Old Glory - November 2015 - preview

HOLT GUN TRACTOR MAKES £150,000 Britain’s Best seller for

28

years

No. 309

NOVEMBER 2015

AT

HOME BEDS IN

‘CAN ANAD NADA D SENTINEL’ DEBUTS IN HOME COUNTY

LOOKING AFTER NUMBER ONE

YORKSHIRE WAGON GOES BACK TO WALES HUNDAY COLLECTION DISPERSAL A VIISIT TO NORM MA AN N BUNCOMBE’S WORKS IN

LARGE

IN THE USA ●

AUSTIN K4 TANKER

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WG ARMSTRONG’S CRAGSIDE

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PUMPINGIT

£4.20

1970

Welcome The end of the show and virtually the end of the 2015 rally season as Sandy Ross leaves Old Warden with his Aveling & Porter L Type tractor No 12152 of 1928 on September 20. ADRIAN WHITE

W

ITH just a few steam finales and ‘last steamings’ on the calendar we are virtually at the end of our 2015 event season, with just a few small Christmas and new year events to look forward to. Much has been achieved this year and the steam boys and girls have had a lot of fun along the way. As we wind down though, our Australian and New Zealand readers are just cranking up and lighting up as their season gets under way.

While our events have been well-managed and conducted in a safe manner it hasn’t been a good year for road incidents – the majority of which have been caused by other drivers acting irresponsibly. We await the outcome of the investigation into the latest incident – where a sub-contractor was moving a portable engine from a rally and it slipped off its lowloader into a passing bus full of passengers – a man believed to be the lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing injury by dangerous driving.

It’s not always possible to have a modern escort vehicle at the rear to smooth a safe passage for a steamer or slow vehicle and the NTET (mission statement: “preserving our heritage with steam on the road”) has

suggested publishing photos depicting various ‘rear ends’ on the road and the forms of visual protection afforded, to give others some ideas as to what works – our space is yours and we look forward to seeing some examples.

Following the almost complete demise of the UK coal industry comes the news that steel production on Teesside has ceased after SSI mothballed its Redcar works with its UK arm in liquidation – a global downturn in the price of steel being the oft-quoted mantra.

Opened in 1917 it didn’t quite make a century of manufacturing but Dorman Long’s name can be found on many iconic structures such as Sydney Harbour Bridge and its baby sister Newcastle Tyne Bridge, London’s Lambeth Bridge and Middlesbrough’s Newport Bridge right down to bridges across the railways of India. More recent successes include the steelwork of Wembley Stadium among other World Cup stadia in Brazil. We may have once connected our Empire with our steel bridges but, along with other industries, we are just not capable of competing on a global stage any more.

I was also sorry to learn that former missionary steamship MV Chauncy Maples, the oldest ship afloat in Africa, is now being lost from preservation following revised

costings for steelwork which renders the project to restore her beyond financial reach.

Featured in OG October 2009, the Scottishbuilt ship was to be restored to take vital medical supplies around Lake Malawi where she spent her working life. The Transport Trust’s Neil Marshall persuaded the BBC to make a documentary about her which led to a shipping company pledging matching funding against funding by the Malawian Government and she was in dry dock doing well but, says Neil “I guess she was not a long-term solution to the immense medical problems in that area.”

Last month I wrote of two of the 11 victims of the Shoreham air disaster and their links to transport preservation – Peter Love has just advised me of a third; Graham Abrahams was a member of the Morris Register and Horsham Historics and was a great help at shows as a marshal and other duties. Our condolences go to Graham’s family.

Colin Tyson Editor

ctyson@mortons.co.uk

OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 3

Contents No 309 | November 2015 NEWS 6-25 94

News & Events Old Glory in Miniature News

FEATURES 28

Looking after No. 1

34

Buncombe’s Works 1970

42

Pumping it large USA

48

The story of Pat Collins’ camerashy Burrell showman’s engine No 3685 of 1920.

An account of a day visit to see Norman Buncombe at his rolling contractors’ works in Highbridge, Somerset.

The world’s largest steam engines for water pumping duties are in Cincinatti, Ohio – installed on gigantic proportions on a river that dictated its need.

At home in Beds

A former Bedfordshire-based waggon that came home to Bedfordshire – and its restored debut was appropriately at the Beds club event at Old Warden last month after restoration from 46 years in Canada.

54

A Yorkshire wagon in Wales

60

George Armitage transport

66

Great Dorset photos

The working life, dereliction, recovery, two restorations and a re-creation back home for unique Yorkshire 2-ton steam wagon No 117 of 1905.

Some of the interesting fleet of vehicles belonging to the Yorkshire company of George Armitage & Sons.

A further selection of this year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair pictures from our top photographers.

70

Nothing FINA for Austin tanker

80

Cragside 1880s: House of the future

The history and restoration of a stunning ex-Fina 1950 Austin K4 paraffin tanker.

Sir W G Armstrong’s achievements with hydraulic engineering and electrical power.

4 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

86 News updates at oldglory.co.uk www.facebook.com/ OldGloryMag 96

Every inch a beauty

Tom Pettitt’s 4in scale Burrell which replaced a 3in version.

REGULARS 26 38 40 76 86 100 114

Club Focus Enginelines Helpline Vintageworld Steam Archive What’s On ‘Tail Lamp Tom’

70

READER SERVICES 36 107

Save money with a subscription to Old Glory Advintage – The biggest Steam & Vintage Marketplace

Save money when you subscribe

SEE PAGE 36

60

6

Front Cover: The Simmonds family’s Sentinel DG4 waggon No 8595 of 1931, which made its in-steam debut at the recent Old Warden rally.

ANDREW SIMMONDS This issue was published on Thursday, October 15, 2015. The December 2015 Old Glory (No 310) will be on sale from Thursday, November 19.

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80 Meet the team Derek Rayner

Colin Tyson Editor

Technical Advisor

Mike Dyson

Steve Dean Correspondent

Correspondent

James Hamilton

Colin Smith Advertising Executive

54

Malcolm Ranieri Correspondent

Correspondent

Contact us – details on Page 40

OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 5

News&Events Layout changes as BSEPS prepares for big 60th

A Hurricane flies past Old Warden as engines are seen in the new centralised‘playpen’. SIMON COLBECK

THIS YEAR’S Bedford Steam & Country Fayre held in the magnificent grounds of Shuttleworth Park presented some new challenges for the rally organisers and their band of volunteers and helpers, writes Alan Barnes.

The three-day event, held on September 1820, saw wet weather in the few days leading to the show – resulting in some parts remaining very soft and these were wisely cordoned off to protect any serious damage to the ground or exhibits. However the rally days were fine, especially on the Sunday.

Regular visitors will have noticed several changes made to the show layout. BSEPS chairman Dave Roberts explained: “We have changed the site layout dramatically and the popular ‘playpen’ has been moved to a more

central location to allow the sight of vehicles in action. This has freed up the arena to be used to present some entertaining acts rather than exhibit parades.”

Some of these changes have been made with an eye on next year’s 60th anniversary event, with plans to substantially increase the number of engines. Overall the changes were well received and in no way detracted from the fine array of exhibits on show.

Not all the changes worked and the society was the first to admit that there were some features that need to be changed, especially the ‘pinch point’ around the beer tent which became quite congested at times.

The new playpen location allowed the action to take place on some of the sloping

Michael Beeby steers the plough away from Fowler K7 No14247 of 1926 Sunrise. ADRIAN WHITE 6 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

Dave Evenson’s 9in Burrell road loco. ALAN BARNES

areas which gave the engines the opportunity to stretch their legs on an uphill area. It was unfortunate that the wet greasy surface, due to earlier heavy rain, limited the action on the first two days but on Sunday conditions were much improved.

Although there was no theme for this year, it was perhaps unofficially the ‘Year of the Steam Tractor’ as there were 28 engines from 10 different manufacturers on display. Among these was Jim Stanley’s superbly turned out Aveling & Porter KND colonial tractor No 9170 of 1920 Shamrock. Jim bought the engine in 2011 and this was the first time that he had taken the tractor to the event. Another interesting tractor on show was Wallis & Steevens 3nhp No 2592 of 1902 from the Saunders Collection. This engine returned to steam earlier this year having been stored by the previous owner for 50 years.

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

McLaren No 1541 carried a wreath in commemoration of a recently deceased crew member. SIMON COLBECK

Another ‘long lost’ engine was Aveling & Porter R10 roller No 4603 of 1900 which was originally exported to Denmark. The engine was thought to have been scrapped many years ago after its last steaming in 1960 but it was recently discovered in a barn and brought back to the UK for restoration. Even in its present condition it looks superb and I hope the owners consider a mechanical restoration to return the engine in working clothes.

For the past few years the timing of the harvest on the fields around the college has prevented ploughing but this year the fields were made available and both steam and tractor ploughing was under way. Among the ploughing engines was McLaren No 1541 of 1918 which carried a wreath in commemoration of a crew member who sadly passed away shortly before the rally.

With the present Mrs Barnes distracted by craft tents I took the opportunity to fortify the inner man with elevenses at Devilish Donuts courtesy of Debbie and Gavin Harris (I recommend the cinnamon but other doughnuts are available). Then it was time to play with Stuart Ritchie’s 1930 Foden J Type wagon which was new to F Richards of Leicester as a flexible six-wheeler articulated vehicle. Stuart was kind enough to move the Foden, now resplendent in the green company livery, into some of the quieter areas for photos. Another fine wagon was the Simmonds’ recently completed 1931 Sentinel No 8595 (pages 48-52).

The line-up of showman’s engines included regulars such as Burrell No 3890 Majestic and Fowler No 14425 Carry On from the Saunders Collection. Appearing for the first time here

This 1919 Austin R tractor has been at Shuttleworth Park from new. ALAN BARNES

Return of a‘long lost’engine – Aveling & Porter roller No 4603 of 1900 was originally exported to Denmark and was thought to have been scrapped many years ago after its last steaming in 1960. ALAN BARNES

was Fowler showman’s No 9386 Maid of Cefn Ydfa and Burrell Special Scenic No 3909 Winston Churchill.

Some very fine miniatures were seen, although some were more miniature than others – Dave Evenson’s 9in Burrell road loco is impressive and is practically the same size as a Burrell Gold Medal tractor. Another of the scale engines which Dave has worked on and making its first appearance here was Jamie Smith’s recently completed 9in Foden C Type, another very impressive engine.

The working area remains in the lower field and full-size engines, miniatures and tractors were powering a variety of saw benches, stone crushers and threshing machines. This part of the field was also shared with a fine display of tractors including the 1919 Austin R Type displayed from the Shuttleworth Collection. It’s been used at Shuttleworth Park since new and used to maintain the woodland areas.

Despite some challenging conditions BSEPS is to be congratulated on presenting another very fine event. These shows do not just come together and society members and their helpers work hard, not only in the months leading up to the show but also during the

New to Old Warden, Jim Stanley’s superbly turned out Aveling & Porter KND Colonial Tractor No 9170 of 1920 Shamrock. ALAN BARNES

event itself dealing with any unexpected problems. With the failure of contracted bin men to arrive on Sunday morning and with piles of rubbish to deal with, it was typical of those involved that the response was immediate and a cleansing operation was undertaken by volunteers without any fuss.

This event continues to be one of the high spots on the calendar and it is guaranteed that they’ll pull out all the stops to make next year’s diamond event one to remember.

The fairground at night was full of the atmosphere expected at a premier league rally. ADRIAN WHITE OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 7

News&Events Malpas hosts a grand selection

Steam engines in the main arena at Malpas on September 12, 2015.

THE Malpas Vintage Machinery Association staged its 42nd rally on its site at Hampton Heath, Cheshire, once again pulling together a grand selection of full-size and miniature steam and just about every other form of machinery from across the vintage preservation movement, reports Brian Dobbs.

The large area included two arenas and a working field to explore and regular commentator David Bradbury and his fellow ‘mic merchants’ brought the ring events to life for this friendly enthusiast-organised show.

Having tested the stability of ground conditions a number of full-size steamers remained in the ring after the main display for a charity public steering event – a hallmark of Malpas for many years. More than 30 full-size engines saw a full supporting cast of miniatures. Peter Walker’s popular Sentinel waggon was present, the 1933 S6 tipper in its Tarmac livery having been delivered new to that company in 1933 and worked there until 1946 until sold to the Cambridge Gas Light & Coal Co before retirement and preservation.

Also nice to see was the superbly turned-out Aveling 6nhp roller No 10906 of 1924 Cinderella.

Two Aveling rollers, Alan Schofield’s 1924 eight-ton compound and No 10460 of 1923 Joan shared a road-making demonstration with a 1918 Ransomes, Sims & Jeffries 6nhp 8 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

portable providing power for a stone crusher – all set amid a typical period road makers’ encampment that included the oldest full-size engine at the rally, the 1889-built Aveling & Porter traction engine Valentine.

The Old Tyme fairground included Ashley’s Steam Gallopers, a Waltzer and adult Chair-oplanes with other classic rides and attractions, with four organs including an 89-key Gavioli providing accompanying music.

Classic motorcycles, pedal cycles, old prams and wheelchairs contained some real gems and certainly added greatly to the mix, with these smaller entries taking to the second arena adjacent to the working field attraction. An encampment of military vehicles was situated adjacent to the main arena and contained a selection of the ubiquitous Willys, Hotchkiss and Ford Jeeps as well as scout cars, troop carriers and other armoured vehicles.

Classic tractors demonstrating ploughing and cultivating in the working field.

ALL: BRIAN DOBBS

A commercial with an interesting history was the 1943 AEC Matador 742 LUL. This vehicle started life as an RAF recovery tractor and demobbed into forestry work before searching for the bright lights of A J Botham’s Circus. Fitted with a generator to power the showman’s rides, it is a credit to its owner.

The Land Rover Series One Club members showed a

Bibendum sits on a 1943 AEC Matador, an ex-RAF recovery tractor.

selection of these ever-popular vehicles. A popular attraction at Malpas has always been the display of heavy horses and again this year beautifully turned-out heavy breeds were complemented by light horses with gypsy wagons.

Malpas is a friendly event with a wealth of activities and exhibits to delight everyone, and rightly deserves its solid position at the centre of Cheshire’s vintage scene.

Allen and Jane Eaton’s Allchin agricultural engine No 1546 of 1912 Rebel.

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Burrell road locomotive The Badger at South Cerney with its two superb traction wagons. ALL: MALCOLM RANIERI

Plenty to see at spacious South Cerney THE Duke of Gloucester Barracks at South Cerney just outside Cirencester provide a large site for the organisers of the 41st Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza , the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) to fill, with a superb and diverse array of engineering artefacts when Britain was workshop to the world, reports Malcolm Ranieri.

The airfield at which the show is based must, after the Great Dorset, be in the top few size-wise in the UK – which brings both benefits and problems. The main benefit is that exhibits can enjoy space and movement, almost unparalleled in the rally world, while against that is that the sheer size can cause problems getting round it all, though organisers are aware and continually refine the siting of exhibits.

1904 Aveling 10-ton road roller, sporting a nice scarifier, and living van arriving at the rally.

Showman’s road locomotives at the event, held from July 31 to August 2, included Arthur Thomson’s magnificent Fowler B6 No 19782 of 1932 The Lion ex-Anderton & Rowland which stood next to David Down’s Carnival Big Wheel and Dorman Brothers’ Electric Yachts while Burrells included No 2879 of 1907 Lord Nelson, owned by Peter Jones of the Isle of Man and rallied by John and Neil Boughey of Much Wenlock, Shropshire. This was posed next to Brian Wells’ 1885 Gavioli 89-key organ and Burrell No 3950 of 1914 Progress owned by the Newton family. Also 1914-built is Burrell No 3555 The Busy Bee, owned by Patrick Edwards and originally with Taylor Bros.

Finally was 5nhp showman’s No 3849 of 1920 Marshall Foch, newly acquired by the Hall family of Eldersfield, Gloucestershire.

Martin Shepherd of Leamington Spa’s 1923 Burrell road loco No 3941 The Badger came with two restored traction wagons in the livery of Exhall Colliery & Brick Works Ltd, Bedworth, appropriate as the engine started life on Lord Cowdray’s estate in West Sussex hauling bricks.

Steam section leader Peter Brown brought his own Burrell traction engine, No 2003 of 1897 Diamond Queen and had put her to work on a rack saw, as also was Aveling & Porter No 9096 of 1920 Jubilee owned by Dave Knott

Timber haulage by steam and diesel.

of High Wycombe. Diamond Queen worked in Dorset for farmer Mr R Old, after three years to a Mr Cooksly of Langport, Somerset, and used for hauling bricks and agricultural work, and in the late 1940s used as a soil steriliser before entering preservation.

For a second year, Cerney hosted the iconic Bedford OB get-together, with 11 Duple bodied versions from 1948 to 1952, and a 1938 Bedford WTB, a rare survivor of a vehicle bodied by Willmott of London, operated by one firm all its working life, H Vincent of Thorncombe, Somerset.

Martyn Slater, chairman SVTEC, in his opening message says the show is organised entirely by volunteers and is non-profit making; revenue raised is used only for future events and to make donations to charities, particularly Diabetes UK and Cobalt, a cancer charity.

Owners of classic Bedford OBs met here for the second year running.

OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 9

News&Events Hunday Fergie dispersal announced TIME has run out for Paul Rackham to find a sole buyer for the Ferguson Hunday Experience Collection. Over the past three years the collection has been offered as one unit, but with Lisburn Council in Northern Ireland pulling out of a possible purchase in the middle of September, Paul has reluctantly decided to put the whole collection up for sale at auction on Saturday, November 14, advises Peter Love.

It’s finally to happen – the late John Moffitt Ferguson collection is unfortunately to be individually dispersed. This is something that John didn’t want to see and he was pleased when in 2004 he found in Paul Rackham a buyer for the collection as a whole.

However, Paul now needs the room and while he has made every effort to keep this invaluable and unique collection together, a buyer hasn’t been found and time has just run out. So it’s going to be individually sold off at Roudham, Norfolk on November 14 by Cheffins and Clarke & Simpson.

It will certainly be a fantastic time for the many Ferguson, Massey Ferguson and some Ford collectors, as not only are there tractors, vehicles and implements, but there will be ephemera, literature and possibly models.

John Moffitt built the collection over 20 years at his amazing Hunday, Stocksfield farm in Northumberland, where the original Hunday Countryside Museum was created and opened by the Queen Mother in 1979. It was made up of some 200 tractors of all makes.

After that was sold on, John started again with his Ferguson Hunday Experience. That was then passed on to Paul, who has further developed the collection since 2004. When John passed away on May 6, 2008, aged 79, that was certainly the end of an era. Another era will also end when Paul Rackham puts the collection under the hammer.

Rare Ferguson implements will be a major feature, for example the Kale Cutrake (G-HE-20) that sticks out here, besides the rare (but not unique) Ferguson power unit.

Below is a sample of anticipated lots, but there are many more items. Please remember that the tractors listed are the basic types and not the variations, for example Reekie, industrial, half-track and so on and nearly all are restored or original:

In another corner is one of the earliest Ferguson p/p TE-D tractors made, painted by the Guernsey Ferguson dealer in maroon and cream.

ALL: PETER LOVE

There will be more than 400 lots in this sale, which features so much of Ferguson’s tractor history.

10 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

Ferguson Brown A, Ford Ferguson 9N x 2, 2N x 2, 8N x 1, Ferguson TE x 2, TE-A x 5, TO-30 x 1, TET x 1, TE-D x 7, TEL x 1, TE-F x 5, TO-35 x 1, FE-35 x 3, MF65, F-40 x 2, MF50 x 1, MF 25 x 1, F/F Funk V8 x 1, F/F Funk straight-6 (there are others). Ploughs x 22, cultivators, harrows, discs x 30, potato, sugar beet and seeding equipment x 18, manure loaders, spreaders, forklifts and excavators x 12, trailers, transport boxes and wagons x 8, mowers and hay equipment x 8, harvesters, balers and power unit x 7, other equipment and accessories x 76, (not including ephemera and models).

The early Ferguson Brown A 130, aluminium 1939 9N 741 and early 2N star in the front line here.

OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 11

News&Events Midlands Models

A REMINDER that the 38th Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition takes place at Warwickshire Exhibition Centre from October 15-18 and includes a Len Crane tribute as Len, who passed away last year, was a founding supporter and a judge for many years. Open 10am-5pm daily at CV31 1XN. The same venue will host the fifth Model Tractor, Plant & Construction Show on Sunday February 7, 2016, including full size vintage tractors courtesy of Warwick Tractor & Vintage Machinery Society (WVTMS) and Friends of Ferguson Heritage.

Stoke Prior – Shakespeare’ss last actt THE LAST show of the season for Keith Shakespeare’s Rally Promotions, the Stoke Prior event near Bromsgrove, on September 18-20, was sited next to a main line railway where exhibits are accompanied by passing trains, (unfortunately no steam!) writes Malcolm Ranieri.

Full size engines were led by Fowler showman’s No 15652 Repulse alongside two local Fowler rollers – No 16392 Alice owned by Peter Atkins, ex-Samuel Jackson & Sons of Crewe and No 17480 of 1929 Survivor. Exported to Portugal

Bus comes home

AN AEC regent double deck bus, new in 1949 to City of Oxford Motor Services, is being bought by the Oxford Bus Museum for restoration from its current owner in Maryville, New York State. OFC 395 was one of a fleet of 53 Highbridge buses acquired between 1948 and 1951.

This bus operated in Oxford for 12 years before being acquired by The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Aldermaston for site staff transport.

Exported to Long Beach, California in 1974 it was used as a tourist attraction at the Queen Mary site. Even though it had never been owned by London Transport, the bus was painted red and passed off as an exLondon bus.

Portable collision

A BUS driver was fighting for his life and 11 passengers were injured when Garrett portable engine No 35188 of 1928 fell from its low-loader into the path of the bus in Essex on September 23.

The low-loader and its driver had been contracted by Grand Henham rally, where the engine had taken part in a Garrett themed special display, and was being returned to its owner’s base.

Speaking to Old Glory, the owner explained that he could not yet assess any damage to the engine as it was still impounded by police and likely to remain so until 2016.

12 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

Cider with Rosie: Weston Cider’s Aveling roller Old Rosie. BOTH: MALCOLM RANIERI

Locally-based Fowler 10-ton DNB roller No 17480 of 1929 Survivor once worked around Lisbon.

and acquired in a derelict state she was restored by owner Alan Baker in 1997.

Of interest was Aveling & Porter roller No 9158 of 1920 Old Rosie, owned by Weston’s Cider Co in Herefordshire – with its image used on its pump clips in pubs throughout the land.

‘Old Rosie’ was originally a shire

horse which regularly worked the brewery dray.

Standing next to Repulse was the 1902 98-key Gavioli organ, also owned by Terry Gibson, and to add some more rally music Steve Harbache brought his 2010-built 35keyless Alan Pell organ. www.shakespearesrally.com

Steam on the water SET ON the shores of Europe’s largest man-made reservoir, the second Steam on Rutland Water took place in late June, the organisers moving the event from a smaller venue at Great Casterton, and the show has doubled in size with 14 full size engines and 28 miniatures, two of which were utilised on wood sawing demonstrations.

Among the engines were Robin Williamson’s pair of Fowlers, B5 No 9475 of 1902 Duke of Rutland and DNA roller No 19356 of 1932; Brian Knight’s Ruston & Hornsby portable No 175037

The steam gathering in England’s smallest county.

Steam boat Orinda on Rutland Water. BOTH: CHARLOTTE SALT

of 1935; Martin Frampton’s immaculate Fowler road loco No 9279 of 1902 Kitchener and Michael Goake’s Aveling-Barford 8-ton roller Sarah.

Alongside a good spread of commercials, tractors, cars, classic caravans, motorcycles and fire engines and miniature railway, two steam boats ventured on the water – all topped off with a Spitfire flypast on the Sunday.

Eastbourne club celebrates 40 festivals WHEN joint founder and first chairman of the Eastbourne Historic Vehicle Club Ian Dean gathered like-minded members together for indoor meetings at the town’s Cavalier pub, little did anyone suspect that from those meetings to an initial autojumble in the Winter Gardens and a first gathering in the Congress Theatre car park that it would lead to 40 successful years of the Hellingly Festival of Transport, writes Colin Tyson.

From a group that initially saved one former Eastbourne Leyland Lion bus, the annual event grew and like many events that boast such a longevity, stories of wash-outs and mud abound – indeed mud followed Ian and his well-known Downs rallies until he retired in 1999.

But Hellingly marched on and has commendably raised over £125,000 for local and national causes since its inception. David Bone, John Bishop and other committee stalwarts are to be congratulated on this milestone and for their charitable works.

All classes were full for the rally, traditionally held over the August bank holiday weekend and drawing in visitors again from a large catchment area.

The steam section consists of many usual East Sussex suspects at their last outing prior to the Great Dorset and much of the line-up is boosted by seven working entrants from the Claude Jessett Collection at Tinkers Park, Hadlow Down under section leader Peter Haining and a core entrant from Sussex Steam Engine Club

Much of the full size steam element at Hellingly was dominated by working examples from The Claude Jessett Collection at Hadlow Down, seen here with two former local Eastbourne Corporation buses behind in their distinctive blue and yellow livery. COLIN TYSON

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Two rare lorries on their way to Dorset from Holland stopped off at Hellingly – a Magirus Deuz Jupiter of 1960 with a V8 air-cooled engine and a Volvo 495 of 1962. DAVID VAUGHAN

members joined by a few from over the border in Kent.

The trust also brought its 71/4in demonstration line for carrying younger visitors. This is not an event yet infiltrated with a large number of miniatures (just five present) as there are many aspects of vintage transport here to contain the right mix.

Just named as Brewer of the Year in the 2016 Good Beer Guide, local brewer Harvey & Son brought their horse-drawn dray to the show, where heavy horses have been popular with visitors since its inception.

Another constant at Hellingly is that each year is fixed in the calendar for a visit by Harris Bros traditional fair of Ashington, West Sussex, bringing Gallopers, traditional Swing Boats and other rides and stalls.

Club membership reaches between 120 and 150 each year and meetings and outings are well-attended despite the local population being more slanted to retirement age. We wish you all the best for another 40 years!

On its way to Hellingly, the little 6-ton Wallis and Steevens‘Advance’roller No 8047 of 1930 pauses at Grove Hill on its way from Hadlow Down. New to Frimley & Camberley UDC it is now owned by Adrian Vaughan and Jeff Bone. DAVID VAUGHAN

Trams again at BCLM AFTER A 19-month closure following extensive trackwork repairs, trams are running again on the full length of line at the Black Country Living Museum.

On September 30, Wolverhampton District single decker tram, built in 1919, departs the Albion depot with a service to the museum entrance. In the background Midland Red D9‘6342 HA’ departs with a bus service for the same destination. STUART CHAPMAN OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 13

News&Events

Fowler Dreadnought returns to the field THE Little Casterton Working Weekend in Lincolnshire on September 22-23 saw Brian Knight’s 1925 Fowler BB1 ploughing engine No 15452 Dreadnought make it back to the field, reports Peter Love.

The engine had been to a ‘run in’ event before being seen by more at the famous working.

The engine had been off the ploughing field for some five

years or so, with extensive boiler work being carried out by Alton Engineering, Derbyshire.

When Brian bought Nos 15451/2 from Robert Coles over ten years ago he always knew that No 15452 would need at least a new firebox by the patch repairs inside it at the time.

Having made room in the repair shop Brian and his extensive team of younger enthusiasts

Away they go! Fowler BB1 Victory pulls out Dreadnought’s winding drum for the first pull of the day at Little Casterton on September 22.

Dreadnought’s motion is all up and together and looking good.

BOTH: PETER LOVE

stripped the engine before it went to Derbyshire.

New lagging has been rolled and fitted on the engine, besides various other items of work. In command on the footplate at Little Casterton was well known transport haulier, Land Rover

writer and editor of NTET’s Steaming Kevin Mills. It was coupled to one of the oldest known Fowler ploughs and with No 15451 Victory at the other end, the tackle kept the crowd enthralled over the two days and in excellent weather too.

Oberon back on the road ON FRIDAY September 11, Aveling & Porter 11839 L class 5-ton tractor No 11839 of 1927 Oberon took to the road after a break of some 15 years while a full boiler rebuild and more took place.

The engine set off from its Shropshire base at 4.40pm and travelled the 19 miles to arrive in dusk light at the excellent

Malpas rally site. It was backed up by motor college student Adam Allison and his classic and rare 1966 John Deere 710 that worked in the UK all its life.

Oberon was driven by James Allison who has done a lot of work on the engine, and it went smoothly on its way.

Unfortunately at the end of the

Team Oberon – back on the circuit and pleased to be here. BOTH: PETER LOVE

Arriving at the Malpas site, the Allison’s Oberon made it in one piece after its first road trip. The engine had just two owners in preservation, starting in 1957 with John Crowther of Long Preston.

14 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

Whitchurch by-pass, in heavy traffic, one of the main bearings picked up, it just happened to be the one the team hadn’t replaced. However, after some small adjustment and a cool down the engine continued.

At the rally site the engine was warmly greeted by fellow owners who had looked forward to it returning to the field again, including Brian’s mother, Rosemary, who was pleased to see it out again.

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

Early closure for rained-off Fairford

Engine line-up at Fairford rally.

THE Fairford rally is in its 47th year, one of the first, which used to be held just outside the town and is now just a couple of miles

away at Quarry Farm, Poulton.

The late August event saw the Saturday with sunny weather but heavy rain on Sunday forced

Fowler K7 Linkey on the Fairford ploughing area. BOTH: MALCOLM RANIERI

an early closure, writes Malcolm Ranieri.

With 11 engines present, leading the way was John Wharton’s Fowler No 20223 of 1934, now turned out in road loco form.

The B6 Super Lion started life in showland with Mrs A Deakin, but at the end of its working life was on road haulage, the canopy reading “Road Engines & Kerr Haulage Ltd., Mavis Bank, Glasgow”.

Two of Richard Wilcox’s engines were in action – Burrell Devonshire No 3368 of 1912 Coeur De Lion and Foster No 14568 of 1925 Matilda, which was paired with an original Foster

traction wagon. Vince Hawkins brought his Wallis & Steevens traction engine No 7370 of 1914 Fair Rosamund, which was belted to a Foster threshing drum, owned by Neil Woodward and David Hooker.

Among the rollers was 1904 10-ton Aveling No 5590, owned

by Nigel Keene and used in the famous 1952 film The Titfield Thunderbolt, when driven by Sid James.

In the ploughing field was Mike Jones’ Fowler K7 No 14257 of 1916 Linkey and the mighty 22nhp Z7 No 15673 of 1922, owned by Michael Davies, using Mark Walker’s Fowler plough.

Rempstone rally is a Burrell-free zone THE GREAT Rempstone Steam and Country Show has been presented in various guises since 1956, so next year will be significant, though one or two have been cancelled due to inclement weather (2012) or foot and mouth at the turn of this century.

Dorman’s Electric Yachts – 100 years old.

BOTH: MALCOLM RANIERI

There were 44 full size engines at the July show of all types, however, no Burrells were listed, which for a rally this size must be a record!

There were several exhibits reaching 100 years; Foster showman’s tractor No 14066 of 1915 Endeavour with Matthew Sheldon; Robey tractor No 33957 Village Queen in the care of Kev Mills; Fowler traction engine No 14600 Victoria and Dorman’s Savagebuilt Electric Yachts – the last survivor of a batch of 14 which were electrically driven from new. A new book is available entitled Dormans Electric Yachts – The Centenary.

In the working area belted to a 1952 Ransomes threshing box and a Carter straw elevator and baler was the Geo E White & Sons traction engine Moose, owned by Tony Ledbury of Sutton in Ashfield.

Fowler BB1 ploughing engine Tiger passes ‘Greengrass’s’living van with its add-on feature!

The other working area had three saw benches in operation, the Saturday engines being Marshall No 17134 of 1889 Mary Margaret; Ransomes,Sims & Jefferies traction engine No 20760 of 1908 Jubilee and 1920 Foster No 14410 Sprig.

OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 15

News&Events Time to mark unique pond’s restoration

Aveling & Porter five-ton tractor Flower and Arn Jung 0-4-0 Well Tank No 3175 of 1921 Jenny, acquired in 2005 from Argentina by Jeremy Martin and passing through Joe Nemeth and Statfold Barn prior to arriving at the newly laid Richmond Light Railway in 2012. BOTH: JAMES HAMILTON

Road and rail steam at Richmond KENT’S private Richmond Light Railway held its second open day on August 15, with the newly completed first phase of its southern branch line extension to New Barn Halt brought into use.

Road steam engines present were: Aveling & Porter roller No 10399 of 1922 & Fowler

CELEBRITY archaeologist Phil Harding of Time Team fame joined volunteers and visitors to celebrate the inauguration of Crofton Pumping Station’s unique header pond on September 27 during its annual steam gala.

The restoration of the header pond follows extensive work by volunteers, alongside donations from the Association of Industrial Archeology and others. The header pond is believed to be the only surviving example of this type of structure in the world.

More than 1000 people visited Crofton during the weekend to see the two historic beam engines pumping water for the canal, one of which is the world’s oldest beam engine still capable of doing its original job. Within the grounds, there was a variety of traction engines, miniatures and cars.

During the winter Crofton will host maintenance days for visitors to see work behind the scenes. More information at www. croftonbeamengines.org/

DNA 4nhp tractor No 16948 of 1926 Colleen, both part of Richmond’s Collection, plus visiting Wallis & Steevens eightton ‘Advance’ roller No 8033 of 1930; Aveling & Porter five-ton tractor No 8809 of 1917 Flower and Fowler A4 traction engine No 9691 of 1903.

Fowler tractor Colleen and O&K 0-4-0 Well Tank No 3136 of 1908 Susan, supplied new to a sugar beet operation in Poland.

Team effort: Time Team’s archaeologist Phil Harding addresses the audience before cutting the ribbon.

Romney and Ratty locos visit Kirklees

McLaren roller No 752 roaded the short distance from its base to attend the event. BOTH: BARRY PLUES 16 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

THE TENTH Steam & Diesel Gala at the 15in gauge Kirklees Light Railway at Clayton West, Yorkshire, in mid-September had a number of interesting engines from around the country, reports Barry Plues.

These included River Mite from the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Doctor Syn from the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent and the well-known Katie ex-Fairbourne Railway in Wales and recently purchased by the KLR. The miniature railway adjacent to the station building was also in full swing.

Road engines making an appearance included the unique (to the UK) McLaren roller No 752 of 1908 Two visiting locos at Kirklees; River Mite (left) and Doctor Syn owned locally by Alan Smith. at Clayton West.

OLD GLORY NOVEMBER 2015 | 17

News&Events

‘Puffer’ boiler installed at Crinan THE NEW boiler manufactured by Cochran at its Annan works under special order for Clyde Puffer VIC 27 was completed, delivered to Crinan boatyard and installed on August 18, reports Hugh Dougherty.

Cochran was asked by boatyard manager John Dunlop to make the boiler using the ship’s original, 70-year-old Cochran boiler as a template, and the company took it on as a special project, as featured in OG 307.

The opportunity was taken to enhance the efficiency of the coal-fired steam plant without compromising the original design and the boiler will power VIC 27 when her overhaul and restoration is complete.

The boiler lift at Crinan on August 18.

The boiler in place. BOTH: COCHRAN UK

18 | NOVEMBER 2015 OLD GLORY

David Branch, Cochran’s head of business development, said: “We are delighted to be involved in VIC 27’s restoration and to have

been asked to make this one-off boiler which is now installed in the vessel as a major milestone in her restoration.”