Old Glory - July 2015

“RE-IMAGINED” – DREAMLAND MARGATE REOPENS Britain’s Best seller for

27

years

JULY 2015

EX-MAYOR

No 305

A Very Special Burrell Scenic

RESTORED: OLDEST STEAM SHOVEL IN THE WORLD

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◆ Roading to Masham rally

◆ John Key of Kirkcaldy engine

◆ Merseyside Tramway memories

Opening this month: can Dreamland‘reimagine’itself? COLIN TYSON

Welcome

Dreamland: coming ready or not

O

N JUNE 19 Dreamland Margate re-opens its doors to visitors, the culmination of a long-running campaign spearheaded by Nick Laister and the Save Dreamland Trust.

My congratulations to Nick and the team for convincing the local council to compulsory purchase the site and to work towards reopening.

Unfortunately the ‘star’ ride – the Grade II Listed Scenic Railway – will not have its cars delivered in time for June 19 so people with pre-booked tickets will be given a free ticket to return when the ride is open. Apart from this PR disaster, staff who I met in late June remained optimistic that things will be ready in time. There was certainly much still to do when I visited at the three-week countdown stage.

Now, this is not a fully re-created heritage park. A park that was purely full of vintage rides would not stand the battering of daily running. Rides range from the 1920s to the present, and whether this mix can work remains to be seen.

Brighton Pier works because it is just part of a year-round city culture offer of several

attractions. Margate hopes to replicate Brighton now that it is enjoying an up-lift from the Turner Contemporary Gallery and resultant smaller galleries and individual shops in the town.

Dreamland has just over three months a year to make the most of the days when an overcoat is not required. It must hold the interest in the shoulder seasons and be able to keep its winter offer fresh.

It is not trying to be a ‘theme park’ in the modern sense; Dreamland got 13 rides for the price of what one modern ride would cost, but it is going down the ‘Kiss Me Quick’ route of seaside nostalgia re-defined.

An old-time ballroom is being included, yet there are no plans to resurrect an unwanted former organ from anywhere else to complete the atmosphere. I just hope the advice that Dreamland received from ‘experts’, coupled with listening and acting on market research, will give the promoters everything that they wish for. ● I would be failing in my role as Old Glory editor if I wasn’t able to give a little ‘puff ’ for my local rallies. “No point in having the editor on your doorstep if he can’t plug our rally”. So

here goes: the month of July sees two traditional-style Sussex rallies following hot on the heels of the 50th anniversary event at the Claude Jessett Collection at Tinkers Park.

The Wiston rally, set in large parkland at Wiston House near Steyning, West Sussex, has moved forward one week to July 11-12, taking the old Ardingly rally slot, with the promise of the biggest-ever vintage funfair at Wiston, courtesy of local showmen Harris Bros of Ashington.

Smaller in area but perfectly formed is Ringmer rally near Lewes, East Sussex, held on July 25-26. Organiser Barry Radbourne packs everything you’d want to see at a traditional rally in to one showfield and is also recommended. Both of the above events also serve the water of the gods – Harveys of Sussex Best Bitter! See you there!

Colin Tyson Editor

ctyson@mortons.co.uk

OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 3

Contents 60 No 305 | July 2015 NEWS 6-20 89

News & Events Old Glory in Miniature News

FEATURES 24

Ex-Mayor – Special Scenic Showman’s Having passed through the hands of many famous owners over the years, Burrell Ex-Mayor remains a firm favourite on the rally field.

30

Austin: A Very English Collection Chris Tallents’ collection of Austin vehicles includes some great rarities.

42

‘Hooley’ returns to steam The first public steaming of the oldest-known steam shovel in the world took place at Threlkeld in mid-May.

48

Merseyside Tramway Tales The spirit of tramways past in the city of Liverpool is far from dead – if you know where to look.

51

Key to a Scottish survivor One of just two surviving John Key of Kirkcaldy beam engines – at Mannum, South Australia.

54

Forty years at Bredgar The privately-owned Bredgar & Wormshill Railway has provided a retirement bolthole for many engines over its 40 years.

60

The Thornycroft Steam Wagon Even before the development of the steam wagon got under way, Thornycroft was concentrating its development energies in another direction.

66

72

Roading Memories – Masham-bound A couple of road runs to Masham rally many years ago were.

Paddle Steamers on the Elbe There’s a plethora of paddlers to be found at Dresden, Germany, on the river Elbe.

4 | JULY 2015 OLD GLORY

News updates at oldglory.co.uk www.facebook.com/ OldGloryMag

30

REGULARS 23 34 39 40 76 80 84 90 94 114

Road Roller Notes Underbidder Enginelines Helpline Vintageworld Steam Archive Museum Guide OG in Miniature What’s On ‘Tail Lamp Tom’

READER SERVICES 36

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90

48 24 Front Cover: Burrell Special Scenic Showman’s Road Locomotive No 4000 of 1925 Ex-Mayor.

ALAN BARNES This issue was published on Thursday, June 18, 2015. The August 2015 issue of Old Glory (No 306) will be on sale from Thursday, July 16.

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Meet the team Derek Rayner

Colin Tyson Editor

Technical Advisor

Mike Dyson

Steve Dean

Correspondent

Correspondent

James Hamilton

Colin Smith Advertising Executive

42

Photographer

Malcolm Ranieri

Contact us - details on Page 40

Photographer

OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 5

News&Events

Dreamland Margate reopens

Dreamland, Margate, on May 28, 2015, three weeks prior to opening its doors on June 19. COLINTYSON

Icon: Dreamland Margate. COLINTYSON

6 | JULY 2015 OLD GLORY

UNDER the banner of ‘UK’s Original Pleasure Park: reimagined’, Dreamland Margate reopens to visitors on June 19 following a passionate 11-year campaign to save Dreamland from development after a disastrous arson attack in April 2008 that consumed the Grade II listed Scenic Railway rollercoaster.

The ride has been rebuilt with a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and other rides and experiences have returned to the Kent town’s beachfront park ready to welcome a new generation.

Top acts are billed for the opening night ‘Hullabaloo’ including ‘rockney’ duo Chas & Dave, who immortalised the town in its heyday with their Down to Margate hit.

Dreamland bosses hope to be able to connect into the regeneration of Margate as a destination and help celebrate the age of the Great British seaside amusement experience, helped by the presence of world-class art at the nearby Turner Contemporary Gallery, The Shell Grotto, Hornby model railway

visitor centre, sandy beaches and the Old Town galleries, vintage and retro hotspots and independent quirky shops in its cobbled streets.

Dreamland attracted 2.5m people a year during its 1960s heyday before suffering a decline from cheap package holidays to Spain and suchlike.

Circus proprietor ‘Lord’ George Sanger took on the site originally and some of his animal cages are still on view on the site’s boundary cliffs but John Henry Iles is credited with developing the site over 15 years from 1919.

Half a million visitors attended within just 13 weeks when the Scenic Ride opened.

Development of the site was announced in 2003 and a 20,000-strong petition ensured that the council made a compulsory purchase of the land for the future.

While the new pay gates are located at the rides’ entrance, much of Dreamland is a ‘circulating area’, forming an undercover walkthrough from the town’s main car park to the

Got a story? Tell Old Glory 01507 529306 | ctyson@mortons.co.uk

following 11-year campaign

beach and includes catering, retail, amusement arcade, roller-disco and ballroom facilities.

The attraction can never be ‘complete’ in the sense that this is just the first phase of 10 of further development that could take as long as 10 to 15 years, allowing rides to rotate – all are on their own bases. Rides currently range from the 1920s to the present day, with the highest, at 35m, the Big Wheel from Sofia, Bulgaria.

The jewel in the crown is the wooden Scenic Railway, the oldest rollercoaster in the UK and one of just eight survivors in the world.

Dreamland’s original 1922 four-abreast Gallopers return to their original site, having been to Southend and Whitbread Hop Farm prior to the workshops of David Littleboy Restorations in Wakefield for a complete overhaul. Littleboy has also resurrected Dreamland’s Dodgems and the Mods and Rockets double-deck ride while other rides include a pedal-powered Jetsons monorail, Lighthouse Slip, vintage pedal car roadway, 1950s Hurricane Jets ride, 1950s Cyclone

Flashpoint for regeneration: The fire of 2008. NICK EVANS

Twist, 1970s Chair-O-Planes imported from South Africa, Caterpillar rides, Jumping Pirate Boats and a modern Drop Tower.

Dreamland will directly employ 250 people, 83% being local.

● Dreamland is just a short hop from Margate station, standard open hours are 10am-5pm, closing at 8pm on summer weekends from June 26 to September 26.

Sat nav CT9 1XJ. OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 7

News&Events

Burrell No 4055 Crimson Lady leads Garrett No 33991 Patricia through Tyttenhanger Green on the May 30 road run.

St Albans cup final rally of two halves IN THE PAST when a rally was held during FA Cup Final weekend one could expect a lower attendance on Saturday afternoon.

However this wasn’t the case for the St Albans rally on May 30-31, reports Adrian White.

It was not only blessed with perfect conditions on Cup Final Saturday but the bonus of the big match not starting until 5.30pm, allowed footie fans to enjoy a great steam day out before the game. Several engine crews got the Cup Final spirit with an evening road run to the pub to watch the match on the big screen.

In fact it was a rally of two halves – with a splendid day and large attendance on Saturday then a football season style damp day on Sunday.

Organised by Herts Steam Club on behalf of The Hertfordshire Steam Preservation Society, which celebrated its Golden Anniversary last

Marshalls Nos 43560 of 1905 Winifred and‘S’-Type No 76903 of 1923 Jem at St Albans.

8 | JULY 2015 OLD GLORY

year, the event started at Gaddesden Row in 1964, then Knebworth House, Weston Park, Wymondley and Leighton Buzzard. Now firmly established at Oaklands College’s Smallford Campus, St Albans, 30 full size engines and other attractions entertained the crowds.

This year again featured several engines which appeared at the first rally in 1964, still visiting over 50 years later. The star was appropriately the sole-surviving St Albans Corporation Aveling roller No 8064 of 1913 Nulli Secundus, which sadly missed the 2014 anniversary event.

Also unavailable last year was Ron Walker’s Burrell No 4072 The Cranleigh Belle which was undergoing repairs, so it was good to see both returning this year. David Philpot’s Clayton & Shuttleworth No 48154 of 1918 was another 1964 star, with David presenting the engine himself at the first rally 51 years ago. Also present in 1964 was Doug Williamson’s 1925 Foden No 12300.

The Fensom family were very much part of that original event and three more original exhibits featured again. These were ex-Martley RDC and Worcestershire CC Garrett steam tractor No 33991 of 1921 Patricia, purchased in 1932 by the Fensom family for timber haulage duties, which was driven in 1964 rally by the late Jack Fensom, and is now owned by Jack’s grandaughter Pat (the engine is the emblem of the Herts Society); Marshall No

Ivan Papworth’s newly restored 1947 AvelingBarford motor roller No AF728 Amelia Pearl.

ALL: ADRIANWHITE

43560 of 1905 Winifred now owned by the Smith family, used for contract work by Fensoms and Burrell No 4055 of 1927 Crimson Lady, still in Fensom ownership. Another former Fensom engine on display was Foden C Type No 12364 of 1926 Tiny.

Of interest was Ivan Papworth’s newly restored 1947 built Aveling-Barford motor roller No AF728 (BTL 615) Amelia Pearl built for Baines of Potton, Beds. Ian acquired this fine machine from Wales and returned it to the Home Counties for an extensive restoration.

Herts Steam Society Secretary Sandy Ross exhibited his Aveling R4 roller No 7385 of 1911 with living van and road making and repairing equipment, while Michael Watts’ Marshall No 36258 of 1901 Punch was working the bailer alongside Terry Petty’s fellow Marshall No 61970 of 1913 Emma powering the saw bench.

The Herts Steam Club should be congratulated on putting on another winning rally – a well organised, friendly and relaxed event.

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The Isle of Man Motor Museum opens its doors THE brainchild of father and son team Darren and Denis Cunningham, the new Isle of Man Motor Museum opened its doors to the public in mid-May. Based at Jurby, close to the Manx Transport Heritage Museum, the new space is a permanent home for the Cunningham Classic Cars collection. It started more than 30 years ago and Denis passed his love of cars on to his son Darren. The collection now encompasses buses, lorries, fire engines, ambulances and bikes including one-offs, prototypes and historic vehicles.

Taking inspiration from major car museums in the UK and US, 70,000sq ft of exhibit space displays more than 150 vehicles and 150 motorcycles. The rear yard is a recreated postwar street scene with period car showroom, car club display area,

Displays of 150 vehicles and 150 motorcycles. BOTH: DAVID LLOYD-JONES

A Fowler traction engine (possibly No 11352? –Ed) has pride of place in the new Isle of Man Motor Museum.

maintenance port, library and full visitor facilities.

The museum has sought local items of interest on a rolling display, which currently includes a local traction engine. Collection

highlights include a 1954 Humber Snipe built and used by Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation tour of the Commonwealth, an ex-White House 1965 Lincoln Continental limousine, the first

Monica, a prototype RHD DeLorean and a 1954 Scenic Cruiser Greyhound coach.

Open daily 10am-6pm, admission adults £9.50, child (3-15) £4.50.

Wallis & Steevens Lady May debuts at Stotfold event THE OLDEST-surviving Wallis & Steevens steam tractor No 2592 of 1902 Lady May (AH 065) returned to steam just in time to make its rally debut at this year’s Steam and Country Fair at Stotfold Water Mill after being out of steam for 50 years, reports Adrian White.

The Saunders Collection’s latest restoration was without doubt the star of the show, but only arrived on the rally field mid-afternoon on May 9 after much burning of the midnight oil.

Acquired by the collection in the autumn of 2011 the engine was displayed in unrestored

When just acquired, Wallis & Steevens tractor No 2592 Lady May at display at Stotfold Mill in 2011.

condition at the October Working Steam event at the Mill that year.

Since then the restoration team, including John’s grandson, have been steadily restoring the Wallis back to steamable condition at their Stotfold workshops.

The engine had arrived from storage in south Lincolnshire and John had planned to take the newly restored engine back to its former owner Mr Gore for him to see it back in steam, but sadly Mr Gore passed away a few days beforehand.

Many of the other Saunders’ engines were also in steam at Stotfold Mill, with showman’s engines Little Billy, Carry on and Ex- Mayor all in action in the fairground, which also featured Harry Lee’s Steam Yachts, Cakewalk ride and The Kings Gallopers. The Saunders team had been extremely busy getting the fleet ready, with Fowler No 14425

After a 50-year gap, newly restored Wallis Lady May at Stotfold 2015.

BOTH: ADRIANWHITE

Carry On requiring a boiler retube the weekend beforehand, while Burrell No 4000 of 1925 Ex-Mayor had just had its repairs finished with boiler and mechanical repairs undertaken.

OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 9

News&Events

Trevithick honoured in Dartford

Engine line-up, Central Park, Dartford, on May 9. ALL: ALAN BARNES

THE WEEKEND of May 9-10 once again saw the return of steam and vintage vehicles to the Kent town of Dartford. This free event, supported by Dartford Borough Council, is in its eighth year and as with the previous events the focus for activities on the Saturday is Central Park, reports Alan Barnes.

Here the visitors were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of fullsized and miniature steam engines along with cars, commercials, motorcycles, stationary engines, tractors and cars.

The event celebrates the life and times of esteemed Victorian engineer Richard Trevithick and the years he spent working in Dartford and quite rightly steam

Commercial vehicle line-up.

10 | JULY 2015 OLD GLORY

power is the main element. Fullsize traction engines featured a varied selection of types including the Foden Steam wagon and the new-build Foster Wellington owned respectively by Colin Wheeler and Ian Gilbert – two of the event’s organisers.

While the exhibits were impressive the highlight for me was undoubtedly the sight of Colin and Ian in their bright yellow high-visibility woolly hats which certainly made a change from the usual marshal’s jackets.

Making a debut here was the 1903 Fowler A4 No 9691 owned

by Roger Luck and Melanie and Simon Fisher (featured last issue).

There were some very fine miniatures on show and not only

Colin’s Foden wagon No 7536 of 1917, ex-Devon CC Northern Division.

were they seen steaming around the park but on Saturday most of the engines took part in a road run around the town. In what has become something of a tradition, the lead engine was the fine 4in Burrell traction engine Little Gem owned and built by Mick Harrington.

The commercial vehicles included the Express Dairy AEC Mammoth Major owned by William Pierce which was making its first appearance at the event and the 1929 Commer owned by Bob Moorman which is a rally regular. The wide variety of exhibits also included a small number of tractors and during the afternoon they had an impromptu road run of their own with tractors completing several circuits of the road which runs around the edge of the park.

On the Sunday the steam engines, which had been kept overnight at Hollands Farm on

Who needs an offensive viz jacket when just a bobble hat says‘I’m in charge’? Colin Wheeler at Dartford.

the outskirts of the town, again took to the roads of Dartford on a run through the town to St Edmund’s Pleasance, the resting place of Richard Trevithick and where a wreath was laid in his honour. He died penniless on April 22, 1833, and was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave in the cemetery at the top of East Hill – a sad end for one of the great pioneers of steam engineering.

This free event has become increasingly popular over the years and the park seemed busier than ever this year. Hopefully this celebration of Dartford’s industrial heritage will continue for many years.

News&Events Wight bus move

THE Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum has completed its relocation from Newport Quay to the former Southern Vectis depot at Park Road, Ryde.

The depot was completed in 1938 but it wasn’t until 1990 that Southern Vectis acquired the freehold from BR Property Board – the land is believed to have originally formed part of the Ryde Pier Tramway extension acquisition in 1870. The museum is open Sundays, Bank Holidays and Wednesdays until November 1.

Michael Lane

STEAM author and one-time owner of Burrell showman’s road locomotive Ex-Mayor (featured, this issue) Michael Lane died on May 13. His funeral was held in Eye on May 22.

An early member and one-time chairman of the National Traction Engine Trust, he was a well-known researcher and author of various magnum opus books on road steam engine manufacturers.

Fawley Hill Salvo

OLD Royal Mail postboxes, mid-century kitchens, lighting, doors, flooring and architectural curios are among items up for grabs at the first Salvo Fair to be held on Sir William and Lady Judy McAlpine’s Fawley Hill estate near Henley on Thames on June 27-28.

The steam railway will also be running this weekend alongside the retro and upcycled goodies.

Tickets are £25 on the gate from 11am, sat nav RG9 6JA, enquiries tel. 01225 422300.

Notts change

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE NVTEC’s Working Weekend on August 29-31 has a change of venue from Babworth to a new site at Askham Road, East Markham, Newark, Notts NG22 0RQ. All enquiries tel.

07860 269788.

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Half a century of rallying for Claude Jessett Trust

Six trust-owned engines in steam and seen together in the arena for the first time.

THE 50th Hadlow Down Traction Engine Rally took place at Tinkers Park, East Sussex, home of the Claude Jessett Trust, on May 30-31, writes Dave Vaughan.

Ex Penrhyn Ruston diesel No 24, the last engine to have worked at Port Penrhyn and the first time in service in totally restored condition by Dick and Colin Brown. ALL: DAVID VAUGHAN

Eight of the 12 steam engines owned by the trust were in steam, the others in store awaiting restoration. On parade were Aveling showman’s conversion No 7899 of 1913 Southern Queen; Wallis & Steevens 7nhp Expansion agricultural tractor No 7662 of 1917 Pensioner; Burrell Gold Medal tractor No3851 of 1920 The Tinker; Sentinel T DG-4P timber tractor No 9097 of 1934 Jupiter; Fowler AA7 ploughing engine No 1235 of 1919 Sandringham; Tasker roller No1409 of 1909; plus O&K 0-6-0WT No 11784 of 1928 Sao Domingos on the 2ft gauge railway and Ruston J Class portable No 163853 of 1931.

On show for the first time in completed condition, Ruston & Hornsby portable No 163853.

A special presentation was made to showman Robert Harris for all their services over fifty years.

Traditional boat event relaunched THE Thames Traditional Boat Rally has been relaunched and renamed the Traditional Boat Festival to reflect the broader range of attractions aimed at creating an exciting weekend for families and traditional boat owners alike.

It continues to be held on Fawley Meadows, Henley-onThames and will be on the weekend of July 18-19.

It is set to be the largest event of its type in Europe with the largest display and sail by of traditional boats of all shapes and sizes.

The Queen’s Royal rowing barge Gloriana will be present

Steam umpire launch Consuta. ALAN BARNES

both days and on Saturday evening an illuminated boat parade will, for the first time ever, go up-stream to Mill Meadows before returning.

The 1883 passenger steamer

Alaska offers trips both days and the first steam umpire’s launch from 1898 Consuta is offering trips on Sunday.

Discounted tickets online at www.tradboatfestival.com

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British veterans star in Swedish centenary WITH celebrations focusing on pre-1915 engines, the stars of the Swedish National Railway Museum centenary on May 23 were three Manchester-built

pioneers – all in steam and playing a full part in proceedings – and one passed for main line running, pulling heritage wooden bodied stock!

Three British-built veterans in steam together just off shed on May 23: BeyerPeacocks No 3 Prins August, No 75 Gota and Sharp Stewart No 2597.

SJ Pa No 27 of 1914 is Sweden’s oldest operable electric locomotive, now in the care of the museum. BOTH: COLIN TYSON

The three comprised Swedish State Railways (SJ) Beyer-Peacock No 3 of 1856 Prins August – out of service in 1906 and restored in time for SJ’s centenary in 1956; SJ Beyer-Peacock No 75 of 1866 Gota (main line ticketed) and Oxelosund-Flen-Westmanland Sharp Stewart & Co No 8/2597 of 1876.

Engines and coaches representing every decade between

1850 and 1915 were on the move at the museum’s base at Gavle, with the two Beyer-Peacocks taking their turn on passenger shuttle duties between Gavle main line station and the museum.

Three further early BeyerPeacock locomotives are on static display in the museum, together with an early Henry Hughes of Loughborough-built 0-4-0 tank locomotive.

Southdown celebrates 100 years AMBERLEY Museum was the first of several locations to host a gathering for former Southdown buses in this, its centenary year.

Southdown Motor Services Ltd was incorporated on June 2, 1915, from the three companies of Worthing Motor Services, the London & South Haulage Co Ltd and the Brighton, Hove & Preston United Omnibus Co Ltd. By the first years of the 1920s some 150 new vehicles had joined the fleet and several more businesses were absorbed by Southdown.

With the formation of the National Bus Co in 1968, the writing was on the wall for the muchloved apple green and yellow livery and in September 1977 a reorganisation within NBC placed Southdown and seven others within a south east region and in recent years Southdown is but a stuck-on lettering name that is part of Stagecoach (South) Ltd based in the Chichester area. Southdown’s love affair of utilising Leyland types lasted for 70 years.

Following Amberley, a further Southdown bus gathering was held at Southsea Common on June 7, while a future Southdown 100 event is planned at Tinkers Park, East Sussex, on August 2.

RIGHT: Southdown absorbed Worthing Tramocars after the 1930 Road Traffic Act and this Shelvoke and Drewry example was offering rides at Amberley.

Part of the Southdown Gathering at Amberley Museum on April 12, 2015. BOTH: COLIN TYSON

OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 13

News&Events

EATES resurrects Essex Crank-Up

FOR MANY years the Saffron Walden Crank-Up was an annual event in north Essex organised by tractor enthusiast Paul Engelmann. Sadly the event disappeared from the calendar of events but has now been resurrected by the East Anglian Traction Engine Society (EATES), reports Mike Dyson.

It has been some years since EATES organised a traction engine rally but a team of young

enthusiasts ably led by John Hunt produced a superb event over the weekend of May 9-10. It is often claimed that events are disappearing because the organisers are getting older and are not being replaced by new recruits.

EATES disproved this claim completely with a group of younger people with many still in their 20s that are dedicated and hard-working and who have produced an excellent steam rally.

Fowler 8-ton T3 roller No 15490 has moved south, having previously resided at Beamish Museum.

John Reid’s Clayton & Shuttleworth 10-ton roller No 3498 has all the features of a roller designed around an existing traction engine with an unusually small diameter front roll. ALL: MIKE DYSON

All the usual caravans and modern vehicles were parked in surrounding fields enabling the public to have unspoilt views of exhibits. One novel idea was not to have a ring with the usual commentary about the exhibits which can be tedious especially when there are several similar exhibits. As an alternative traction engines were to be seen slowly steaming around the field.

In the past Paul Engelmann’s events were characterised by something new for each Crank Up. The idea has not slipped the minds of the new organisers as there were a number of exhibits which have not been previously seen by most of the public. Top of

this list is probably Jenny Baxter’s Fowler 8-ton T3 roller No 15490 new to Wrexham RDC in 1920.

Jenny as a teenager built an impressive 4in scale McLaren road loco but has now moved up to a full size engine. Another newcomer with an engine is John Reid with his Clayton & Shuttleworth 10ton roller No 34980 Excelsior. The roller was completed in 1902 for Alfred Ward of Egham, Surrey.

One regular exhibitor remarked this event had the rally atmosphere of many years ago.

Another comment overheard was why can’t there be more events like this? It certainly had the warm and friendly character of a village fete. Well done EATES!

Part of the rally field viewed from above with tractors and tractions engines on display early in the day. The unrestored boiler of Glen Prince’s Aveling & Porter roller No 12136 is seen on a trailer, bottom right.

14 | JULY 2015 OLD GLORY

OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 15

News&Events

2995 Powering its way around the Melbourne arena is the Navy Steam Club’s 1923 Foden 6-ton wagon No 11102 of 1923. ALL: PETER LOVE

All steamed-up at Melbourne club’s Steam Fest 2015 THE Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club Inc’s 2015 Steam Fest was, perhaps, lacking a few guest engines. This year it clashed with another steam event in Sheffield, Tasmania, and took away some people who normally support it.

Nevertheless, there was much to see, says Peter Love.

MSTEC was founded in 1963 and in November 1969 held its first rally thanks to Bill Beamish

leasing the club a field in Wantirna near Burwood, the club’s base until 1988.

Over the years the club saved much machinery from going for scrap and eventually the site was too small to house the everincreasing number of items that the club and its members were collecting – large stationary steam, i/c engines, road steam and old plant, etc.

Seen proudly together, 1920 Fowler Z7s Nos 15500 and 15499, owned by MSTEC and purchased by the club in 1971 from John Robertson.

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Options were considered before the Metropolitan Board of Works offered the club a lease on their current site at Scoresby, Melbourne in 1986.

The site has since been transformed to change it from industrial nightmare to something pleasant and useable. Many wellconstructed buildings have been put up and thousands of tons of concrete have been laid to create a strong base for them.

Fine museum buildings house stationary steam engines such as a number of vertical Alley & MacLellan Ltd (Sentinel manufacture), WH Allen, Bellis & Morcom Ltd, Clarke Chapman & Co, Hindley, E Green, Davey Paxman, Marshall, Robinson Bros, E Reader & Sons, W Sisson and others including Tangye.

In the large internal engine category are examples from Blackstone, Crossley, Deutz, English Electric, Hornsby, Mirrlees, Petter, Ronalson Bros and an excellent selection of Ruston & Hornsbys. They are all well-presented and many were running during the show.

Looking so original – the 1915 Marshall 6hp portable No 69235.

Over half of all portables and traction engines preserved in Australia are Marshalls.

There are compressors, pumps, the main steam boiler, steam turbines, vintage workshop machinery and the Southern Steam Museum all incorporated on the site and many other buildings that house the exMurrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme Fowler Z7 ploughing engines Nos 15499 and 15500 (six were used; four exist today). These were in steam, with No 15500 back out after major repairs.

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The unique Thompson portable made at Castlemaine, Victoria, that’s here on site.

It was great to be reacquainted with Yorkshire wagon No 2049 of 1924, which has done many miles on Australian roads under its own steam.

Inside the smart Engine House, nearest camera is an unknown make of mill engine, thought to be the oldest in the collection.

Inside was the ex-Brunswick County Council 1922 BuffaloSpringfield (No 10699) 10-ton road roller and under long-term restoration was the 1910 Joy valve compound Clayton & Shuttleworth traction engine No 42129, supplied by C&S agents Dalgety & Co and donated to the club by Alan Robert in 1977.

Another building featured small oil engines and miniature railway equipment, connected to track that travels around the site, which featured a 1956 4-4-2 Atlantic created by Alan Lewis of Ballarat and now called ‘Franklin Flyer’ after Frank Hedges in honour of his major contribution to the railway here.

Having been to visit the club three times over the last 20 years, it was great to see its 1937 Marshall 8-ton S-Type No 88198 trundling around with the other engines, having been purchased

by MSTEC in 1971 from Moorabbin City Council.

There has been a developing plant section here – including other collections like that of the Morris bothers who have brought a whole new meaning to this section.

They had Allis-Chalmers, Caterpillar, Euclid and many more makes here, but the major feature in the centre arena was the Suffolkmade 1947-8 Ransomes & Rapier

Seen in action is the mighty 1947 Ransomes & Rapier W90 walking dragline made in Ipswich, Suffolk, and sold via Noyes Bros (Sydney) Ltd.

W90 (2321) walking dragline.

It’s in full working order and was new to the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. In 1950 it worked at the open-cut Morwell project. It was donated to the museum in 1992 and restored on site by Peter Morris and helpers.

Thanks to a major donation from International Power Hazelwood, it was disassembled on site and transported to Scoresby where it’s now a full operating machine. Warwick Bryce was operating it with the help of one of my party John Teasdale. Warwick also had his 1955 Foden 8LW double-drive artic unit out, plus his rare Australian made 1978 Leader truck, which is Caterpillar powered.

Charging around the ring giving rides was the Navy Club’s Foden 6-ton steam wagon No 11102 of 1924, which originally came to New South Wales then went to Inverell Saw Mill, before finishing up in a Sydney quarry. It

Two Marshalls together but some decades apart: No 55388 of 1910 and 8-ton road roller No 88198 of 1938.

was rescued via the HMAS Nirimba training facility and the wagon steamed for the first time in preservation during 1974.

However, it was outnumbered because two Sentinels, Nos 5227 and 5638, were here besides Yorkshire wagon No 2049, all in steam. Also in this area was the Australian Atkinson-made Wallis & Steevens 3-ton replica tractor.

Standing proud was the engine that can be described as the ‘king’ of them all – the Lloyds’ Marshall 8nhp compound road locomotive No 55388 of 1910 that’s fully sprung.

We met club president, Neil Meyers, who works very hard, and we congratulated him and his members for the way it’s all come together over the years.

OLD GLORY JULY 2015 | 17

News&Events

Marshalls at the museum

TO CELEBRATE the completion of the fiveyear restoration of Britannia Portable engine No 43090 of 1905 (and its 110th birthday) the ‘BAS in Restorations’ team (Robin Battersby, Graham Arnold and Phil Steer) is organising a display of their Marshall collection in the yard at Bury Transport Museum over the weekend of July 25-26.

All four of their engines will be out on display; Portable Britannia Boxed 6nhp single No 43090 of 1905 Conchita in steam; portable 10nhp single No 71396 of 1919 Doris awaiting 10-year overhaul; portable 12nhp twincylinder ‘S’-Type No 84922 of 1929 Juan Thoo (unrestored) and 7nhp traction engine threespeed single No 46276 of 1906 Pearl in steam.

Marshall portable No 43090 of 1905 Conchita in November 2007…

…and now fully restored.

18 | JULY 2015 OLD GLORY

Also celebrating its 70th birthday will be Graham Arnold’s Marshall Model ‘M’ Tractor No 1449.

Both Conchita and the ‘M’ will be making appearances later in the summer at Driffield, Lincoln and Malpas rallies.

Access to the yard/display is free (donation to museum requested) museum normal admission applies or free to holder of full line return ticket on the East Lancs Railway.