasticated hole. Advice to take his boot off was met with, “Other one went through alright.”

After about ten minutes the boot was through the hole. He stood up and tried to put his right arm through the left arm hole and left arm through the left leg hole. By now, ‘Rusty Nuts’ had gathered 1801bs of steam!

“Sodding ash pan doesn’t seal.” J.C said. A lid was put on the chimney, the boiler was filled to the top and, as an additional safe guard, the smoke box was opened. But this proved to be too little, too late. It was to turn out that younger Bro Grimm had to deal with the engine in the night.

Later, a pre-road run meeting was held and goody boxes were handed out courtesy

of Morris Lubricants. We then left to spend the night on the rally site at Onslow Park.

Of course, the journey to Onslow park, as per typical us, wasn’t without incident. We didn’t know the way, Raymond didn’t know the way and the lorry we ended up following didn’t know the way either.

Eventually and thankfully we arrived at base camp Irene. She had coffee, tea, sandwiches and a calming influence on us all, which was just what we needed.

5:30am. Sue Fisk walked in: “GET UP!” She boomed. Even Andrew stirred from his slumber. “Do you want a lift to Bishops?”

“No thanks,” J.C groggily replied. “We have to wait for Raymond.”

“Just thought I’d ask. I’m off in five minutes.”

With that Sue slammed the door, nearly making the ‘Hut’ cave in on itself.

Thirty minutes later and Andrew, Raymond, J.C and myself had set off. It was a damp, drab and drizzling morning. We drove to Bishops Castle taking in what scenery we could from the steamed up windows and cigar fogged interior of the radio less Land Rover (Raymond doesn’t like radios, or cigars either for that matter!)

Over the horizon, a column of smoke and steam was spotted on the road. An engine couldn’t be on the road this early, surely?

Whatever it was, it wasn’t moving. It was actually Sue Fisk’s Land Rover Discovery. As we pulled up Raymond, like a speeding bullet, shot out of the back of Andrew’s Land Rover and grabbed Sue who was clutching baby Oliver and holding little Andrews hand.

“Get away from it encase it goes up!” he was shouting.

J.C struggled to release the bonnet while Andrew fetched the fire extinguisher. A quick squirt and it was all over. No time to waste.

The A frame was coupled on and the two old smoking wrecks were coupled together (J.C

and the Discovery). We were off again. It happened so quickly and efficiently you would have thought it was rehearsed.

On the field Lee was delighted to be reunited with his family and glad to see no one was hurt. J.C now had to minister to ‘Rusty Nuts’s fire. Roger had levelled it out earlier and added more coal to keep it going. Rusty was cleaned and ready to roll by 8:30am; the appointed time. Andrew, with the Debe’s, had left at 8:00. Betsy and the Brothers Grimm were to leave at 8:45. However Betsy was hot on Rusty’s tail as we proceeded through the wood yard to the exit, picking up 8 half cwt bags of the very best steam coal (which it was).

The open road! We were off. A quarter of a mile down the road at the crossroad’s we encountered The Chief, which seemed to be making some sort of complex manoeuvre.

They had picked up a trailer load of logs but were having a problem with the steering and were stuck. Raymond piled on the speed! The mighty ploughing engine ended up setting off behind us but, crucially, just front of Betsy.

The joy of this fact however was short lived. Raymond had spotted the mechanical lubricator was feeding back.

“We’ll have to stop!” Raymond called to J.C. “Like hell!” J.C replied.

With that, J.C jumped off the roller, ran ahead of it and jumped onto the opposite side step to the footboard. With the engine still going J.C., amazingly, drained and re-primed the lubricator! That’s Tramadol for you!

“Who’s the b****y old fool who cut the oil supply down?!” Raymond, turned and smiled sweetly at him.

Rusty performed faultlessly. J.C’s biggest problem seemed to be getting coal through the fire-hole door.

“I blame the shovel”. He declared.

He also couldn’t stop the safety valves blowing:

“I blame the ash pan.”

Upon climbing one of the first hills we came upon a stationary Chipchase, whilst the crew attended to something near the hedge. As Rusty continued to cover me with ash I was beginning to wish for a trailer with a canopy.

Suddenly the map, our only source of finding our way through this wilderness, blew out of the tool box and down under the trailer (J.C. asked me to leave out the fact that it had, because he dropped it, so I will).

With agility that amazed even me, I leaped off the trailer as fast as mother would after seeing a ‘SALE’ sign outside Debenhams, and managed to retrieve the tyre marked map.

All was going well, the engine forging ahead with no trouble. Not bad at all for a type of engine supposed to be a mediocre performer.

Now it was my turn to take home a trophy.

Whilst attempting to start a siphon from the cart to tender, I didn’t notice just how long the hose was. Unfortunately some slipped off the edge of the footboard and under the cart, promptly snapping.

It had to be a stop. Out of the three of us, only one was a smoker so, since we figured he was punishing his lungs already, J.C was forced, at shovel point, to start the siphon.

Margaret and The Chief overtook us at this point. Andrew, with the face of a Butcher grinning at a cow, broadly waved as they passed. Of course this could all have been avoided if we had used the water lifter, but Raymond insisted this vital piece of equipment was now for ‘Decoration Purposes only’.

Within half a mile of our unplanned stop, we reached the first water stop at Harry Tuffins Supermarket in Church Stoke. A man in a high viz vest waved at us.

“Water!” he shouted.

J.C called, “Is it five star or unleaded?!”

“It’s free!” came the reply.

“Oh, we’ll have some of that then!”

Raymond smiled.

Turning off the road was like venturing down a cliff, and it was on concrete. Taps open, lever back and judicious use of the trailer brake saw us safely down. Another obstacle faced us now. The Chief and trailer were stuck again, unable to move around the water tanker and a parked lorry. Raymond managed to get between the obstructions and we topped up the engine and tank. With an exhaust beat like a single cylinder engine, Rusty barked up the gradient in top cog. With this though, came a shower in ash for me. We regained the level road and our friend in the high viz waved us out, straight in front of Betsy and the Brothers Grimm. The surprise on their faces was incredible. They waved their fists at us in a humorous manner but, in their haste to catch us, passed the water stop. The brothers managed to keep pace for a while, but we soon lost them as they had to go and look for water.

Rusty continued to eat up the miles; the needle seemed to be stuck to the red line.

Around 1pm we reached our lunch stop at Brockton, in second place to the venerable McLaran No. 127. This just goes to show what a well serviced engine and water cart can do.

Before food and drink was sought the fire was cleaned and engine oiled. While this was going on many more engines arrived, adding to the lunch queue. It transpired that the Landlord at the ‘Cock Inn’ had not bargained for the huge number of associated people that came along as well as the actual engine crews. Due to this, lunch turned out to be a protracted affair, as now the faster, later-starting engines

“Why?” I asked.

“He’s tall, skinny and he’s got sharp elbows!” Was the comedic reply.

God bless him though, Derek was right and Raymond returned clutching glasses of the golden elixir Shandy.

We had an excellent ploughman’s lunch and, with our elixir drunk, we returned to our awaiting steed. The fire had fully burned through and Rusty was ready for the off with 1801bs on the clock. All we needed now was a drop of water. As did everyone else. The poor water tanker driver was inundated with demands with one person even boxing him in to make sure they got filled (not exactly cricket). We eventually got water (after Raymond ‘found’ the water pipe and took it to Rusty) but, despite being second to arrive, we were not second to leave. We set off again at a pace with one fact running through all our heads, and that was that Betsy was still behind us. A half mile down the road we overtook Margaret, the oldest engine on the run. They kindly pulled in to let the Aveling pass; an example of the courtesy shown by all taking part in the celebrations.

All the mobile water cart Drivers, Stewards, Marshals and Crew members smiled as we passed and were willing to help in any way, should it be required. You could see these people wanted to do this. They wanted this event to be the success it deserved.

On this second leg of the journey Rusty was being overtaken regularly by faster tractors and steam wagons. On occasion, we may have been a surprise to some engines

were arriving in large numbers. The bar looked like an ant hill and the mob was climbing over each other to get a drink from the only bar lady.

Derek, Raymond’s long suffering brother in law, joined us for lunch. He was acting as a Marshal along the route.

“Send Raymond to get the drinks.” he said to me.

not performing as well as they should. One such surprise was when we came across a wagon cleaning out his fire and ash pan.

The panic which overwhelmed the crew, on seeing a roller bearing down upon them, could clearly be seen on their faces. They chucked everything in the van, closed the doors and drove off, leaving the ashes in the road (TUT!).

We ended up running over them! Pity the poor soul who had to lever those well compressed ash off the road surface.

A very near thing occurred when a completely bewildered, continental lorry driver, who could obviously not understand why all these old relics (the machines, not the drivers) were out on the public highway, was coming towards us, indicating to turn right. He then drew across the road; something Raymond was not expecting. Full Emergency Stop mode!

It was a miracle that a head on collision was avoided! The driver then engaged reverse put his trailer over the kerb and grass verge and backed into a side road, narrowly missing a car coming in the opposite direction. In this calamity a ‘Give Way’ sign was demolished by his trailer.

Another amusing event was the classic ‘Hare and Tortoise’ scenario. A Garratt tractor in showmen’s guise, overtook us, only to stop ahead of us. When we closed the gap he set off again. This happened four times until eventually Rusty pulled alongside to overtake.

“You should buy yourselves a good Aveling roller!” J.C taunted the crew. “And not convert it to something else!” Even Andrew Semple smiled.

Now, even the perfect can get caught out on strange roads. J.C’s nemesis came towards the end of the run. Rusty had to climb a particularly long and progressively steepening hill. Rusty crested the hill with only 1501bs on the clock.

“I daren’t fire the boiler or open the damper for fear of pulling cold air through.” J.C called

for the journey was just a little adrift as, two miles from the rally site (24 miles into the trip) the bunker was empty and a stop was made to add one more bag of coal. This speaks highly of both the fuel and the machine; that 26 miles could be covered on less than 3 and a half cwt’s of coal and possibly less than 300 gallons of water.

It was 4:15, as Rusty rumbled into the gateway, Camp Irene had been achieved (Onslow Park as well). As Irene climbed onto the footplate she said: “Was it worth it Raymond?”

“Not half love.” was the answer. “I’m almost sorry it’s over.” He turned to J.C. and I, “Do you fancy doing it again next year?”

It was as the drizzle began to come down that we backed the trailer up behind the engine in the line up. Soot and ash streaks began to run down my face as I drank a nice hot cup of freshly made tea. I, like many other engine owners and crews that day, felt a tinge of sadness as a great day had ended. We wiped down our steed before putting her to bed. The Brothers Grimm, aboard Betsy arrived later on. Their excuse was that, since it was such a lovely day, they decided to take the scenic route!

A full two and a half hours later The Chief made its entry as only a Fowler could; with a huge amount of noise.

That weekend Rusty Nuts did her owner proud once more, by winning best roller in show.

Our thanks to the organisers, volunteers, sponsors, the Great British public and of

to Raymond. “I don’t want to risk the tubes leaking!”

“I still had a notch of gear and the button in reserve!” Raymond replied.

But I can assure you Rusty was bleating up the chimney. I should know as I was wearing the contents of the smokebox.

Unfortunately, the estimate of 6 bags of coal

course, the group of brilliant friends I am a part of, all of whom made this splendid event possible.

AMBERLEY

AMBERLEY PUBLISHING

Advance Information

The story of the HCB Angus fire engines from 1933 to 1994.

The Hill, Merrywalks, Stroud Gloucestershire, GL5 4EP www.amberley-books.com

HCB ANGUS

FIRE ENGINE BUILDERS AIDAN FISHER HCB Angus produced 6,500 fire engines for fire services from across the UK and all over the world at their Southampton factory. The author discusses the history of the company and its forebears from their first involvement with building fire engines in 1933 until the completion of the last orders before closure on 24 June 1994. Orders came in from fire services from Pakistan to the Falkland Islands as well as the UK fire brigades, the Ministry of Defence, and oil and chemical companies around the world. HCB’s keen interest in crew safety even earned them a place on the BBC’s Blue Peter.

Aidan Fisher has had exclusive access to the archive of photographs, technical papers and brochures preserved by the company until its closure and has used it to produce this complete account of the company and its products, a testament to the skills and craftsmanship of the company’s workers.

Aidan, a member of the Fire Service Preservation Group, lives in Manchester.

MARKETING, PUBLICITY, PRESS

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

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Appeals to fire engine and commercial vehicle enthusiasts.

Publication: April 2012

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Price:

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ISBN:

978-1-4456-0535-7

Size:

235 x 165mm

Binding:

Paperback

Extent:

128 pages

Illustrations: 152 images Rights:

World, all languages

THE AUTHOR Born in Liverpool and now resident in Manchester with a background in engineering. He trained as a teacher of Design and Technology and taught in comprehensive schools for 40 years. Always had an interest in preservation and started to restore internal combustion engines but moved on the commercial vehicles and then fire appliances. This in turn led to an involvement with HCB -Angus and the creation of an archive of their activities. The closure of the company in 1993 lead to this becoming more important so as not to lose the historical record. The author has owned four fire appliances, all built by HCB Angus.

ALSO BY AMBERLEY

The AEC Story: From the Regent to the Monarch Land Rover: A Pocket History Crewe's Rolls Royce Factory FOP

Brian Thackray John Christopher Peter Ollerhead

978-1-4456-0390-2 978-1-84868-972-5 978-1-84868-859-9

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