Steaming 1981 Vol.24 No.2

Steaming

ISSN ❑260 - 2962

Vol 24 No 2 Spring 1981

The Magazine of the National Traction Engine Club

nal Membership of the National Traction Engine Club is open to those who, whether engine owners or not, have a genuine interest in the preservation of self propelled steam road vehicles, portable engines etc.

President (and Technical Services): S.J. Wharton, Southern Down, Minster Lovell, Oxford.

Vice Presidents: John T. Beeby; Anthony S. Heal.

Chairman: P.G.C. Barber, 77 Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3HG. Vice-Chairmen: J. Crawley, Field House, Turvey, Bedford MK43 8DU.

The annual subscription is £8.00 for individuals, £10.00 for family membership and £5.00 for pensioners. The Club's magazine Steaming is sent free to members during January, April, July and October, and other benefits of membership include advantageous terms for boiler insurance as well as post free prices on publications purchased through NTEC sales, and access to advice on technical matters

General Secretary: George Beck, 127 Greensted Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3DJ. Membership Secretary: Mrs Fay Wood, 'Windrush', Hail Weston, Huntingdon, Cambs PE19 4JY. Treasurer: Mrs Y. Hanmore, 'Woodcote' Wannock Road, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5EA. Chairman, Rally Sub-Committee: P.G.C. Barber, 77 Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3HG. Chairman, Engine Owners Sub-Committee: M. Harmsworth, Littleton Wood Farm, Semington, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 6LF Secretary, Steam Apprentice Club: Mrs S.J. Berth Jones, Pounce Hall Cottage, Sewards End, Saffron Walden, Essex.

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A selection of books available (send SAE for full list of NTEC Sales)

To claim the post free prices, members must enclose with their order their current membership card, which will be returned. Nonmembers prices include postage and packing charges. Payment should be by cheque or postal order only, made payable to NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE CLUB

Orders to:

Stuart Gray, NTEC National Sales Officer, 60 Harbour Avenue, Comberton, Cambridge CB3 7DD

50

on

Overseas Members or nonprice, members UK only

NEW Traction Engines in Colour (Finch) 11.50 10.95 NEW Traction Engines in Close-up (Sawford) 6 50 5.95 NEW A Head Full of Steam (Stevenson) 1 50 1.25 NEW 1981-1982 Steam Yearbook and Preserved Transport Guide 1 00 .80 Kaleidoscope of Traction Engines (Whitehead) 7 50 6.95 Kaleidoscope of Steam Wagons (Whitehead) 0 50 5.95 Kaleidoscope of Farm Tractors 6 50 5.95 Vintage Tractor Album, No 1 7 50 6,95 The Story of the Steam Plough Works (Lane) 19.25 17.50 Foden Story (Kennet) 6 50 6.00 4 30 Scale Model Traction Engine Building (Mason) 3.95 Steam Power in Agriculture (Williams) 3 90 3.75 Steam Road Vehicles (NTEC reprint) (Meyrick-Jones) . 5.25 4.95 Savages of Kings Lynn (Braithwaite) 4 50 3.95 Farm Tractors (Williams) 4 50 3.95 British Tractors for World Farming (Williams) 5.95 6 50 Paddle Steamers (Cox) 8 50 7.95 The Steam Scene, Volumes 1 to 5 (Blenkinsop) . . . . each 5.50 4.95 Traction Engine Register 1 10 .90 NEW The Australian Steam Engine Listing 2 20 1.85 Garretts of Leiston (Whitehead) 3 60 3.00 The Undertype Steam Wagon.(Kelly) special price 6.50 5.95 The Overtype Steam Wagon (Kelly) special price 6.50 5.95 Fairground Steam (Beaumont) 1 75 1.50 Farming with Steam 1 75 1.50 Military Traction Engines 1 10 .90 Apprentice at McLarens 1 20 1.05 Travelling Shows and Roundabouts 1 10 .90 Steaming binder (takes any two years, Vol 19 to 23 only) 2 60 2.30 NTEC car badge (members only) 2.50 2 80

The Magazine of the National Traction Engine Club Volume 24 Number 2

Spring 1981

Editorial

Editor: Roger West, 14 Charles Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9AB

You have no doubt already realised, long before reading this column, that our magazine is a Worcestershire special this time. For no particular reasons Worcestershire is a county not very familiar to your Editor so it is particularly pleasing to be able to learn more about it's engines past and present. It has not proved possible to pay the traditional Editorial visit to the county during the preparation of the magazine and this special owes a great deal to the work of Joe Thomas of Worcester. We are grateful to him, as well as the other local contributors.

By using all the material solicited and assembled for this number, and also including the usual Rally list, the issue is somewhat thicker than our subscription allows for. We feel, therefore, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer (not to mention our Treasurer!) will approve when we warn you that subsequent issues will be slightly slimmer to take account of this — in any case it is likely in future that we shall vary the number of pages in the magazine, because of the greater amount of content generated for the winter issues — news of the past season's activities, etc.

We are pleased that the new format of Steaming has found favour and thank those of you who wrote to say so — the change even seems to have persuaded some waverers to continue their subscriptions! In times such as these we all seek to reduce our outgoings, but the larger the membership of the Club, the lower the cost of each magazine and therefore the subscription, so how about approaching some of those potential members you must know, and persuading them to join us?

Assistant Editor: Derek Rayner, 'Invicta', Lower Street, Salhouse, Norwich NR13 6RH Display Advertising: Tony Wood, 22 Larch Grove, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6AU Small Ads: to the Editor Distribution and Change of Address: Mrs Fay Wood, 'Windrush', Hail Weston, Huntingdon, Cambs PE19 4JY

The Editor will be pleased to consider contributions of suitable articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issues. All material so submitted is voluntary and payment cannot be made for any material published, although expenses incurred may be met. The opinions expressed in the magazine, with the exception of those printed as Club announcements, are those of the contributors and do not indicate the views of the Club as a whole. All items are held copyright by the contributors and/or the NTEC. Next Issue: Press date for news items, recent photographs and small advertisments is 11th May 1981

This issue 52 55 59 60 61 66 68 71 74 75 78 81 94 96 98

Club News Joe Thomas and Derek Rayner The Bomfords and the Eversheds New Life at Kew Derek Rayner The Danks Steam Wagon Working Days — engines once seen Joe Thomas on Worcestershire's roads Joe Thomas Early Preservation The County Fleet — Worcestershire's rollers John Rhead and wagons Joe Thomas On Sentinels — in Worcestershire Steam Hawking A.F.W. Smith The ploughing engines of Bomford & Evershed W D.E. Field My two years with Bomfords Steaming Around, compiled by Derek Rayner Letters Affiliated Clubs Diary Books, New Members, Small Ads etc

ISSN 0260 - 2962 Published by the National Traction Engine Club Ltd at 14 Charles St, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

Printed by AB Printers Ltd, Leicester.

Cover Early evening sunshine lights the scene at Marsh Gibbon Rally whilst discussion takes place whether to make a few more demonstration pulls. The 16hp Fowler B8 engine is PRINCE, 14383 of 1916, rallied by the Ruff family of Wilden, Bedfordshire, and previously owned by John Patten. A photograph from the summer of 1971. (Roger West) 51

Engine Owners Column At the recent Rally Organisers Conference, the questions of appearance money and coal quantity were again raised. There can be no doubt that appearance money levels have not, in general kept in step with inflation. Whilst owning an engine is a hobby, it is not a cheap one, and the Engine Owners Sub-Committee feel very strongly that where rallies are profitable, particularly for the benefit of a body unconnected with the engine movement, a more equitable disbursement would be reasonable.

These points were put to the Conference, and after a lively discussion, those present agreed almost unanimously, that the recommended minimum appearance money for the coming year should be £30 per day. I would, however, remind all engine owners that in their own interests they should agree, in writing, the terms on which they attend with the organisers before the event, and so avoid any arguments or recriminations afterwards.

We have received quite a few complaints about the poor quality of coal supplied at some rallies. Some members, including our President have been stopped on the road by the police for making excessive smoke, at times to the point of reducing visibility to virtually nil. Aside from this hazard, there are the problems of extra cleaning for the engine owner, and soiling of clothes of the rally-going public. This point was also taken up with the organisers, and whilst no one admitted providing house coal, there was a feeling that Welsh dry steam coal was either very difficult to obtain, or inordinately expensive. It was suggested that by supplying a slightly reduced quantity of Welsh, the total coal bill could he kept the same, and that the owners would consider this reasonable in view of the better performance in terms of miles per hundredweight — or should it now be per 50 kilos? We would like to hear from engine owners as to whether there is any improvement in the coming season.

On a technical note now, we all know what a filthy job it is to clean the firebox and smokebox ready for the boiler inspector; the acidic soot deposits are also very corrosive, and if not promptly and properly removed, 52

can contribute to premature boiler repairs. I have recently been testing a new cleaning fluid, which I can recommend for this purpose.

"Boilerclean" is supplied by Gamlen Chemical Co (UK) Ltd, Wallingford Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex. Diluted with water as directed, it is sprayed on the surfaces, left for ten minutes, and washed off, deposits and all. It neutralises the acid, and leaves the metal clean and inhibited against corrosion whilst the boiler is out of use. It is best applied with an all plastic sprayer; a plastic extension tube lets you treat the flues as well. It is very effective and quick, and in my opinion a very worthwhile aid to preservation. Supplied in 25 litre drums, the cost is around £28 plus VAT, and since one only needs about 2 to 4 litres to clean even a very dirty boiler, this is probably something that clubs might buy for resale to their members. (Mike Harmsworth, chairman, Engine Owners sub-committee)

Dominion NTEC Policies — Amendments to terms In March 19/8 the Dominion NTEC Policy was considerably revised, resulting in improved benefits under all Sections. At that time, the annual premium was increased to £20.00, which amount has been maintained without alteration to date.

During these two years Tennant Budd have been able to negotiate various increases in indemnity limits under the Public Liability Section.

These included "Sparks and Ashes" limit up from £20,000 to £50,000 and Third Party Property Damage Limit up from £250,000 to £500,000 (Indemnity for Third Party injury or death has always been unlimited).

Further improvements are now being offered by the Dominion as follows: (a) Increased limit for damage caused by vibration or weight of engine to roads, bridges or underground pipes, from £500.00 to £750.00. (b) Increased limit in respect of "Sparks and Ashes" from £50,000 to £75,000.

Bearing in mind the improvements already introduced without any increase in the premium of £20, and the ever-increasing costs of claims and administration, the Dominion now

require an annual premium of £25.00.

This will take effect from 1st may 1981, for all new business and renewals falling due on or after that date.

The Dominion are also prepared to offer slight improvements to the standard policy, I.e. Increased limit for damage caused by weight or vibration up from £200 to £400, and "Sparks and Ashes" up from £2,500 to £5,000. These are at an amended annual premium of £15.

From investigations carried out with other insurance companies, Tennant Budd are confident that the Dominion terms and premiums are still competitive.

All policies falling due on or after 1st May 1981 will be invited at the new premium, and policy holders will be advised accordingly.

Scottish Boiler Inspection Scheme — Increase in Fees For those members still taking advantage of the Scottish Boiler inspection scheme, Tennant Budd have advised that as from 1st January 1981, the fee for thorough examination of boiler including issue of Report F55 plus supplementary examination under steam and report F55A, will be increased from £45.00 to £50.00 plus VAT at the current rate (presently 15%).

Tennant Budd, however, are pleased to confirm that the fees for hydraulic test (£25.00 + VAT) and examination following repairs (£40.00 + VAT) remain unaltered.

The fees for special service for supervision of repairs, hydraulic test and final examination will once again be quoted for on an individual basis.

Tennant Budd will be forwarding application forms to members in the usual way, as the inspections become due. (Mrs V. Jessup, Tennant Budd Ltd)

Insurance for young drivers About a year ago Tennant Budd Ltd agreed that engine owners could, as an extension of their existing insurance policy and for an extra £5 per year, insure for 17-21 year olds to drive their engines. It seems that nobody has yet availed themselves of

this opportunity, which means that members of the Steam Apprentice Club, and other young drivers, are either only driving at rallies, which seems unlikely, or are driving uninsured, which is illegal.

It would be disastrous for our hobby if a young driver was involved in an incident and found to be uninsured — £5 per annum doesn't seem much to pay for the additional cover. Engine owning readers are therefore reminded of the availability of the insurance, and prompted to ensure that they have appropriate cover if allowing anyone 17 to 21 to drive their engine.

(Margaret Joachim, Steam Apprentice Club.)

Steam Apprentice Club The Steam Apprentice Club continues to flourish and now has over 130 members, very few subscribers having failed to renew from the previous year. The Club's big event for 1981 will be at Weeting in Suffolk by

From Alan Martin's Collection 12

invitation of member Kathryn Parrott.

On Sunday 26th April, at her parents' farm, Apprentices will be able to be involved with the various aspects of 14 engines engaged in threshing, chaff cutting and rolling. The newsletter (currently on issue 9) is now published in printed form and a limited number of drawings and black and white photographs can be incorporated. Contributions of a technical, historical or instructional nature that would be suitable for the newsletter are solicited from readers of Steaming — please contact Margaret Joachim, 8 Newburgh Road, London W3 6DQ.

extensive travels — 'Steam in South Africa'. Monthly meetings will resume in the autumn.

Membership Those members paying club subscriptions through their banks on a standing order are requested to check that the correct sum is being paid by their bank. The current subscription rate is to be found inside the front cover of each issue of the magazine — have you instructed your bank to alter

your order to the revised amount? The Membership Secretary is involved in

London Area Social Meetings The final meeting of the 1980/1981 programme of meetings will be held at 8.00pm on Tuesday, 28th April, at 'The Cock Tavern'.

Great Portland Street, London (corner of Margaret Street and adjacent to Oxford Circus). Geoffrey Mileham will present another slide show from his

unnecessary work by outdated orders.

(Mrs F. E. Wood)

Affiliated Clubs Lancashire Traction Engine Club The Secretary of the club is now Dr K.J. Jump, 3 Hastings Avenue, Manchester M21 1JS.

To be totally appropriate my photograph this time should perhaps have been taken in Worcestershire, but I feel this nice scene with one of the road locos of H. & T. wanks & Co Ltd from Netherton, Worcestershire, though taken in Buckinghamshire, will show how widely travelled their machines must have been. The engine, class 84 compound Fowler 8055 of 1898, is shown hauling a large Lancashire boiler en route to London about 1910. Ir is posed outside the Talbot Inn on the present A5 at Loughton, near Stony Stratford.

As can be seen, the 10hp engine could be fitted with a crane. Other points of interest are the rear of the canopy which seems to be have been shortened (had they found it fouled some loads?) and what appears to be a makeshift hovel for the crew on the trailer at the rear.

STAMFORD TRACTION ENGINE RALLY

Full ring events for engines on both days Trade and Preservation Society stands

on 27th and 28th June 1981

at Burghley Park Rally Plaques our speciality

JOHN CRAWLEY, FIELD HOUSE, TURVEY, BEDFORD MK43 8DU

Name Plates

FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS CASTINGS Ornamental and Engineering

Polished brass castings Aveling & Porter — 9in Horse and lnvicta £17.70, Rear axle horse shoe both 9in and

7 3/4in inside dia. £27.50 pair, Oval Rochester plate £11.00 (with own no. £13.20). John Fowler — Owls £18.15, Fowler plate with Leeds inset E17.60, Oval with number engraved £16.50. Fowler scroll £12.50, Smokebox door ring £13.75. Marshall — Britannia (4 different fittings) £20.62, Smoke box ring £10.78, Valve cover plate £19.80.

Sentinel — Knight £6.05, number plate with Knight £13.20. Foden — Diesel £19.00 per set, Foden by Royal Letters Patent £30 80, Foden Diesel chassis plate £2.75, Foden smokebox door wheel £12.10, Six tonner plate £22.00. Burrell — Works plate £9.35, Burrell scroll £18.70, Dynamo bracket plate £30.80, and Burrell star. Field Marshall — Diesel radiator plate £3.85, Field Marshall concave radiator plate £3.85, Field Marshall baton £7.15.

Water Level £2.86, Thomeycroft £2.20, Mammoth £4.40, Oil Engine £3.00, Gardner £3.30, Gardner 120 and 150 £4.18, Gardner 180 and 240 £5.33, Tax disc holder £5.22, Albion small £7.50, large with sunrays £20.35, Garrett Ring. Blackstone — Oil Engine £3.13, Patent Plate £2.20.

Foden, Fowler and Sentinel Fire Bars.

Many more plates on request

G.M.S. (Wirksworth) Ltd, Yokecliffe House, West End, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4EG. VAT included but add postage and packing — on items up to £10.00 add £1.50, £10-£20 add £1.95 and over £20.00 add £2.50.

Tel: 062-982-2805 Engineering work from your patterns, or we can produce patterns from your drawings 54

THE BOMFORDS and THE EVERSHEDS Benjamin Bamford was a progressive nineteenth century farmer who farmed at Pitchill, near Evesham, Worcestershire. He purchased his first steam ploughing equipment about 1864 — a locally (Gloucester) built 12hp Savory set in which the winding drums were constructed around the boilers. Most of the later sets he acquired, however, were manufactured by John Fowler of Leeds. In 1867 Bomford was using two sets and contemplating the purchase of a third as he was beginning to do work for his neighbours — thus starting in the contracting business. A blacksmith's shop was set up at nearby Salford Lodge to maintain the engines which became more numerous as the years went by.

Fowler records indicate that a 14hp ploughing engine, No. 1841, plus one other (number not known), were supplied to B. Bomford of Pitchill on the 19th August 1863; this information conflicts with other evidence that his first set was a Savory pair in 1864. A further pair of 14hp Fowlers, 1177 and 1178, was supplied in May 1869 and additional ones in 1870, 1877 and 1878 so that at the turn of the decade he had at least five Fowler sets working for him.

Thus were the foundations of the firm set, for in 1880 Benjamin Bomford died and the business was continued by his second and third sons, Raymond and Benjamin junior, who renamed it R & B Bomford.

Around this time, Harry Evershed started working for Fowlers at Leeds, and in 1881 he was sent to Algiers by the company to commission a pair of ploughing engines for an estate at

Maby Eddin, In 1882, when 21 years of age, Evershed was sent to Fowler's Magdeburg works in Germany, where he was involved with several demonstrations and various other work. He followed this with a period in the drawing office at Leeds as his health could not stand up to long periods away in foreign lands, where inevitably some deprivation was necessary to enable the job to be accomplished.

Nevertheless, he had a further spell

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abroad — in Turkey — and eventually returned to this country in 1883. He married shortly afterwards and was then put in charge of the experimental department at Leeds where he did a lot of work on steam tram engines.

Leaving Fowlers, he went back to Algiers and after one or two more jobs, returned to the Steam Plough Works where he was again concerned with steam cultivation and other uses of ploughing engines.

Around May 1893 Fowlers were particularly interested in dredging, and a demonstration at Warwick during the Royal Show, using a scoop, resulted in a visit to the Bomfords at Pitchill to see one of their own design of scoop. It was this chance visit which eventually resulted in him joining the Bomfords at Pitchill, an association which was to last some 33 years.

One of the first engines he was involved with at Pitchill was Fowler 6933 which was delivered on 13th July 1893 at Beckford Station, under the lee of Bredon Hill, for a contract from Gloucester C.C. Harry was originally concerned with steam

ploughing and dredging and one of his first jobs was at Croome Court for Lord Coventry.

R & B Bromford had, by this time, diversified into steam road rolling.

Their first roller — Fowler class D

single 6786 of 1892 — was followed by others in 1893, 1897 and 1898.

The firm were pioneers in the use of steam rollers equipped with scarifiers

for breaking up the road surface; there were literally dozens of different versions designed and one of the most successful, designed by Harry Evershed, was later patented.

After Harry joined the company, dredging scoops were made at Pitchill to his design and were supplied to Fowlers at Magdeburg as well as at Leeds. Scarifiers were supplied to Fowlers and also to Greens at Leeds for their rollers. This manufacturing business, as distinct from farming, was catered for by the formation of a new company, Bomford & Evershed Ltd, incorporated on 19th February 1904. In 1903 the local ironworks of Humphries & Co, Atlas Works, Pershore, who manufactured threshing machines and steam engines including portables, got into financial difficulties. This firm went into liquidation, and was taken over by the new Bomford & Evershed company which had been formed for that purpose.

Harry's inventive mind was not just pre-occupied with farm business as he also designed a dome and rotating mechanism for Kenley observatory and also a windmill for use in Algiers. Some superb drawings still exist of these schemes and also of a steam wagon intended in lieu of a traction engine for haulage purposes.

In fact, some sixty layouts of such a vehicle were done using different positions of boiler, engine and driving mechanisms. One was eventually constructed at the Atlas works; it had an underfloor engine and vertical boiler mounted behind the driver and it is interesting to note that its date of manufacture (1904) precedes the first similar production model by Sentinel by one year. The wagon saw use in and around the Evesham area, and was eventually sold to Turkey for use in timber haulage on the Black Sea coast.

During the period in which Bomford & Evershed were at the Pershore Atlas works they did not have a very happy existence, although why is not definitely known. They exhibited at Royal Shows and their 55

The Savory ploughing engine — Born ford's first example. As well as the rope drum fitted round the boiler the machine displayed other unorthodox features — a vertical engine and a return-flue boiler. (Bomford & Evershed)

products were items which one would have presumed in demand. However, it was not to be and the result was that they never made a profit, eventually selling the Atlas works in September 1907.

There followed a period of contention between Harry Evershed and the Bomford brothers as to who could do what with whose plant and eventually a decision was reached that Bomford & Evershed should purchase most of R & B Bomford's plant, rent the Pitchill premises and do all the repairs for the latter concern at 10% profit. This made things difficult for Harry as he could not live at Pitchill, and there was no railway siding adjacent and transport was a big problem.

After a considerable length of time, and of arguments, disagreements and despondency, some further accord was reached whereby the works should be moved to Salford Priors and the Midland Railway would install a siding there. The new works was built at Salford Priors in 1910. It had earth floors, and line shafting driven from a steam engine standing outside; there were no telephones, lavatories or electric light but improvements would come later.

From this time on, the fortunes of the company improved and Bomford & Evershed were on a firm footing, with Harry Evershed at the helm. During World War 1, Harry's devoted wife died and left a big gap in his life.

56

Around this time, an invitation was received to tender for the dredging of the mouth of the Dysynni River near Towyn in Mid Wales. Harry went to see the requirements and as a result, the firm got the job.

During the war the company continued in business to the best of its ability, and despite problems with the supplies of materials and the requirements of Government work that they were required to carry out, together

with depletions of staff, they survived, still paying a dividend.

In 1920 Raymond Bomford died and the business of R & B Bomford became Bomford Bros. on the taking over of the firm by Raymond's three sons, Douglas, Leslie and Ernest.

Benjamin took no further interest in the firm and concentrated on his fruit farming at Salford Lodge. There followed a creative and extremely interesting period in the firm's history.

R & B Bomford possessed several traction engines and during World War 1 had bought a Standard Sentinel wagon, No 1230. Some of these passed to Bomford Bros and the Sentinel was used extensively for some ten years for general purposes around the farm. It was otten used on contract work — carrying farm produce from Evesham Vale growers into Worcester, Evesham or to the local station — as part of the normal business activities of the firm. In addition to the engines, they also had for contract work the fleet of Fowler ploughing engines which, at that time, amounted to about six sets.

The late L.T.C. (Tom) Rolt, an eminent railway historian and preservationist, was the nephew — at least he used to call him Uncle — of the great Kyrle Willans. By quirks of fate and family friendships, the connections between Kyrle Willans, the Bomford brothers and Sentinels led to several interesting experiments being carried out and also to a great success story in relation to Sentinel railway locomotives — but that is outside the scope of this article.

What do concern us here are the

Fowler's 1921 road making machinery catalogue offered their 10 ton compound roller with 'Bomford Patent Spring Scarifier' — as well as several other makes! (Welland Valley Club collection)

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•-••••

carried out at Pitchill whilst he was there.

Not long after Tom Rolt started at Pitchill, both Leslie Bomford and Kyrie Willans obtained posts at Sentinel's Shrewsbury works; Willans was put in charge of production of rail locomotives. The success in fitting the Sentinel boiler and engine into the locomotive inspired Leslie and Douglas Bomford, into considering applications in a similar manner to their agricultural problems.

The outcome as far as Leslie Bomford was concerned was the production at Shrewsbury of a normal looking farm tractor called the Rhinoceros. This was a wheeled tractor intended to be used for direct ploughing, mainly of a colonial nature.

A crawler version of the Super Sentinel tractor was also produced by fitting in place of the rear wheels crawler equipment manufactured by Roadless

The Evershed designed steam wagon built at Atlas Works, Pershore.

(Bomford & Evershed)

developments as far as land use is concerned and although the tale has been related previously, part of it is repeated for the sake of completeness.

Willans was employed by a firm of engineers — Blackwells of Northampton — and whilst there, a saddle tank locomotive came in for repair. This needed a new boiler and a new set of cylinders and motion, so with permission of the loco's owners, he purchased a secondhand Sentinel wagon boiler and engine and fitted these in the chassis. This experiment was highly successful and soon the Sentinel Works went into production of geared steam rail locomotives with Kyrie Willans in charge of sales at their Chester office. On the face of it, this may seem to have little relevance to Worcestershire or with our story but it was the reason why the late Tom Rolt was recommended by Kyrie Willans to his friends the Bomford brothers, for his apprenticeship which began there (for two years) on 26th May 1926. In Rolt's autobiography Landscape with Machines (Longmans 1971) there is a chapter with several illustrations devoted to the experiments and trials

Two Sentinel products tested at Pitchill — the Rhinoceros wheeled farm tractor (above), and the half tracked agricultural version of the road tractor. (both Bomford & Evershed) 57

Traction Ltd. The field trials of both models were carried out at Pitchill whilst L.T.C. Rolt was there. These designs were a last attempt by Sentinels to compete with the ever increasing flood of internal combustion engined tractors which were then coming onto the market.

During his time at Pitchill Tom Rolt also accompanied the Sentinel wagon referred to earlier on its journeys to and from the station; often acting as fireman. At the age of 16 he helped Douglas Bomford to construct a Sentinel/Bomford ploughing engine with the larger 'Rhino' boiler and a Sentinel engine together with Fowler ploughing engine parts. It is not clear whether the by then ageing Standard was cannibalised for some parts for this exercise, but it may have been the case. The hybrid, when completed, weighed considerably less than the 20 ton Fowlers and was more manoeuvrable. It performed very satisfactorily on trials considering the other engine of the pair was a normal Fowler, compared with which the Bomford rebuild was underpowered.

However, in itself, performance and economy were so impressive that a second similar engine was built using a Sentinel railway loco engine and boiler, the first machine being modified similarly; this was not until Rolt had left Pitchill. These two tractors gave a good account of themselves over many years on various jobs at the Bomfords' farm and also on contract work. If space allowed a lot more would be said about the above as one of the authors of this article attended Chipping Campdcn Grammar School at the same time as the Bomfords in the early 1920s, and also visited Pitchill.

Douglas Bomford was a steam enthusiast and this extended to his own personal transport for over the years he owned and used two steam cars.

Following the Sentinel experiments, because of excessive ground pressures and the number of men required to operate them, there was a changeover on the ploughing aspect of the job from steam to Fowler-made Gyrotillers. Douglas Bomford's inventive mind even came up with a way of transporting these ungainly beasts around, using an old bus chassis driven by a chain and linkage arrangement from the Gyrotiller engine — this was discontinued after a near accident when the brakes failed. There were many other agricultural developments in the period up to World War 2 concerned with light agricultural tractors, gapping hoes, methods for picking up corn sheaves, and planters and transplanters.

58

Born ford's second, 1927, building of a ploughing engine using Sentinel boiler and engine. (collection J.L. Thomas per Mrs M. Bomford)

Whilst agricultural developments were taking place in Bomford Brothers, Bomford and Evershed were continuing their contracting work with road rolling, lake and river clearance etc — still keeping pace with the times. Harry Evershed died in September 1926 and his son John William, who had been with the firm for several years at that time, took over as managing director. A firm believer in steam power, he had no time for internal combustion engines. He lacked his father's inventiveness, but the facts had to he faced when boilers on the steamers were condemned, and the firm developed a successful and novel way of continuing the use of the machines. Fowler steam rollers had the top cut off the boiler barrel and a Fowler B type 3-cylinder 40hp diesel engine was fitted. Bomford & Evershed at that time had around fifty rollers which were earning about 28s (£1.40) per day on hire to local councils. This type of conversion was also applied to ploughing engines and some of these have lasted into the preservation era.

At the outbreak of World War 2, all manufacturing for sale ceased and work was concentrated on repair.

Unfortunately the Pitchill works was virtually burned out by accident one night and had to be rebuilt using local resources. The fire seriously affected production but Bomford Bros

continued in the agricultural manufacturing business and developed all manner of mowers, cutting machines, tile drainers and ploughs.

A degree of inter-company consultation went on and developments on one side were often as a result of ideas trom the other. A new design of road roller was built by Bomford & Evershed in 1946, but although successfully operated for around eighteen months, it was not put into production due to the large number of ex-Government Huber built rollers which came onto the market at that time. This wally was the finish of the steam roller and around 1950 J.W. Evershed ceased attending directors' meetings and the firm had virtually finished with steam.

Bomford & Evershed continued in business although not very profitably and by the mid 1950s the company was in a poor financial state. In 1956 it was decided to sell the dredging business to provide the necessary finance for re-organisation. This sale was completed by the end of 1956, the buyer being Mr J.B. Carr, and a new company of Bomford & Wilkins Ltd was set up. They operated from Salford Priors for two years and then moved to Binton Station, some four miles to the east. With the death of the general manager, Mr Len Hunt, formerly Bomford & Evershed's dredging foreman, the company, by then renamed Bomford & Carr, was

11

again sold to fresh owners.

Douglas Bamford retired as technical director in 1957, following the commencement of Mr J.V. Fox with Bomford & Evershed, but he remained on the Board. Mr Fox was later appointed general manager and since 1958 he has set the company on the road to success with another period of development of new types of cultivators, loaders, snow ploughs, cutters and mowers. These have led to a substantial growth of business.

The companies of Bomford & Evershed and Bomford Bros were merged in 1967 and Douglas Bomford was appointed technical consultant. Sadly he died in 1969 at the age of 75. He was a great innovator and much development at the firm was due to his forward thinking. In 1976 Bomford & Evershed was awarded the RASE Gold Medal for its outstanding contribution to agriculture.

The firm is still known as Bomford & Evershed Ltd of Salford Priors, Evesham, Worcestershire, but by a curious twist in the course of the River Arrow, which is the county boundary

in that area, the present works is actually located in Warwickshire.

However, Bomford & Evershed considers itself of Worcestershire and it is for this reason, and the fact that for more than 75 years its engines, living vans, rollers, water carts and numerous hired or manufactured items have proudly borne plates declaring that it is Worcestershire based, that they are included in this special issue of Steaming.

Much of the information contained in this article has been extracted from the book The Bomford Story by Theo Sherwen, published privately by Bomford & Evershed Ltd to mark their seventy-fifth anniversary in 1979. The authors are indebted to the firm and in particular to Mr A.E. Whitehouse, Manufacturing Director, for permission to extract material for use in this article. Some photographs from the book have also been used — others are from the authors' personal collections.

Aveling & Porter 2291 still lives its second life with a McLaren diesel engine providing the motive power — here it rests in Malvern UDC's yard in 1959 whilst on contract hire.

(J.L. Thomas)

New life at Kew

Fear's Marshall portable provided steam in deference to Kew's Lancashire boiler's task in supplying the other preserved engines.

The dismantled engine was received in good condition and the only major work needed at Kew was the remetalling of the main bearings. A 20ft long, 12 ft deep pit had to be formed for housing the condensers and air pumps, but although capable of pumping 1000 gallons per minute the engine will now run unloaded.

Watching Peter Parker perform the ceremony were two Newmarket men responsible for the engine 40 and 50

years ago — Bill Smith was the Water Company's station superintendent and Ron Palmer drove the machine. Also present was Frank Mallinson from Croydon, formerly employed by Hathorn Davey, and who although now retired was of great assistance to the Trust's chief engineer Ron Plaster in making final bedding down adjustments.

The first public steaming of the engine was on 21st February and it will now be in steam every weekend together with the Museum's four other restored engines — dating from 1820 to 1867. (Ran Hawthorne)

Many notable members of the preservation engine traction movement assembled at Kew Bridge Pumping Station on 17th February 1981 to watch British Rail chairman Sir Peter Parker open the steam valves to put the Museum's latest restoration project into motion. This engine has beeo presented to the Kew Bridge Engines Trust by the Anglian Water Authority, and was originally built in 1910 by Hathorn Davey of Leeds for the Newmarket Waterworks Co. in Suffolk, from where it was transported 15 months ago. Its importance as a working exhibit at Kew is the fact that it represents a fine example of the triple expansion marine type which was successfully adapted for the water supply industry.

The engine has three cylinders and a main crankshaft to which are attached three cranks and two flywheels. the latter give a smooth running engine; other features are semi-rotary Corliss valves and re-heat receivers between the cylinders which maintain the steam temperature as steam passes from one cylinder to the next. Working pressure is 160 lbs per sq in and on the inaugural day Ivan

The Danks Steam Wagon Derek Rayner Whilst most of Worcestershire is agricultural in nature, part of the north of the county, close to the Black Country, is quite industrial, and in that area lies the town of Oldbury. There, in 1862 Edwin Danks started on his own, having broken away from the family boiler making business of H.T. Danks (still in existence and know as Danks of Netherton). At the turn of the century Edwin was taking a less active part in his business and handed the firm over to a relative, Frederick Danks. Then, about 1910 the business attempted to enter the water-tube boiler market in competition with Babcock & Wilcox (another relatively local concern► , but fairly soon afterwards were bought up by the latter company.

Frederick stayed on as manager for a short period, leaving in 1912 to start his own business a few miles away, between Quinton and Oldbury. Work up to 1910 had largely been boiler repairs and Frederick continued this line — with very little in the way of facilities — until the late 1920s or early 1930s. Just prior to and during World War 1 he undertook to supply boilers for steam wagons and it may have been these, when built into a chassis, that came to be known as Danks steam wagons. The boilers however, could have been made under contract elsewhere, for with those limited facilities it is unlikely that Frederick Danks did, in fact, make them all. The appearance of a Danks wagon was very similar to a Foden but it had a larger boiler. It is possible that Frederick could have started his wagon building enterprise by reboilering older Fodens going on from that to constructing complete wagons from parts. One theory put forward is that Fodens at one period were so inundated with orders that their boiler shop could not keep pace with the capabilities of the rest of the Elworth works, and the firm was thus able to supply parts to an outside party for assembly into complete wagons. It is not proved that Fodens did supply parts to Danks in this way but if this was the case and boilers were bought in from elsewhere (and the firm of Abbott at Newark has been mentioned 60

Driver George Bargh poses by the Danks wagon owned by Woodhead Bros of Wortley. (Leeds & District T.E. Club)

in this respect), it could have resulted in a highly priced wagon, accounting for the fact that only six were reported to have been made.

Fodens that were produced in the earlier part of the century had larger diameter boilers than the standard 5 tonner made during World War 1. It would appear therefore that whoever made the boilers for the Oldbury firm manufactured them to the older design, thus clearly distinguishing them from the later Foden product.

The Danks boiler is said to have had eleven more tubes than a standard 5 tonner and since the earlier Foden 5 stay boiler had 63 tubes against the later 4 stay boiler's 52, this fact seems confirmed.

One of the Danks firms at Oldbury used an example of these wagons — or a reboilered Foden — on local work in the area. Arthur Wedgewood recalled seeing it "looking like a 'bloated' 5 ton Foden" and carrying a chain of massive proportions, maybe an anchor chain for an ocean liner. One wagon definitely confirmed as a Danks, and which confirms the existence of the breed, rather than it merely being a reboilered Foden chassis, was No 106. There exists a photograph of this wagon in the ownership of Woodhead Bros, haulage contractors, of Leeds. The wagon was driven for a while by a Mr Bargh who recorded that a plate marked 'F Danks Oldbury' followed by engine and chassis numbers was fitted to the chassis member. It was registered CW1531 in January 1916 for John Riley & Sons Ltd of Hapton, Lancashire. They sold it four years later to

Woodheads who licensed it up to September 1927; it was scrapped by November 1933.

Possibly, as was done by many manufacturers, Fred Danks started numbering his wagons at 100 or 101 and therefore the above example being 106 might point to six being 'made'.

Another wagon owned by Woodheads was alleged to be by Danks, although the registration was M6803. This has been confirmed as Foden 4742 which had various owners in Leeds from being new in August 1914 until owned by Woodhead Bros in 1926. It was last licensed in 1932.

This vehicle may have been reboilered by Danks at some time but photographic evidence from a very poor print suggests that it was a standard 5 ton Foden, although the front wheels were not original.

As with most small manufacturers, documentation is lacking and there is a lot of mystery surrounding this Oldbury firm's products. Much of the above is speculation, based on handed down information, personal recollections and photographic evidence.

More may still be stored away in someone's archives or memories and should any member be able to add to the subject, the writer would appreciate hearing from them.

Material for this article has been extracted from the Road Locomotive Society Portfolio The Danks Steam Wagon and M.A. Kelly's The Overtype Steam Road Waggon, to whom acknowledgements are duly given.

Thanks are due to W. Woodhead and Alan Duke who have also provided information.

WORKING DAYS

Via-

SOME STEAM ENGINES ONCE SEEN ON WORCESTERSHIRE'S ROADS Joe Thomas

A superb period scene at Clifton-on-Teme, Worcestershire. Fowler 8215 CITY OF WORCESTER and two traction wagons deliver flour to F. Hall, baker and (to quote the shop front) "draper, grocer and provision merchant". (collection J. L! Thomas)

Edwin Danks' engines saw service in the Black Country part of Worcestershire.

Here Aveling & Porter road engine 4588 of 1900 — Danks No.3 — uses its 20 ton weight to help test Fordhouse Lane Bridge, Kings Norton, on 20th October 1910. The boiler on the trolley was another 30 tons. (1..G. Mouchel & Partners, via C.G. Mileham)

Searching through my records when gathering details for the Worcestershire article On Sentinels elsewhere in this issue, I found quite a few notes on other makers' steam road locomotives, traction engines and wagons which were used on the highways of the county, as opposed to its fields and farms. No record can be complete without a thorough search through the county vehicle licensing records, and now ail of these have been transferred to Swansea the task would seem even more difficult.

Victorian Haulage Space will not allow me to delve too far into records but the following extracts from licensing records (courtesy of Mr J.T. Rhead) show 61

date of licence

applicant/name, number or other distinctive marks borne by locomotives/other notes

23- 2-1895

25- 5-1889

Edwin Gittus, Stoke Works, Worcs; Frank Al!chin, Linnell & Co, 7 tons 10cwt.

Edwin Danks, Oldbury Boiler Works; Edwin Danks, width 7ft 7in, weight 11 tons H & T Danks, Crown Boiler Works, Netherton, Dudley; John Fowler & Co No 5477, 12 1/2 tons.

R & B Bomford, Pitchill, Evesham; No 6833 7ft 2in width, 10 tons. (most likely Fowler built) Edwin Danks, Oldbury Boiler Works, Oldbury; No 1331, 7ft 6in wide, 81/2 tons.(this engine was Burrell 1331 of 1888, a 7hp traction) James Nock, Halesowen, No 4748, 7ft 11/2 in wide, 9 tons.

T.H. Deeley, illey, nr Halesowen; John Fowler 6758, 6ft 6in wide, 7 tons.

20-

19- 4-1890 6- 2-1893

12- 8-1893

30-12-1893

7- 5-1894 16- 6-1894

4-1895

7- 5-1895

7- 5-1895 18- 5-1895

17- 6-1895

21-

3-1896

4- 7-1896

Thomas Clarke, Galloping Horses, Sally Oak and Kidderminster; Charles Burrell & Sons No 1820 VICTORIA; 8ft wide, 9% tons.

E & E Richards, Turners Hill Quarry, near Dudley; No 7243, 7ft wide, 9 tons. (most likely Fowler built) James Nock, Hagley St, Halesowen; John Fowler & Co No 7264 MAGNIFICENT, 7ft 6in wide, 10 tons.

M. Tarbutt & Sons, Alfrick, Worcester; No 2815, Eft 10in wide 10 tons.

Rock Moor Coal & Coke Co Ltd, Rock, Worcs; No 24078, 7ft 6in wide, 9Y tons. (make: Marshall) Christopher S. Bates, Hollings Hill, Mathon, Worcester; John Fowler No 6988, 6ft 10in, 7 tons.

Tarbutt & Co, Alfrick; No 7263, INDUSTRY, 7ft 6in wide, 10 tons.

M. Tarbutt & Sons, Alfrick; No 1223 (no other details)

some of the locomotives that were permitted by the County Council in the last eleven years of the century to operate on the county roads. It should be noted that only Worcestershire owners are listed here. Thls was the period before today's type of licensing and each engine had to be accounted for within each county, hence a large number of engines from the neighbouring counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire were also issued with licences for their use in Worcestershire. Similarly the Worcestershire locomotives may have had licences for other counties dependent on the area and direction of their owners' trading or business activities.

Travelling Showmens Engines Tom Clarke, the well-known showman from Kidderminster bought two Burrell showmans road locomotives in March 1911. They were 8hp springmounted compound engines with 3 speeds and named KING GEORGE V and QUEEN MARY, works numbers 3272 and 3273 respectively, and later registered AB8921/AB8922. They were eventually sold to F.Wilson of Redditch.

Harry Strickland of Worcester purchased an 8hp sprung compound 3 speed road locomotive from Burrells in March 1907, number 2894. He proudly named it PRIDE OF WORCESTER; later registered FK1463, it subsequently had many owners including Arnold Bros, Southampton

Burrell 2894, formerly used by Strickland of Worcester, is seen here in its final working days on the fairgrounds in the ownership of Sally Beach. Note the coal trolley by the tender. (collection R. E. West) 62

This 8 hp Fowler compound engine is alleged to have been the first engine supplied by the Leeds firm for showmans purposes — presumably in the sense that a dynamo was provided for generating power rather than the machine just being used for hauling. Delivered new to Herbert Bros, amusement caterers of Redditch, Worcestershire in 1886, number 5348 was named STAR OF THE WEST but details of its working life and eventual fate are unknown. (Leeds & District T.E. Club)

•

by Fowler 7hp road locomotive ENTERPRISE (10288 of 1905) was owned W.F. Burrow, haulage contractor of Leigh Court, near Worcester. It is shown the here delivering hopsacks in 1905 to J. W. Buckland's hop warehouse in centre of the city. Buckland was Joe Thomas's grandfather. (collection J.L. Thomas)

African sun. Tom Stinton went to purchase her from where she lay at Aldershot and the deal was financed by local agricultural machinery agents Larkworthys. After about twelve months use Tom was killed in an accident with the engine at Newnhamon-Teme and the agents took the engine back and sold it to Butchers at Gloucester. Flowers of Ledbury bought the Fowler from them, later selling it along with the big Burrell KING OF THE WEST. Incidentally, some say the latter was a showmans engine, but from a photograph I have of her when owned by Flowers, she was a road loco.

Another large road engine in the county was Fowler 9421, THE MALVERN QUEEN, another 3 speed eight horse, this time of 1902. Owned

by W.F. Burrows of Leigh Sinton she was very similar to CITY OF WORCESTER but did not do as much work as that engine.

The Steam Tractor

and Sally Beach of London. Now, in 1980, the engine is preserved at Havant in Hampshire.

Alf Peters was another Worcester showman and he bought a secondhand Burrell from William Ford of Brynmawr, South Wales (Ford was father of Mrs Deakin who ordered Fowler SUPREME). The loco was another 8hp sprung compound with 3 speeds and had been new to Ford in February 1901, named PRIDE OF WALES. Alf Peters, not surprisingly, altered this, calling her DUCHESS OF WORCESTER, but the authorities knew her as FK1121. A very elaborate Foden 5 ton wagon, 11400, complete with dynamo bracket, twisted brass, coloured lights and the name WORCESTER CITY was also owned by Alf. He used this with his lovely three abreast gallopers, the Gavioli organ from which is now rallied by Dorothy Robinson from Lincolnshire.

I have no doubt there were more local engines of this type — Alderman Pat Collins' fleet, of course, used to bring his fair to Worcester and I can remember WAIT AND SEE, No 1, RELIANCE, DREADNOUGHT and the others, as well as Deakin's SUPREME which Used to pass through my village of Rushwick.

own aeroplane. The Fowler was a 1899 three speed compound, number 8215, and had been built for use in the Boer War but never despatched. It was fitted with extra high motion cover plates to stop reflections from the motion when working in the South

Road Locomotives

Everton's Burrell tractor (the identity of which is unknown) is said to have in been used for picking up wounded soldiers on the lines of communication France during World War 1, and this photograph (also used in Burrell's tractor n in catalogue) seems to prove the story although there is no real confirmatio and the detail to be seen on the original. The thought of relying on this harsh somewhat obvious form of transport would nowadays apply only to the most in avidly steam minded casualty but things were very different then) The men the picture appear to have been cooking on a makeshift fire with the engine's firebars being used to support the pot. (collection J.L. Thomas, via Mrs

Townshends, who owned the Worcester City Flour Mills, used Tom Stinton's big 8hp Fowler road loco CITY OF WORCESTER for delivering flour before they bought their more convenient steam lorries. One of the regular journeys was to Hall's bakery at Clifton-on-Teme; Mr Hall was the first man I know of to be killed in his

A timber firm at Pershore operated Garrett tractors and the Hills of Whittington, before they emigrated to New Zealand, used traction engines on timber haulage. S. Darke of Bath Road, Worcester and Bob Jauncey of Clifton-

Jackson) 63

Burrell 3458 is now well known as DEFIANCE on the rally fields in the south of England. So although this is not the best of snapshots it is interesting to see her original registration AH 0122. The crew appear to be taking water whilst engaged on lift van haulage; the owner at the time was F. Bullock. (collection J.L. Thomas)

on-Teme both had Burrell Gold Medal tractors on timber work. Bob hauled flour out to his village with the tractor drier the accident to the road loco CITY OF WORCESTER mentioned earlier. Yet another timber merchant — Wilesmiths of Malvern — had a Gold Medal tractor; 4084 BUSY BEE. Frank Holl subsequently bought this engine and after using it for many years presented it to the Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry.

The Worcestershire County Council acquired from Martley RDC the 1921 Garrett No 4 tractor 33991 (FK1300), even now in existence in Hartfnrrishire in the ownership of the Fensomes, having previously been used in their timber business. Evertons of Droitwich, who ran numerous steam wagons, also had a Burrell tractor which saw service in World War 1 and was allegedly used for picking up wounded men in France, and later blown up by a shell.

Another local Burrell tractor was number 3458, a 5 ton compound three speed engine new in April 1913 to C. Jones of Tetbury, Glos and run in the Worcester area by F. Bullock. Now in preservation in Berkshire she is registered AB8795 (Worcestershire); this is a second number as tractors were initially registered in Norfolk by the makers. Does anyone know the reason for her re-registration with a Worcestershire index number?

some ten Garrett overtype 5 ton tippers and six Clayton & Shuttleworth overtype tippers. Later came Sentinel 5 ton tipper 3330, secondhand from Bromsgrove RDC and two Garrett four wheel 3-way undertype tippers new in October 1927 and January 1928.

Frank Holl bought the Sentinel and two of the Garrett overtypes from the Council in the middle of 1933 for the princely sum of £12 10s Od 1E12.50)1 The Pyx Granite Co, who also traded as Lynx Motors Ltd, purchased a fleet of Garrett solid tyred tipping wagons. Four undertype 6-wheelers of 1930 joined about 20 earlier four wheel overtypes, the oldest dating from 1911.

I-. Bullock of Ombersley Road, Worcester, a haulage firm still in existence in 1980, operated Mann's steam wagon 718 (U17301. They also purchased secondhand from the Ministry of Supply two 1918 Foden wagons on rubbers — one was another engine driven by Frank Holl for a time.

One of the many business interests of T.A. Everton of Droitwich was a travelling shop. Originally horse-drawn the establishment was later 'modernised' and incorporated on a Foden chassis — their first steam wagon. But steel wheels, rough roads

A newly completed paint job would seem to be the reason for someone photographing Foden 8486.

F. Bullock of Worcester bought this 1918 wagon from the Ministry of Supply and it here carries the name DORIS. (collection J.L. Thomas)

Steam Wagons The County Council operated a large fleet of steam lorries and road rollers from their main yards in Malvern Road, Worcester, and from other sub depots. They had at least 27 Aveling rollers as well as 3 Fowler, 2 Manns and 1 Garrett — the latter was my local district's machine. Regarding the wagons, they appear to have had 64

F. Bullock's Mann's wagon 718 was of the type with twin steering mechanism, although another photograph indicates the offside steering wheel has been removed. (collection J.L. Thomas)

and china don't mix, and the Foden later received a tipper body for a more mundane life. Evertons operated a very large fleet of Garrett overtype wagons during or just after World War 2 — nearly two dozen at one time or another.

Burrell wagons seemed to find favour in Worcestershire for some reason. A 1915 double chain example was owned by Cartridge Bros of Worcester who hired it to other local firms, one of which was W.Winwood & Sons, removers and storers. This Burrell had a trailer and together they were all over England with furniture — on steel straked wheels! When Winwoods did buy a steam wagon of their own though, they took a new superheated 5 ton Garrett!

The City of Worcester Electricity Department operated an Atkinson 6 ton tipping wagon hauling coal to the power station. It was works number 95 (CK3069) new in December 1918. Another Atkinson worked in the county — 79 (CK3053) was purchased third hand in October 1925 by the executors of J.W.D. Pratt of Oldbury. Townshends, the Worcester millers, had at least five Fodens and five Sentinels after the Fowler road locomotive, but apart from their S4 Sentinel, the Shrewsbury machines must have been secondhand as the works' records do not mention them.

The Flower family worked a Foden wagon which ran away coming down the hill from British Camp at Malvern to Malvern Wells and killed its driver, the young Mr Flower. A standard Sentinel was run by the executors of Mr Busk of Leigh Court, Worcs. I can recall it but was only a schoolboy at the time and as it was secondhand I do not know its number. I also remember Mitchell & Butlers, the brewers, coming down to Worcester during the last war with a Sentinel S6.

Frank Holl's name has appeared more than once in this article. I will end with a brief summary of the steam life of this well known haulage contractor, which could be typical of the many drivers who drove steam engines on the highways of Worcestershire. After tending a Ruston Proctor portable, Frank's first road vehicle was a Wallis & Steevens 5 ton wagon owned by H.F. Burrows of Leigh, Worcestershire. The next engine he drove for this firm was a rare one, a Nayler tractor built in Hereford. Only seven were made and Frank's steed was the last one, named QUEEN OF THE TEME. His next employer was Everton, who by now should be well known to us! Here

•1

--41111b 1._ imoriftuiczt:

„kJ:it Airok

a Cartridge Bros of Barbourne, Worcester, took delivery of Burrell 3469 (AH 01251in April 1913. The well kept wagon poses here, laden with joinery, by the Little London premises of Phelps & Johnson, builders, (collection J. L. Thomas) Another photograph of Cartridge's Burrell wagon, taken whilst working for W. Win wood & Son, and carrying one of their lift vans and trailing a previously horse drawn van and trolley. (Welland Valley Club collection)

he worked with their Sentinels, and then, after a brief spell away in Canada driving Fodens, he came back to the same firm who by now had four wagons on the road. Mr Everton purchased a Foden 5 tonner secondhand from Dunkerleys at Manchester, and Frank was given the job of driving it. In 1923 he started up his own business, paying £400 for a secondhand eleven-year-old 3 ton Foden.

Later Frank purchased two brand new Super Sentinels but they are described in On Sentinels elsewhere in this issue.

'The cost of our steam roller per day is from 12s 4d to 13s, made up as follows: engineer, per day, 5s; flagman, 3s; oil and waste, 1s 2d; coal and coke, 3s 2d; making a total of 12s 4d 162p]. I find the cost of rolling any road with your steam roller per square yard has not in any case exceeded one halfpenny, and I have one or two cases in which it has only cost us about .39 of a penny.' (Quote by the Borough Engineer of Dudley, Worcs, in Aveling & Porter's 1907 publication on steam road rolling.)

65

Some twenty to twenty-five years ago I made the following list of engines which were in Worcestershire for preservation. It may be interesting for present day enthusiasts to see which engines were then in the county and also for them to know how many of these have moved on to other areas; these are marked thus *.

Joe Thomas

Early Preservation

F.P. Middleton, Hartlebury, Kidderminster Burrell showmans engine 3909 1921 Burrell crane engine 3197 1910 Clayton portable 48987 1924 Foden tractor 11788 1925 Foden tractor 14084 1933 Fowler general purpose 11246 1908 Fowler crane engine 17106 1928 Garrett tractor 27673 1909 Humphries portable 1806 c1895 Savage electric light engine 537 1891 W. Stacey, Hartlebury, Kidderminster Aveling roller Brown & May roller Clayton general purpose

14150 1933 8130 1910 43194 1910

Mark Rigg, Hartlebury, Kidderminster Fowler ploughing engine

1 5148 1918

J.J. White, Hartlebury, Kidderminster Ransome portable

14329 1902

George Bowkley, Tenbury Wells Aveling roller Burrell general purpose

10416 1923 3812 1919 *

C.J. Collins, Dormston, Pershore Fowler ploughing engine Fowler ploughing engine Fowler ploughing engine Fowler ploughing engine

2861 1876 3195 15142 1918 15143 1918

J.A. Crabtree, Fladbury, Pershore Foden tractor Foster tractor

13784 1931 * 14608 1930

Hammond, Astley, Stourport Aveling roller

8384 1914 *

A. Herbert, Redditch Wallis Simplicity roller

7940 1927 *

Frank Holl, Worcester Fowler road loco Garrett tractor

19338 1932 33074 1917 *

T. Hunt, Griffin Foundry, Olbury Burrell showmans engine Burrell showmans engine Burrell showmans engine Foster showmans engine

2804 1906 3471 1913 3910 1921 14446 1920

Les Lambe, Bromsgrove Aveling roller Aveling roller

7080 1910 11251 1925 *

Eric Lawrence, Mathon, Great Malvern Burrell general purpose 3399 1912 * Ransome general purpose 26952 1916 66

Frank Holl's 1927 Burrell Gold Medal tractor 4084 participating in a Worcester Carnival parade. The date is unknown; the engine is now in the Museum of Science & Industry at Birmingham. (J.L. Thomas)

A survivor of Worcester's working engines is Foden 13222, owned in preservation by the Lea family in Cheshire. It was new in 1928 to S. Darke & Sons, timber hauliers of Hylton Road, Worcester — hence its FK index mark.

(J.L. Thomas)

Gordon Limb, Romsley, Halesowen Ransome tractor A Maund, Bransford, Worcester Ruston roller Millward Bros, Halesowen Burrell showmans engine Foden wagon Garrett showmans tractor Ruston tractor Duncan Price, Pershore Aveling roller Aveling roller Burrell showmans engine Garrett tractor

A brief glance at the list shows a high concentration of engines kept at Hartlebury and the presence within the county of some rather unusual marques, some of which, happily, are still with us. The Brown & May roller, albeit in bits, is now unique and the engine, electric light Savage subsequently removed to Oxfordshire,is one of only two in the country.

The Tuxford and the Humphries portables are among the half dozen or so last remaining examples of their respective manufacturers.

Of the 53 engines listed only 23 are still in the county, which I suppose is quite a high percentage to have moved on, but perhaps any county survey would give a comparable result. Those that stayed put have been joined by some 22 others over the years and the total of engines now located within the old boundaries of Worcestershire is 46. Unfortunately, direct comparison ,of the present situation with that existing 25 years ago is difficult because of the administrative changes in county boundaries in the early 1970s and the formation of the West Midlands county. Consequently some slight errors may have crept into the totals quoted.

I also have a list, made in August 1966, of engines which were in the

'I have had your engines (steam rollers) at work under me for twentyeight years, and I have found them in every way satisfactory.' (Quote by the Borough Surveyor of Dudley, Worcs, in Aveling & Porter's 1907 publication on steam rolling.

'I have rolled 900 yards superficial of six inches thick metal in a day, on a

26475 1914 * 27524 1918 *

36220

1926

Ransome general purpose Ransome general purpose

114059

1920

Alf Symmonds, Leigh Linton, Worcester 14077 Aveling roller

3890 13316 32981 52607

1921 ' 1929 1917 1918 "

3781 8550 3926 32969

1896 1915 1922 1916

J.L. Thomas, Rushwick, Worcester Burrell general purpose Sentinel wagon M. Tromans, Stourport Aveling roller Tuxford portable G. & G. Tyler, Worcester Burrell general purpose

1930

2147 1898 9310 1937

14061 1930 1245 1887

1127

1884

possession of Les Lambe of Bromsgrove (or had recently been sold by him).

Aveling roller 4747 Aveling roller 5199 Aveling roller 7080 Aveling roller 12088 Aveling/McLaren (diesel conversion) 2291 Foden tractor 13238 Foster general purpose 14564 Foster tractor 14514 Garrett convertible roller 31193 Sentinel DG6 wagon 8590

1901 1903 1910 1928 1887 1928 1922 1922 1912 1931

The only one of these located in the county today is the Aveling/McLaren conversion which, as far as I know, is standing in rather poor condition at Stourport. The last engine on the list, on pneumatics and a good runner, was offered to me at that time for £250. It subsequently passed to Mr Reed of Amersham, then to Robin Brazil and much later to Tom Varley; not long after its epic John o' Groats to Lands End run in 1976, was sold for a five figure sum! (A common story of our time! — Ed)

gradient of 1 in 15, and at a cost of 1 5s 8d 178p] for wages, coal, and oil.'

(Quote by the Borough Engineer of Kidderminster, Worcs, in Aveling & Porter's 1907 publication on steam rolling.

Mr H.D. Marshall kindly corrects an error in the caption to the photograph of Marshall 66134 in the October

Burrell single crank compound 2147, new in November 1898, worked at threshing until 1952 and never did lay idle before entering preservation.

After coming in from the final job on a Friday night, Joe Thomas started her the fobowing morning on a week long journey over the Cotswolds to Hartlebury — they didnt even let the fire out! It must have been one of the very early engines in preservation.

(J.L. Thomas)

1979 issue. Far from being "one of the youngest" Marshalls, it was in fact built for James Gleeson of Coolantry, Ireland in 1914. Traction continued to be built at the Gainsborough works, says Mr Marshall, until 1940, the last being 88884, '6hp single cylinder engine supplied to the War Department for forestry work in Scotland, and unfortunately now scrapped.

67

The County Fleet John Rhead Worcestershire County Council bought their first steam rollers in 1897 — three Aveling & Porter 121/2 ton single cylinder machines. The purchase was largely on advice by the County Surveyor of Gloucestershire, who believed that the ideal rollers for county roads were Aveling 15 ton singles. Another 12 '1 ton single arrived in 1898.

Later that year the Council bought an unusual roller from Avelings. The machine was nominally a 121/2 tonner, but was based on a road locomotive boiler which was almost a quarter longer on the boiler barrel. It was a compound, and a convertible, though always used as a roller. Intended for the hilliest areas of the county, it often worked around Tenbury Wells.

By 1910 the Council had eight rollers, all Aveling & Porter 121/2 tonners — six singles and two compounds. However, as the Council had no maintenance facilities they were by now suffering from wear and breakdowns. Five had been sold by 1915 (number 3 to Eddisons of Dorchester) and numbers 6, 7 and 8 were bought by the War Office for use in France in 1916. Thus by 1916 the Council's first eight rollers had come and gone.

Roller 9, the Council's last 121/2 ton Aveling single, had arrived in April 1911, whilst in May the County Surveyor J.H. Garrett had died. His successor, C.F. Gettings, was a firm believer in lighter machines and by 1919 he had bought eleven rollers, seven at 10 tons and four at 8 tons.

They were still Aveling & Porter built except for two Fowlers (one 10 ton, and one 8 ton► . Gettings' last steam roller purchase was in about 1920; it was a 10 ton convertible Aveling from the Army Disposals Board. The rollers now under his control were numbered 1 to 13, and all but one lasted until the County Council ceased to use steam about 1950. (Roller 14 was an early Aveling petrol roller, but little is known about her.)

68

THE STEAM ROLLERS AND WAGONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL When Gettings arrived in Worcester he was soon aware of the fact that for light patchings, or work around tramlines, the conventional roller was uneconomic. He and his committee chairman were much impressed by a revolutionary little roller in Cheltenham; a six ton Mann's semi-tandem. She had a full width roll at the rear, and two separate rolls at the front. The County Council bought one of these "patching rollers" in 1912 (Mann's 688) and the Oxford Steam Plough Co. designed a scarifier for her. So fitted she was such a success that a second example (number 929) was bought in 1914.

These two rollers worked until quite worn out in the early 1930s. One patcher worked in the south of the county, the other in the north, and each was accompanied by a lighweight living van built by Ricketts Bros of Wibbenhall, Bewdley. (One of these vans survives preserved at Avoncroft Museum' of Buildings, Bromsgrove). One snag with the Mann's patchers was the water tank over the rear roll which reduced rearward visibility greatly. As a result of this a road repair man was run over by one of these rollers and killed before

the driver knew what was happening.

The Mann's patchers were replaced by light petrol rollers.

Before World War 1 the Council's haulage was mainly done by outside contractors. As the war progressed Gettings found it increasingly difficult to obtain haulage, and even resorted to experimentally hauling road materials behind the Council's rollers.

This expedient was, fortunately, short lived. Steam wagons with extra trailers were ordered from Garretts and Clayton .& Shuttleworth. Delivery was slow, for with both firms doubtless making the best efforts they could to help the military, the County Council had to wait. Meanwhile the Council bought a secondhand Garrett wagon, identity unknown, but numbered logically, 1. She was not popular with the men, wooden wheels with steel treads and (apparently) no solid rubber tyres, and also suffered regular boiler troubles. No tears were shed when No.1 was sold (at a profit) in 1919 to the Midland Rolling and Haulage Co of Birmingham. By 1919 the Council had rebeived five steam wagons — two Garretts and three Claytons. All were over-types, three being tippers and two fixed bodied.

A group of Worcestershire County Council roadmen pose in front of an Aveling 12% former. The machine is either 5 (4139 of 1898) or 6 (4847 of 1901). (Harry Barnes)

The men had mixed feelings about the latter, some preferred them because. they would carry twenty tar barrels, whereas the tippers only took fifteen, but the snag came when they moved soil or road stone — what was shovelled on could not be tipped off!

Between 1919 and 1921 the Council bought nine wagons from the Army Disposals Board. Filthy and unkempt, they were steamed one at a time from Shrub Hill railway station at Worcester to the Council's new Central Vehicle Depot where they were totally reconditioned. Again, some were Garretts, some Clayton & Shuttleworth. The last two proved to be so expensive to rebuild that the Council's last overtype purchase (another Garrett) in 1921 was of a new machine. The Council now had fifteen steam wagons, numbered 2 to 13; and 16 to 18. 14 and 15 were petrol lorries. Slow and cumbersome as the steamers were, these old vehicles were the basis of the Council's haulage until the late 1920s, by which time they were rapidly wearing out. A few were sold at prices little better than scrap; many hardly worked again. Number 4 was hit by a row of moving railway trucks at Kidderminster in 19 28 and destroyed.

The last to be withdrawn (number 181 was sold to Frank Holl in 1933.

Meanwhile, in late 1927 and early 1928, the Council had bought two Garrett 6 ton undertype three way tippers. They were largely used for hauling tarmac and were withdrawn at the end of 1933 as a result of Government financial provisions use continued their making uneconomic. Their lives were short and, despite still being in good running order, were sold for scrap. They had been outclassed by the very best and latest Leyland petrol lorries, upon

The lightweight living van, number 21, built by Ricketts Bros for the patching rollers and now preserved at Avoncroft, Bromsgrove. (F. T. Rhead)

districts were able to require the counties to buy their highways plant at a valuation, and five districts in Worcestershire did so. By 1931 Hammond thus controlled a further nine steam rollers, a Garrett 5 ton tractor, and a 1920 Sentinel wagon which came from Bromsgrove RDC and was subsequently bought by Frank Holl in 1933. Eight of the nine rollers were Avelings, the other a 1902 Fowler 12 ton single from Pershore RDC. The 1929 Act further required that county councils should negotiate arrangements with the rural districts whereby the latter would look after

which the Council now based their fleet.

Mr C.F. Gettings had died in 1926 and was now replaced as County Surveyor by his former deputy Mr B.C. Hammond. Hammond was ably assisted by his deputy, Harold Bradley (later Brooke-Bradley). They expected the best from men and machines — and usually got it. Apart from the two undertype Garretts they bought no steamers. However, the Local Government Act 1929 took from rural district councils their role as the highway authority for non-county roads, and made the counties responsible for these as well. The rural

One of Worcestershire County Council's fleet of 5 ton overtype Garrett wagons. Works number 33073 (8J3455) was new in August 1917 and cost £737. (collection J. L. Thomas)

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104

the loads as agents of the funnel. The rollers thus stayed in their home areas with their old drivers, but were first checked over at Central Depot and repaired as necessary. For instance, the ex Upton-on-Severn roller (number 17) had its regulator valve re-faced, wheels turned, new bushes fitted to the high pressure glands, and various other jobs done, including the fitting of a new chimney. It's attendant van, which had been letting in the rain, was repaired, and new bedding and a red Cross box provided. Even the men benefitted by local government reorganisation in this case!

War came again, and rolling became more intermittent. Rollers in the rural districts were out of work for months at a time. Little maintenance was done, and by the end of hostilities many of the rollers were in a very poor state. Two, number 12 (the county's 10 ton Fowler) and the old 12 tonner ex Pershore had gone for scrap to help the war effort. (Strangely, number 12 appears to have worked on in other ownership until 19541. After the war the agency arrangements were ended, and all rollers came directly under Worcester County Council's control.

By 1948 the policy was to phase the steamers out. Some were virtual wrecks, repairs were awkward and costly, and drivers hard to find; furthermore with changes in road construction methods they were becoming too heavy for many of the jobs. As the Annual Report for 1949 said:"There are certain functions for which these machines are still useful, but... the utility of the older and heavier units of our plant is very limited."

As they broke down they went out of service. With little work for them, and the survivors usually able to cope, why spend good money on these old rollers? From 1947 onwards the fleet slowly shrank. Some were sold for a little work elsewhere, some for scrap.

Of the disposal of others there is simply no known record. What happened to the Council's second number 2 is a complete mystery — Aveling and Porter 8227, a 10 ton compound (AB8872); was sold in running order in February 1950. Her log book etc. went to County Down, N. Ireland, but for whom is not known — any ideas?

Two ex Worcestershire County Council steamers survive. Both came from Martley RDC. One is the five ton Garrett tractor 33991 now owned by the Fensom family in Hertfordshire, the other is Aveling & Porter 8384, a 6 ton convertible. In 1954 she was sold to a friend of her driver Billy Jones, and 70

Council roller 3 (second swies) poses whilst at work near Welland. Aveling & Porter 8228 of 1914. (Harry Barnes)

he soon had her at his home. Now he lives in East Anglia.

Looking back, it is strange to think that a single County Council could, over the years, own no less than thirty two rollers, nineteen steam wagons, and a steam tractor — fifty two steamers — for use on its roads. Yet such was the case, and only two live on.

(It is impossible in an article such as this to give more than the briefest outline of Worcestershire County Council's fleet of steam engines. John

Rhead has carried out considerable research into the activities of these machines, delving into their history in Council archives. The Road Locomotive Society hope to publish this full story later this year and chapters will also be included on bridge testing by steam, living vans, licensing and byelaws, highway damage attributed to traction engines and anecdotes of old drivers. This is probably the first time that a history of a county council steam fleet has been set down, and we look forward to reading it with keen interest.)

The Spring issue of Paddle Wheels, the magazine of the paddle Steamer Preservation Society, brings news of their much travelled Clyde steamer WAVERLEY. The decision having been taken to replace the ship's boiler, work is presently going on to fit a new Babcock 'Steambloc TC' boiler, specially modified for Waverley. It is a smoke tube boiler and will burn heavier, cheaper fuel, and also use less of it, resulting (it is hoped) in a saving in fuel costs.

The work is being undertaken by engineers of the Waverley Steam Navigation (the vessel's operating

company under the PSPS) and Clydedock Engineering. It should be completed by early April and after a short period of Clyde sailings at Easter, WAVERLEY will come south again for an April and May programme of cruises from the south coast, the Thames, and — new for 1981 — the Humber, Tees/Tyne and the Forth.

After rounding the north of Scotland the boat will undertake a month of sailings in the Bristol Channel in June, the traditional summer season on the Clyde, and then a possible September return to the south coast of England.

We would recommend and urge all readers to take a trip on this fine paddle steamer and support the enterprising efforts of the PSPS — what an excellent opportunity for a traction engine club summer outing!

Details of sailings should be obtainable from Waverley Steam Naviagtion, Stobcross Quay, Glasgow (041-221-8152).

On SefitineiS in Worcestershire Joe Thomas My series of articles On Sentinels has been running for quite a few years, and has covered many parts of the country. I am pleased therefore that the county now to be considered should by my own — Worcestershire.

There were, of course, many other makes of steam wagon in use in the area; the County Council for example operated ten overtype and two undertype Garrett wagons, plus six Clayton & Shuttleworth as well as the Sentinel taken over from Bromsgrove UDC. But this article is about Sentinels and must remain so!

The Standard Models Several of the very early Glasgow built V registered (Lanarkshire) standard models went to Birmingham, parts of which were in Worcestershire at that time, but we will forget that city as it is well worth a separate article in this series in due course.

We have to progress to 1909 to find our first Worcestershire Sentinel.

This was registration V584 owned by Robert Allen, brewer, of Barbourne, Worcester. The maker's number is unknown, but would be about 215.

The second example in the county was exhibited new at the Royal Lancashire Show, but delivered to C.W. Draycott of Redditch. Registered V789, the serial number is again unsure at approximately 241; it was a standard 6 ton tipper. In 1910 T. & M. Dixon of Barnt Green took the first of what was to be a large fleet of Sentinels — number 337 (V10261.

In February 1914, T.S. Townshend & Sons, flour millers of Diglis Dock, Worcester, purchased their first steam wagon; it was 6 ton flat platform number 670 (FK464) and records show this wagon was for sale in 1924

by Harfords, Shrewsbury. Another brewery, Showell's of Langley, purchased 752 (V29181 in 1914. I am uncertain whether this was a 4 or 6 ton model but it was the last of the Glasgow built machines to come new into the county.

The very first of the wagons to leave the new Shrewsbury Waggon Works was 1102 in September 1915 — this went to Lancashire. The first into Worcestershire was not until the

following year when Townshends bought their second Sentinel 1179 (AW2709) being a 6 ton platform model. Next was another 6 tonner, 1230(AW2829), bought by R & B Bomford of Pitchill, Evesham in 1916, more of which is recorded in another article in this issue. Then came 1297 (AW2995) new the same year to West Bromwich, then Wednesfield and finally thirdhand to T.A. Everton, Junior, of Droitwich, a firm still in existence as coach operators.

The Dudley Gaslight Co purchased 5 ton tipper 1416 — approx — (AW3249) in 1916 and also in that year Chance & Hunt Ltd of Oldbury bought 1424 (AW3260). A small 1428 3'A ton wagon number (AW3264) also appeared in 1916, acquired by the Vono Co Ltd, Dudley although this may have been Dudley Port which is just in Staffordshire. The Metropolitan Cammell Carriage, Wagon & Finance Co of Oldbury, a firm later to build many scores of those excellent Sentinel-Cammell railcars, bought 1448 (AW3302) in 1916. The following year, also at Oldbury, F.R. Simpson & Co had their number 1 1487 Sentinel new, vehicle (AW3406). My own local Worcester Corporation purchased model DS

5 ton tipper 1601 (FK845) in March 1917. This was designed to pull a trailer. T. & M. Dixon at Barnt Green got their second example in 1917, this being 1624 but the registration is unknown.

The city's Electricity Department at Worcester purchased their first Shrewsbury product, a 5 ton tipper number 1712 (AW3824), later the same year. F.R. Simpson bought their second and third examples in 1918, both small model B 4 tonners, 1888 and 1887 numbered (AW4061/AW4062), with fleet numbers 3 and 2 respectively. Also in 1918 John Elwell Ltd of Oldbury acquired their first Sentinel — 1925 (AW4105) was a BS 4 tonner and was equipped to haul a trailer. Another intended for similar purposes was new in 1918 to a firm who were later to have a large fleet of Sentinels when model DS 5 ton tipper number 1942 (E5146) arrived at Midland Tar Distillers Ltd, Oldbury.

The East Worcestershire Waterworks Co at Bromsgrove purchased model A flat 6 tonner number 1949 in 1918, but again the registration is unrecorded. Still in 1918 T.A. Everton bought 2058 (AW4254) and Bromsgrove Gas Light & Coke Co took 2059

Engineers, councillors and workmen confidently stand on Pershore New Bridge during its deflection tests, believed to be in the 1920s. Providing weight for the test are two of Everton's Sentinels (4088, left and 3751, right) and an unidentified Aveling roller, probably from the County Council's fleet. (collection J.L. Thomas)

71

Sentinel 5725, owned by Holl & Morgan, whilst engaged on lift van haulage for W. Win wood & Son. (collection J.L. Thomas)

(AW4255). I have no date, registration or model for 2244 but it was new in 1918 to E. Baylie & Co, Stourbridge.

The North Bromsgrove UDC bought model D standard 5 ton tipper 2309 (AW4704 or 4711) in 1919 and also in the same year Goodwin, Foster & Brown Ltd of Dudley purchased model B 4 tonner 2476 (AW5293), believed to have been sold later to the Malvern Hill Granite Co. In 1919 Halesowen Gas Co had model D 5 ton tipper, works number about 2773 (AW6068), and the Rubery (Worcs) Brick Co bought secondhand from British Portland Cement Manufacturers model A 6 tonner 2777 (AW6073). Cadbury Bros of Bourneville — which I think at that time was in Worcestershire — purchased model BS 4 tonner 2796 (AW6105) in 1919 and also that year Townshend acquired their third wagon — 2801 (AW6155), a model B 4 tonner.

Midland Tar Distillers Ltd at 72

Oldbury bought another secondhand Sentinel, this time from the National Fuel Oil Co Ltd, London. It was a model AS 6 ton platform designed to pull a trailer, number 3073 (AW7000) which had been new in 1919. The South Wales & Cannock Chase Coal Co Ltd of Worcester, a firm still in existence in 1977, bought new in 1919 model D 5 ton tipper 3075. Its registration number is not definitely known but was probably AW7002; it was later sold to T.A. Everton. The Bromsgrove Traction & Engineering Co purchased model D 5 ton tipper 3112 (AW7078) and this too was later sold to Evertons. Model A 6 ton flat 3160 (AW7226) was bought by Malvern Hill Granite from P & W Anderson (St George's Wharf Transport Col London — this was new in 1920. This year saw many Sentinels come new into the county and D.W. Goodwin & Co, Kidderminster took 3271, another 6 ton flat with registration unknown, and the gasworks at Kidderminster fol-

lowed suit by acquiring 3296 (AW7668), a model D 5 ton tipper which was converted to pneumatics in 1934 and survived World War 2.

Bromsgrove RDC bought model D 5 ton tipper 3330, registration not known and T. & M. Dixon purchased yet another of a similar type, 3377.

Alley & MacLellan Ltd, Sentinel Valve Works, Worcester (where I served my apprenticeship) acquired their first wagon in 1920, and although I don't know the full details, it's works number was 3417. It was soon followed in the latter part of the year by a second, 3504 (AW8318) which was a model A 6 ton flat, last licensed incidentally in 1940.

Hunt Bros, the glass makers at Oldbury, took model AS 6 tonner 3459 (AW8194) in 1920, whilst a similar model was acquired secondhand by Midland Tar, again from National Fuel Oil — 3519 (AW8379), and the following year obtained a third, 3803 (AW9056) — both were of similar type to their first 1919 purchase. Still in 1920 John Millard, Netherton bought model A 6 tonner 3735. T.A. Everton acquired another secondhand 1920 model in buying

To the author's continuous disappointment photographs of Sentinels in his own county seem remarkably thin on the ground. If any readers have such pictures we should be pleased to have loan of them for possible use in the second part of this article.

3751 (AW8934) from Door to Door Transport Services Ltd of London.

Moving on to 1921, Great Malvern UDC had model D 5 ton tipper 4052 (NP302) in July. Fleet number 3 of the Door to Door Transport firm also came into the county; it was model A 6 tonner 4088 (XK795) new in February 1922 and sold in 1924 to M & S Motor Transport, Dudley Port, passing to Evertons in the same year — their sixth Sentinel. 4143 (FD2025) is supposed to have been new on 18th September 1922 to Kingswinford Sand Co but was probably not delivered there, as I believe it went instead to the Dudley & Blowers Green Transport Co to become their fleet number 1. Worcester Corporation purchased another wagon in January 1923 — 4297 (FK1632), a model D 5 ton tipper. This was among the last twenty one Standard models built before the introduction of the Super Sentinel type in June 1923 and was the last Standard purchased new by anyone in the county.

March 1924 and the following month Dudley & BGT bought their third Sentinel, 5387 (FD2453) and their number 3, for hire. T.W. Bleach & Sons of Evesham obtained 5445 (NP4316) in May 1924 for use in delivering their jams and preserves.

My very good friend Frank Holl, as partner in the Worcester haulage contractors Holl & Morgan purchased Super 5725 on 10th January 1925; it was a 6 ton flat platform wagon with dropsides, registered FK2322, and was later sold to Chance & Hunt, Oldbury. This latter firm also bought a secondhand Super — 5997 (EX1266) which had been new in February 1925 to brewers E. Lacon at Great Yarmouth. Dudley & BGT's No 4 was Sentinel 6164 (FD2922).

L. Bullen & Sons of Kidderminster bought a special Super Sentinel timber tractor form Dudley Timber & Sawmills Ltd, of Tutbury, Staffs. This was 6189 (NU7706) and had been new to the latter concern in October 1925.

David Millington, a slag contractor from Dudley, bought a new Super 3 way tipper in October 1925, works number 6267 but an unrecorded registration. Dudley & BGT, having had four Sentinels, must have tried out some other make for their 5 to 7 for Super tipper 6421 (FD3422) was their fleet number 8. It was purchased after use as a demonstration vehicle by Sentinels and fitting with pneumatics.

Chance & Hunt bought another 1926

Super secondhand when they acquired 6595 tipper 3 way 5 ton (TD72381from the Morecambe firm of Edmonson Bros. John Elwell also acquired a secondhand machine in 6790 (UE2482) ex Davenport & Co of Sutton Coldfield who had bought it new in November 1925, and Oakley Bros of Cradley Heath took 6813 (NP7833) new in December 1926.

Frank Holl (Holl & Morgan) purchased his second Super in March 1927, this one being 6861 (FK3230), a 6 tonner later sold to W.J. Street of Gloucester.

The Blockley Brick & Tile Co bought 6961 (UY957), a 5 ton 3 way tipper, on 15th May 1927. T. & M. Dixon purchased a further used Sentinel, this being 7137 (0X1984) from City Brick Co, Saltley, Birmingham and which had been new in 1927.

Dixons for some reason called it their number 2 but as we have already seen, they had at least three wagons previously. Hunt Bros of the Griffin Foundry, Oldbury — so well known to traction engine and fairground organ lovers — purchased new on 3rd March 1928 6 ton Super 7344 (UY2565), later converted to pneumatics. At the same time they also bought Sentinel trailer 7345. The Shrewsbury works numbered all trailers, and indeed all their production items, and usually when trailers were supplied with a wagon, they were numbered consecutively. (to be continued)

The Super Models In June 1923, Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd at Shrewsbury introduced a new 6 ton model known as the Super Sentinel. It featured several improvements on the old Standard model which had more than proved its worth over the preceding years. The Standards ended with works number 4426 and there was a gap left in the number sequence before the new Super commenced with 5001. This lorry went to the Cardiff brewers, S.A. Brain.

The first of the type we find in Worcestershire is 5039 (FD2257), new to Dudley & Blowers Green Transport (Dudley & BGT), their fleet later Dixon T. & M. number 2. acquired Super 5050 (CY6120) secondhand from Thos Hall & Son, Llansamlet, Glam. It had been converted to pneumatics before Dixons obtained it and re-registered AW6228, presumably by Sentinels when it was reconditioned. Robert Allen & Co Ltd, the Worcester brewers who in 1909 had bought an early Standard, purchased Super 5321 (FK2014) in

Details of this fine farmyard scene are completely unknown, but it has been suggested that the maker of the old wood wheel portable engine was Humphries of Pershore, Worcestershire. (collection R. G. Pratt) 73

Steam Hawking The name of Everton will be found in many of the accounts of Worcestershire steamers within this issue. Over the years some 50 . engines and wagons were owned by this Droitwich firm whose business activities spread through haulage, brickmaking, farming, property, shopowning and the running of buses, the last of which still occupies them today.

Most fascinating of Evertons' engines must surely have been these travelling shops. The 6 ton Foden (number and date unknown) was the first steamer run by Tom Everton Junior, and replaced a horse and dray.

As a 'licensed hawker' he sold lamp oil and domestic hardware in the villages around Droitwich but, not surprisingly, the harsh springs of the 6 tanner proved somewhat damaging for the crockery. The chassis/wagon was therefore returned to Fodens and a tipping body fitted. The photograph was given to Joe Thomas by Mrs Jackson — T.A. Everton's daughter and the young girl at the steering

wheel in this 1905 picture.

If the Foden was not quite the tool for the job, however, steam wasn't totally unsuitable, for in December 1911 Evertons took delivery of superheated 3 ton Garrett 30008 (8J1193).

The wagon's shiny finish and tidy appearance probably indicates that the photograph (now in the collection of Frank Holl) was taken soon after

delivery from the makers. Many kinds of lamp, boots, Sunlight soap, scrubbing brushes and paraffin and oils were all in stock on the 'General Hardware Stores'. Notice the beautiful three tone horn, and the mileometer on the front wheel hub. The three travelling shopkeepers posed on this photo seem to be among the group at the rear of the Foden, above.

15

pence

April 19 and 20 — Road/Rail Steam '81, Quom and Woodhouse Station (B591), Leicestershire. (15-29 engines expected") D. Pugh, Gt. Central Railway, PO Box 33, Loughborough, LE11 1SS. 19 and 20 — Quainton Railway Society Open Day, Quainton, Buckinghamshire. (up to 15 engines expected) C.

Tayler, 161 Carterhatch Road, Enfield, Middlesex.

Rallies Approved by the National Traction Engine Club

May

Approved Rallies The organisers of all these events have undertaken to conduct them in accordance with the recommendations contained in the National Traction Engine Club's Code of Practice. This code is designed to promote the interests of rally organisers and the public by encouraging high standards of entertainment and organisation, and particularly, furthering all aspects of safety affecting visitors or exhibitors alike.

The List The title of each event is followed by a brief description of the location or venue and the organiser's address. The number of engines expected to attend is offered for guidance, but must not be taken as a guarantee — rallying vintage steam engines can be fraught with problems.

Events marked * thus feature other vintage vehicles as well as steam engines. The information is given in good faith and is correct at the time of publication and the NTEC cannot be held responsible for subsequent variations. If you are in doubt, it is suggested you confirm arrangements with the organiser concerned.

The Approved Rally symbol ©This list is the property of the National Traction Engine Club and shall not be reproduced whole, or in part, without prior permission.

T.CC.—

2 to 4 — 4th Belton Steam and Vintage Fair, Belton House, near Grantham, Lincolnshire. (30-45 engines expected) J.C. Boston, The Greyhound, Belton, near Grantham,

Lincolnshire.

9 and 10 — Gayhurst and Stoke Goldington Steam Rally, Stoke Goldington, Buckinghamshire. (15-29 engines expected) M.E. Lukey, 12 Malting Close, Stoke Goldington, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire MIK16 8NX. 16 and 17 — Isle of Anglesey Vintage Rally, Plas Coch, nr.

Uanfair PG, Anglesey. (up to 15 engines expected) A. Glover, 30

Pendyffyn Valley, Anglesey.

16 and 17 — Basingstoke Lions 10th Steam and Transport Festival, Old Common, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

(15-29 engines expected") T.D. Tate, Lloyds Bank Ltd, 1 The Parade, Basing View, Basingstoke.

16 and 17 — Highnam Court Steam and Vintage Show, Highnam, Gloucester. (up to 15 engines expected") D.C. Roberts,

1 Simon Road, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 OW. 24 and 25 — Welford Steam Engine Rally, Sibbertoft Road (off A50), Welford, Northamptonshire. (30-45 engines expected) R.E. West, 14 Charles Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

LE16 9AB.

April 1981

Published by the National Traction Engine Club Ltd.

24 and 25 — EATC Thurlow Rally, near Haverhill, Suffolk.

(30-45 engines expected) M. Tuxworth, 7 The Green, Widdington,

Saffron Walden, Essex.

24 and 25 — Beaulieu Steam Festival, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire. (15-29 engines expected") NMM,

c/o 2 Ivy Lane, Westergate, Chichester, Sussex.

24 and 25 — Carrington Park Rally, Carrington, near Boston,.

Lincolnshire (B1183). (over 45 engines expected) Mrs S.M. Clover,

193 Sleaford Road, Boston, Lincs. PE21 7PG.

13 and 14 — South Tyne Steam Rally and Country Show, Dilston Park, Hexham, Northumberland. (15-29 engines expected") Mrs L.A. Black, 5 Abbey View, Hexham, Northumberland.

13 and 14 — Holton Steam Rally, Windmill Field, Holton, Oxfordshire. (15-29 engines expected) A. Bray, Unit 3, Home Farm, Holton, Oxford.

20 and 21 — Transport Scene '81, Chasewater Park, Brownhllls, West Midlands. (up to 15 engines expected") B. Wormington, 50 Marlow Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST3 5DT.

20 and 21 — Sixth Vintage Rally, High Cross, Claybrooke, Leicestershire. (up to 15 engines expected") R.J. Roberts, Fieldings, Leicester Road, Shamford, Hinckley, Leicestershire.

27 and 28 — Banbury Steam Rally, Wroxton Park (Prov.), Banbury, Oxfordshire. (15-29 engines expected") R.T. Herring, Bellacourt, Blacklocks Hill, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Burrell showmans road locomotive

27 and 28 — Chester Vintage Transport Festival, The Race Course, Chester. (up to 15 engines expected") D. Griffiths, 26 Museum Street, Warrington, Cheshire.

24 and 25 — Rally Round the Well, Stoke Row, near Henleyon-Thames, Oxfordshire. (up to 15 engines expected) Mrs J. Greenaway, The Beeches, Stoke Row, near Henley-on-Thames,

Oxfordshire.

30 and 31 — Lancashire Traction Engine Club Rally, Haydock Park Racecourse, Merseyside. (30-45 engines expected")

27 and 28 — Stamford Traction Engine Rally, Burghley Park, Stamford, Lincolnshire. (15-29 engines expected) J. Crawley, Field House, Turvey, Bedford MK43 8DU.

27 and 28 — Bon Accord Steam Engine Rally, Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen. (30-45 engines expected) W. McConachie, 18 Dairyhall Drive, Aberdeen AB9 8BD.

R. Prescott, 546 Wigan Road, Atherton, Manchester.

31 and 1 — Upton Steam Rally, St. Patricks, Upton, Co. Cork, Ireland. (15-29 engines expected) Upton Steam Organisers, Rosminian Residential Centre, Upton, Co. Cork, Ireland.

July June

4 and 5 — Headington and Stockley Steam Rally, near Caine, Wiltshire. (15-29 engines expected") G. Hyde, 34 Goatacre, Caine, Wiltshire.

6 and 7 — Weston Great Park Extravaganza, Letchworth, Hertfordshire. (30-45 engines expected) J. Saunders, 101 Arlesley Road, Stotfonl, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

6 and 7 — Ashfield Steam Engine Rally, Hollinwell Smallholding, A611, Kirkby-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. (15-29 engines expected) L.M. Wright, 52 Greenwood Drive, Kirkby-inAshfield, Nottinghamshire.

6 and 7 — HMS Sultan Silver Jubilee Rally and Fete, Gosport, Hampshire. (up to 15 engines expected") Summer Fete Officer, HMS Sultan, Gosport, Hampshire.

13 and 14 — The Camerton Rally, Camerton, near Bath, Avon. (15-29 engines expected'') D. Cleaves, 60 North Road, Midsomer Norton, Bath, Avon BA3 2QQ.

13 and 14 — Merton Steam Rally, Wandle Park, Colliers Wood, London SW19. (up to 15 engines expected) London Borough of Merton, Morden Park House, London Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 5QU.

Foden steam wagon

4 and 5 — Bromyard Gala, Mintridge Farm, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard, Herefordshire. (15-29 engines expected") J. Wilkins, Chanctonbwy, Pencombe Road. Brotnyord, Herefordshire.

4 and 5 — Chiltern Traction Engine Club Rally, Coleshill, near Amersham, Buckinghamshire. (30-45 engines expected") P.

Honour, Lodge Lane, Little Chalfont, Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire.

11 and 12 — Woodcote Veteran Transport Rally. Wards Farm, Woodcote. near Reading, Berkshire. (15.29 engines expected') R.J. Darling, 41 Cleeue Down, Goring, Reading,

Berkshire.

11 and 12 — Rempstone Steam and Vintage Rally, nr Loughborough, Leicestershire. (3045 engines expected") M.J.

Beeby, Rempstone, Loughborough, Leics LE12 6RW.

11 and 12 — Poole North Scout Group Steam Rally, Lytchett Matravers, Poole, Dorset. (15-29 engines expected) B.R.

Wilcox, 99 Wlmbome Road, Corfe Mullen, Wimbome, Dorset.

11 and 12 — Ardingly Historic Transport Spectacular, South of England Showground, Ardingly. Sussex. (15.29 engines expected") B. Johnson, 2 luy Lane, Wosterunte, Chichester,

Machin traction engine

Sussex.

17 and 18 — Ulster Steam Traction Engine Rally. Shines Castle, Antrim. Northern Ireland. (30.45 engines expected) J.S. Beach, Estate Office, Shams Castle, Antrim, Northern Ireland.

18 and 19 — Chadshunt Vintage Working Rally, Chadshunt, near Kineton, Warwickshire. (up to 15 engines expected) T. Robinson, Town End Cottage, Fritwell, Oxfordshire.

18 and 19 — Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London SE24. (15-29 engines expected') S.T. Holroyd, Amenity Services, 91 Clapham High Street, SW4 7TY.

24 to 26 — Netley Marsh Steam Engine and Vintage Vehicle Rally, Ringwood Road (A336) Netley Marsh, Southampton. (30-45 engines expected') D. Burdle, Fembank Cottage, Ringwood Road, Netley Marsh, Southampton.

18 and 19 — Weeting•Steam Engine Rally, Fengate Farm, Weeting, Brandon, Suffolk. (over 45 engines expected') R.N.

Parrott, Fengate Farm, Weeting, Brandon, Suffolk.

18 and 19 — Fauld Steam and Preservation Rally, Hall Farm, Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. (up to 15 engines expected") D. and M.J. Hallam, The Firs, Draycott-in-the-Clay,

Sudbury, Staffordshire DE6 5GX. 18 and 19 — Bicton Steam '81, Yettington, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon. (15-29 engines expected) J. Crawley,

Field House, Turvey, Bedford MK43 8DU.

25 and 26 — Kegworth Carnival and Steam Engine Rally, Hailstone Meadows, Kegworth, Derbyshire. (30-45 engines expected) P.G. Haywood, 49 Nottingham Road, Kegworth, Derby

DE7 2H-1.

25 and 26 — Rushmoor Steam and Vintage Rally, Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, Hampshire. (30-45 engines expected") P. Lyons, 2 Grayswood Drive, Mytchett Lake Road,

Mytchett, Surrey.

25 and 26 — Ross-on-Wye Steam Engine Rally, Rye Meadows, Much Marcie, near Ledbury. (15-29 engines expected)

Mrs E.A. Powell, Wallwyn Court, Much Marcie, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2L Y. Aveling steam roller

25 and 26 — Cumbria Steam Gathering, County Showground, Kendal, Cumbria. (15-29 engines expected) T.P.

Holt, South View, Hutton Roof, via Camforth, Lancashire.

August 1 and 2 — Alderholt Steam Engine Rally, Plumley Farm, Somerley (B3081), Hampshire. (30-45 engines expected) R.C.

Hood, Femlea, Camel Green, Alderholt, Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

8 and 9 — Great Yorkshire Steam Fair, Castle Howard, York. (30-45 engines expected) E. Lamb, Secretary, Castle Howard, York.

September 5 and 6 — 7th Annual Transport and Engine Show, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. (15-29 engines expected") M.K.

Smith, 43 Humphries Close, Randwick, Stroud, Gloucetershire.

5 and 6 — Brill Vintage and Working Steam Rally, Temple Farm, Brill, Buckinghamshire. (15-29 engines expected) D. Southam, 16 Willanay, South Hills, Brill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

12 and 13 — Haddenham Steam Rally, Haddenham, near Ely, Cambridgeshire. (30-45 engines expected") Mrs D. Young,

13 Cooks Drove, Earith, Cambridgeshire PE1 7 3QS. 12 and 13 — Tonbridge Steam Rally, Hall Place, Leigh, near Tonbridge, Kent. (15-29 engines expected) M. Pike, 11 Stacey

Road, Tonbridge, Kent.

Ransomes steam tractor

8 and 9 — Astle Park Traction Engine Rally, Chelford (off A535), Cheshire. (30-45 engines expected) J.A, Barber, The

12 and 13 — Malpas Yesteryear Rally, Gredington Park, Hanmer, near Whitchurch, Shropshire. (15-29 engines expected) C. Whitehurst, 1 Council Houses, Kidnal, Malpas, Cheshire.

12 and 13 — Dacorum Steam Extravaganza, Bovingdon Airfield (B4505), Hertfordshire. (30-45 engines expected) W.J.

Cottage, Chelford, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Evans, 222 Lawn Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

15 and 16 — West of England Society Rally, Silverwell Farm, near St. Agnes, Cornwall. (3045 engines expected) W.L.F. Came, 87 Roskear Road, Cambome, Cornwall 7R14 8BX.

19 and 20 — Scouts Steam Gala, Ladywood Road, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. (up to 15 engines expected) Mrs E. Elston, 26 Eliot Drive, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

15 and 16 — Elstree Hill Steam Rally, Edgwarebury House Farm, Elstree Hill South, Hertfordshire. (15-29 engines expected) R.A. Lipscombe, Edgwarebury House Farm, Elstree Hill South,

19 and 20 — Roxton Park Rally, near Bedford. (over 45 engines expected) P. Worbey, 35 Old Hale Way, Hitchin,

Hertfordshire.

26 and 27 — South Wood ham Ferrers Steam Engine Rally, near Chelmsford, Essex. (30-45 engines expected) Mrs

15 and 16 — Somerset Traction Engine Club Rally, Langport, Somerset. (15-29 engines expected) E.F. Alford,

'Elmlea', Broad Hinton, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Hertfordshire.

E.A. Bourn, Ridersway, Postmans Lane, Little Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 4SF.

22 and 23 — Fairford Traction Engine Rally and Show, Fairford, Gloucestershire. (30-45 engines expected) A.J.R. New, 9

The Plies, Fairford, Gloucestershire.

29 and 30 — Egham and Thorpe Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Show, Runnymede, Egham, Surrey. (up to 15 engines expected") I. Fear, 1 Rowan Avenue, Egham, Surrey.

October

29 to 31 — Quexpo '81, Quex Park, Birchington, Kent. (15-29 engines expected") A.L. Wood, 95 Alpha Road, Birchington,

31 — Beaulieu Firework Fair, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire. (up to 15 engines expected) M.E. Ware,

Kent.

National Motor Museum, Hampshire.

29 to 31 — Bramham Park Traction Engine Rally, near Wetherby, Yorkshire. (30-45 engines expected) N. Boyes, 93

Woodside Road, Wyke, Bradford, Yorkshire BD12 8HP. 29 to 31 — Expo Steam '81, East of England Showground, Alwalton, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. (over 45 engines expected) J. Crawley, Field House, Turvey, Bedford MK43 8DU. 29 to 31 — Town and Country Festival, Royal Showground, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. (30-45 engines expected") T.R. Daw,

R.A.S.E., N.A.C., Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 212.

30 and 31 — County of Salop Steam Engine Society Rally, Bishops Castle, Shropshire. (30-45 engines expected) D. Goddard, 29 Nibs Heath, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, Shrops.

30 and 31 — Steam and Vintage Rally, Chappleton Barton (A377), near Barnstaple, Devon. (up to 15 engines expected") M.

Stabb, 12 Sun Valley Close, Brixham, Devon.

Further details of the Club and membership application forms are available from the General Secretary, Mr G.F Beck, 127 Greensted Road, Loughton, Essex. (SAE please)

The ploughing engines of Bomford Evershed

reproduced by the courtesy of the Steam Plough Club.

All photographs reproduced are by courtesy of the Institute of Agricultural History and Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading (Bomford Collection).

A.F.W. Smith Whenever ploughing engines are talked of at length those of Bomford & Evershed are sure to be mentioned at some time during the conversation. A detailed record of the engines will therefore not come amiss. The history of the dredging side of the business is woven into the very complicated tale told in The Born fords and the Eversheds elsewhere in this issue, but a brief resume is appropriate within these notes. Benjamin Bomford had acquired his first ploughing engine in 1864, and by 1880, when his sons continued the business as R & B Bomford, several sets were in use on contract work. The Bomford dredging scoop was designed about 1897 and along with other makes was offered to Fowlers for manufacture as a standard item of equipment for use with their ploughing engines.

It was this device that Harry Evershed came from Leeds to inspect, he eventually staying on to work with the Bomfords. The dredging scoop was gradually perfected and its use and construction, along with the manufacture of scarifiers for road rollers, became one of the mainstays of the Pitchill works. For this trade the new firm of Bomford & Evershed was formed in February 1904, working alongside the existing firm at Pitchill; six years later it moved to separate premises at Salford Priors, trading as civil engineering contractors, and specialising in dredging and road rolling. It is the ploughing engines taken over, or later acquired, by this firm that are detailed in this article.

Contract dredging work had started in earnest about 1908, the first

Fowler 3230 was one of Benjamin Bomford's early engines and survived to become an octagenarian. About 1911/12 a side drum for a tail rope was added; the supporting brackets and shaft can be seen above the motion but the drum itself and various other items seem to have been taken off at the time of this photograph.

— . d20406.„41::t.,r_ 77'

Fowler 3896 was an 8hp double drum engine — one under the boiler and the other under the tender. The picture was taken at an unknown date, but before 1919 when Bomford & Evershed rebuilt the engine with a side drum.

75

engines being acquired from the Bomford brothers. By 1921, when registration numbers became necessary, some seven engines were owned, all secondhand, as indeed were all subIncidentally, examples. sequent despite the firm considering themselves Worcestershire based, the Warwick County Council took a more formal view, and issued the registration numbers of the engines owned by the firm at that date!

Several of the old Fowlers were modified for single engine working as dredging could be done using anchor or snatch blocks for the tail rope to return the empty, lighter, scoop. The first attempt was by making a separate winch trolley for the tail rope.

It was driven by a small vertical engine steam-fed from the main engine; the trolley was attached to the engine drawbar and moved with it as a unit, an anchor being used at the outer end of the rope. This trolley idea was abandoned in favour of mounting the tail rope drum vertically on the engine in a number of positions — the first were on brackets over the motion,

Fowler 4505 had the tail rope drum mounted near the centre line of the boiler — the drum is believed to have been removed later.

Bomford & Evershed's ploughing engines Fowler 3229 and 3230 (AC9065, AC9064) 8hp single cylinder ploughing engines, Magdeburg Class L. 9" cylinders New 24.7.1877 to B. Bomford, Pitchill. Later to Bomford Bros and Bomford & Evershed, the latter modifying them in 1911/12 with side drums mounted above the boiler centre line, making them suitable for single engine dredging. Scrapped at Salford Priors c1952/54.

Fowler 3672 (AC9063) 8hp single cylinder ploughing engine, fitted with Church valves.

New 30.4.1879 to J. Thorburn-Fell, Petworth, Sussex. and originally paired with Fowler 3679. Later with two Kent owners and in 1907 rebuilt on new boiler 11067 by Fowlers. To Bomford & Evershed 1919(7) and side drum fitted by them. Sold 1933 to G. Halliday, Salford Priors. Scrapped c1952/54.

Fowler 3896 (AC9062) 8hp single cylinder ploughing engine, fitted with circular valves, and double drum — one under boiler, one under tender with water carried in side tanks.

New 16.9.1880 to T.M. Cleasby, Wilton Grange. To Bomford Bros at an unknown date via another owner, then Bomford & Evershed, 1919.

Later with Bomford & Wilkins and scrapped in 1962.

Fowler 4082 8hp single cylinder ploughing engine, double drum.

New 30.7.1881 to Birmingham Tame & Rea District Drainage Board.

To Bomford & Evershed c1910, but sold 1915 to W. Reynolds, Bedford.

Fowler 4223 (AC9061) 8hp single cylinder ploughing engine New 7.3.1884 to J.& H. Tulley, Cirencester, Glos. Purchased by Bomford Bros for Bomford & Evershed in 1921. Rebuilt on new boiler by Oxford Steam Plough Co and side drum fitted for single engine dredging by B & E in 1921. Paired for work with 3896 (g.v ). Sold for preservation in 1962 and now owned in Staffordshire. The engine still retains its 'coffee pot' top safety valve cover.

76

Fowler 4241 and 4242 (NP2006, NP2007) 8hp single cylinder ploughing engines, Magdeburg Class W. New 26.10.1882 to C.E.Lyons, Eccleshall, Staffs. To Bomford Bros, Pitchill in 1900 via another owner, and via a member of the Bomford family to Bomford & Evershed Ltd in 1933. Later with another Bomford — final disposal unknown.

Fowler 4504 and 4505 (NP40, NP41) 10hp compound ploughing engines. 6% " a n d 11'4 "x 12" cylinders, New 17.3.1883 to Holborrow & Co, Dudbridge, Glos. To Bomford & Evershed Ltd c1910 via another owner, A centre bearing was fitted to the crankshaft by B & E, the valve gear being offset to accommodate it. Later to B. Bomford & Co, Harvington, Worcs; believed scrapped at Salford Priors.

Fowler 4680 and 4681 (AC9066, AC9067) 10hp single cylinder ploughing engines. 9%2" x 12" cylinders.

New to J. Webster, Barnston, Cheshire. To Bomford & Evershed Ltd 1910 via another owner. 4680 rebuilt 1914 by Bomford Bros Ifor B & El on new boiler 13193; side drum fitted for single engine dredging — removed in 1931 and fitted to Fowler 14266 (q.v.), another one fitted 1933. 4681 rebuilt 1915 by B & E on new boiler 14369 and side drum fitted for single engine working. Both engines converted to diesel power (tender mounted engines) by B & E. To Bomford & Wilkins etc and still extant in ownership of N.& C.Hales.

Fowler 7272 (TU734) ?hp single cylinder ploughing engine, Class T1, double drum (not altered). 8 Y2" x 12" cylinders New 17.8.1896 to Crewe Corporation, Cheshire. To Bomford & Evershed Ltd 1929, via another owner, for £120, Tail rope and pulleys fitted 1931. New boiler 16126. Scrapped c1952/54.

Fowler 8203 (013343) 8hp single cylinder ploughing engine, Class T1, double drum. 8/a" cylinder.

New 21.1.1899 to Birmingham Tame & District Drainage Board. To Bomford & Evershed Ltd, 1928, for £60. Scrapped at Salford Priors c1952/54.

later conversions having the drum placed near the boiler centre line as on the Fowler B4 side drum engines. All this single engine working was of some importance in the 1920s when coal was in short supply.

Not all sets were so equipped however, and after World War 2 the working life of three pairs of engines was extended when they were reconstructed and provided with diesel engines, mounted on top of the disused boiler, or in the tender. The dredging side of the company was sold in 1956 to James Carr, who traded as Bomford & Wilkins, the business later moving to fresh premises and subsequently changing hands again. Many of the diesel conversions survive in that ownership.

1979 marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of Bomford & Evershed Ltd and at a public open day display of modern machinery at their works, the centrepiece was Bob Griffin's BB1 ploughing engine — a fitting reminder of earlier days.

Born ford & Evershed's modifications show better in this view of Fowler 4680, rebuilt in 1914. The second drum is again supported over the top of the motion and the tail rope travels via pulley wheels on the smokebox-bracket.

Fowler 13862 and 13863(1301942, D01941) 20hp compound ploughing engines, Class ZHS superheated, Frith's valve gear. 8 Y." and 14" x 12" cylinders.

New 30.7.1917 to F.H: Cooke, Spalding, Lincs named KING EDWARD and ARRAN CHIEF respectively. To Bomford & Evershed 1938.

13863 was iii the yard in 1951, but disposal details are otherwise unknown — information would be welcome.

Fowler 14253 (AC9589) 10hp compound ploughing engine, Class Ti, double drum (built as double drum K7 — last one mark). 6" and 101/.:" x 12 cylinders.

New 3.1.1916 to S. Cauldwell, Berrick, Oxford. To Bomford Bros, Pitchill, 1921 and Bomford & Evershed Ltd 1930. Top drum removed by them 1933, and fitted on side for single engine work. Later with Bamford & Wilkins etc and sold for preservation to R. L. Corbett, Arlesford, Hants.

Bomford & Wilkins etc, before passing into preservation with R. Say, Cheddar, Somerset.

Fowler 16719 and 16720 (MK7541, MK7542) 22hp compound ploughing engines, Class Z7. 8" and 14" x 14" cylinders, 300 yard rope, 2 speed ploughing gear.

New 19.7.1926 to Concrete Aggregates Ltd, Chiswick and used by subsidary company Ham River Gravel Co at gravel pits in the Staines area. To Bomford & Evershed 1934, for £290 and re-registered WD8709 and WD8731. 16720 sold 1938 for £85, but repurchased 1939 for £100. Sold in 1951 to Lunnicks of Christchurch, Hants for a dredging contract in Tasmania, for which job they were fitted with cranes and oil burning equipment by J. & H.McLaren. They still exist in Australia and have been mentioned in the International Section notes in several recent issues.

McLaren 1552 and 1553 (BD5504, BD5505)

Fowler 14266 and 14267 (N0747, N0748)

16hp compound ploughing engines, 2 speed ploughing gear.

17hp compound ploughing engines, Class BBS, 2 speed ploughing gear.

New 8.3.1919 to T. Roddis Ltd, Roade, Northampton. By 1921 with Bomford Bros, Pitchill with the 2 speed gear removed. To Bomford & Evershed Ltd 1935, for £300. Sold 1938 to River Wye Catchment Board for £91. After several subsequent ownerships 1553 was scrapped but 1552 survives in preservation with the Daniel brothers in Cornwall.

New 31.3.1914 to R. Hilder, Takeley, Essex. To Bomford & Evershed Ltd 1928, for £298 via Hilder's executors. Side drums fitted by B & E for single engine work — to 14266 in 1931 ex Fowler 4680 (q.v.) and to 14267 in 1933/34 lat cost of £40). Converted by B & E to diesel power c1947 — 6cyl GMC engines from Sherman tanks, mounted in the tenders. To Bomford & Wilkins etc and still extant in ownership of N.& C.Hales.

Fowler 15133 and 15134 (CF4073, CF4074) 12hp compound ploughing engines, Class K7.

New 28.2.1917 to Mrs Kendall, Biggleswade, Beds, and via another owner to F.J. Nunn, Elmswell, Suffolk who had them converted to diesel power with McLaren parts; four cylinder engine, boiler mounted. Purchased by Bomford & Evershed, later to Bomford & Wilkins etc and still extant in ownership of N.& C.Hales.

Fowler 15210 and 15211 (AD8990, AD8991) 16hp compound ploughing engines, Class BB1 New 3.9.1918 to Ministry of Munitions, later with Winchcombe Steam Ploughing Co, Glos. To Bomford & Evershed 1938 and later to

NOTE — The engines are arranged chronologically, and not necessarily in the order they were acquired by Born ford & Evershed. They were not, of course, all owned at the same time, and as records are not fully complete as to dates of purchase and sale by B & E it is not possible to give the number at any one date. The maximum, however, appears to be some twenty-three engines in the years before World War 2. For information made available to enable compilation of these lists my thanks are due re Alan Duke (Records Officer), David Phillips (Museum of English Rural Life, Reading) and the Rev R. C. Stebbing. I am grateful also for encouragement from the company itself.

77

W.D.E. Field

MY TWO YEARS WITH BOMFORDS When Bob Field left school in 1928 there was plenty of steam in use on the farms around his native Warwickshire village of Ufton. For seven years Bob gained experience with these local engines, and then, in 1935 joined some former workmates in the employ of Bomford & Evershed. Although he would not be able to drive on the roads until a year later at the age of 21, he could work as a driver on dredging contracts where the engines didn't have to go on the road....

I received a letter from Bomford & Evershed about the first Tuesday in February 1935 asking me if I would attend an interview for a driver's job. I cycled the 25 miles from Ufton to Salford Priors, got the job, cycled back home, and then rose early the next morning to cycle back to Salford. I was there for starting up time at 7.30am!

In the yard was a long row of living vans, chiefly the smaller ones for rollers, and I was shown a van to use and issued some clean sheets out of the stores. George Moore was yard foreman. There were about twenty steam rollers in the yard and about four ploughing engines. The other engines, and the tackle, were over the other side of the railway line in a field under a big hedge. The main works was one big bay with an overhead crane worked by pulley ropes — no electricity in those days. There was an old vertical boiler and steam engine for driving belts and pulleys which worked the antique machinery — lathes, drills etc. An old whiskered ex-roller driver called Ned Goode looked after the boiler and machinery. The manager, Jack somebody — I forget his name — took me round the yard asking me a lot of questions; and then he showed me round Fowler 16719, a class Z7, and the biggest engine I had ever seen. He said the sister engine (16720) was working up at Tipton, Staffordshire, levelling pit banks for a new housing estate, and had been driven up there. I believe he said they were originally built for Chiswick Sand & Gravel, London, and that they were used to drag London's refuse into disused sand pits to fill them up. Southern Roadways brought them up to Salford Priors on their solid tyred Scammells. I had only been at the yard for two days when a driver was taken ill at Tipton and I was driven up there by car.

The other Z7 was being driven by Taffy James; he lived down Chepstow 78

way and had a big Norton motor bike.

Taffy was using a big steel scoop, nearly twice as big as the others, and I had to go and drive a 10hp single cylinder plougher pulling this empty scoop back up the bank — and didn't she bark when it was wet! My former workmate Len Hunt was our foreman, and A. Hunt, his brother who I had taught to drive in earlier days was driving a little single cylinder pulling back for a 16hp BB1. The chap driving the BB1 was born and bred in my village of Ufton, and lived at Gaydon, so I wasn't exactly amongst strangers.

We had trouble with the Z7 for about a month — a weeping foundation ring, leaking tubes and stays, and we spent several Sundays in the firebox. I recall there were two rows of firebars, no pump, two injectors, two speeds on the rope drum and the boiler was pressed at 200 lbs sq in. We had a gauge glass go two or three times, but it was quite a good engine although I didn't like the stumpy reversing gear lever, because when you had the scoop stuck on the pit bank, or were dredging with throttle open, perhaps on double high, it took some reversing to have another snatch at any obstruction. About April 1935 our firm bought two McLarens from Bomford Bros of Pitchill. They came up to Tipton with their own drivers and worked alongside us; the engines certainly could pull but were a bit low geared. We finished that contract in August, left the tackle at Tipton and came back to the yard. Whilst we were at Tipton the main stud under the boiler on which the rope drum revolves had cracked on my 10hp so we had to drop the drum and fit a new one on the job. Nearly all of Bomford & Evershed's ploughers were fitted with an extra drum for single engine work.

Our next jobs during September 1935, were dredging a lake out at Barnsley Hall, Bromsgrove, and then

cleaning out the Mill Pond, Bromsgrove. Taffy and I went there with a BB engine fitted with double drums and did the job with the one engine.

We went by road — the engine, sixberth van, a four wheel truck with the scoop etc. on it, and a four wheel pump and water cart — quite a train.

The police stopped us in Redditch on the way back to the yard. At that time roundabouts were beginning to be built at crossroads. A doubtful policeman stopped us and the train was measured up; then he said 'If you can get round the roundabout, anybody can!' We went back to Tipton and shifted the tackle down to Ocker Hill, about a mile away, filled up some pit shafts and did some more levelling.

I'd had to have a driving test when they came into operation in June 1935. This was taken on a plougher on 5th December 1935. We drove back to the yard before Christmas together with all the other tackle. I was messing about at the yard then for about three months, on repairs and taking rollers out or fetching them in (no low loaders in those days). Then our firm was given a contract dredging the River Rother at Rye, Sussex.

We got the McLarens and all the tackle ready and put them on rail at Salford Priors. As their yard was next to the station, Bomfords had their own siding. The loads travelled down to Sussex in March and started dredging at Rye Harbour, but could only work at low tide.

The author poses against his engine at Bomfords contract at Tipton in June 1935. The machine is the 10hp single Fowler 4681.

(W.D.E. Field)

Fowler Z7 16719 at Rye, Sussex goods yard about 22nd April 1936. The author can recount a fair amount of detail of this scene — but then he only just missed inclusion, being at the time on the handle of the crane on the right. Reassembling the canopy after the engine's journey from Salford Priors are Jack Heywood (Bomford's chief fitter) at the chimney, 'Taffy' Augustus James (one of the drivers) on the manstand and Len Hunt (foreman) on the tender. Despite cropping six inches off the width of the wheels — the angle brackets for re-attaching these 'rims' can be clearly seen — the wall of the unloading dock at Rye passenger station was still damaged by the overhang.

The cabless engine was driven round to the goods yard to use the crane as shown above. On their way to the Rother works sites Mr Field recalls the engines had to cross the two foot gauge Rye and Camber Light Railway which ran on the beach embankment. (courtesy Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Rornford Collection).

Another of Bornford's engines, albeit not used at Rye, was single cylindered Fowler 8203, seen here in the sheds at Salford Priors. The engine was built with double drums — one placed above the other — fitted under the barrel. By its very design, therefore, Bornfords did not need to modify it for their requirements, as had been done with othet engines. (Institute of Agricultural History and Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Bomford Collection.)

Our next job at the yard was to get ready the other Z7; not the one we had at Tipton. Before the railway would accept it for loading, six inches had to be cut off the outside rim of each of the hind wheels, and even then another six inches still overhung the well truck on which the engine was loaded. When the rim was removed, angle brackets had to be put on the wheel and on the rim so that the latter could be bolted back in place after transport, All the rest of the tackle we were taking, the Z7, a 7hp single cylinder Ito pull the empty scoop back) and also a spare BB1 for double drum work was loaded up the week before Easter, 1936. Due to its excessive height when loaded, the canopy and the cover of the cylinder block of the Z7 had to be taken off before the railway company would accept it for transport. Bomfords had to send a fitter, Jack Haywood, down to Rye to reassemble the engine.

Once at Rye, we started work on the tidal portion of the river first, but after two weeks had to go up to Scotts Float, about 3 miles up the Rother, and where a lock and some gates prevented the tide going upstream any further; from that time we weren't bothered with the tide.

Our daily timetable, light nights, was tackle started up at 6.30am, 9 to 9.30 for breakfast, 1 to 1.30 for dinner, 5 to 5.30 for tea and finish at 8.30. A driver's day, therefore, started at 5.30am and ended at 8.45 in the evening. Who would do it today?

Bomfords supplied a cook and living van, so we had a cooked breakfast and dinner. We washed out the boilers every two weeks on a Sunday morning, for which we received 10 shillings each. We had some trouble with the salt laden water but cured it with special brown liquid that looked like Jeyes Fluid — a pint in the tank every so often. We had more bother from town water in Tipton! The Z7 used at Rye was a better engine than her sister at Tipton, and we found no trouble at all. We dredged the river about 11/2 miles upstream to Iden Locks — that's where the Military Canal joined the Rother from Hythe — arid then packed up. We then returned to the tidal river until the beginning of December, but couldn't do much because of the short days and the tide.

In the middle of November we had a high tide which came over the banks, putting out the engine fires. About the middle of December all the work stopped. Two lads and myself stayed behind and packed up all the tackle and after running all the engines (the two McLarens, the BB1 double drum, 79

the Z7, the 7hp single, and the two 10hp singles) to a beach quarry near Camber Sands, we dropped the ash pans and fire bars emptied the water out and left everything ready for the boiler inspections. The engines were to be used again down there as it was expected to be a two year job. I went back to Salford Priors yard after Christmas for about six weeks, and then packed the job up. I was courting a girl at Smethwick, and I got a railway job in the relaying gang on the LMS at Rugby. I married in July 1937, was transferred to Smethwick in November of that year, and then just before the war moved to the GWR. Here I was to spend more time working with steam and I hope our Editor will allow me space in the future to tell of those days yrj — and my earlier ones.

Paisley Sale In our report of the Paisley Sale in the last issue, we erred in repeating the sale catalogue claim that the Burell portable 1475 was now unique. In fact, Burrell 2363 of 1901, a 10hp single crank compound portable forms part of the collection to be seen at Bressingham, Norfolk. Whilst it is nice to have fresh examples of rare breeds discovered and pointed out to prove us wrong, we apologise for forgetting such an obvious one.

Nellie Apologies to Jim Proctor (of East Bridgford, Nottingham) for misthe photograph crediting accompanying his notes on page 16 of the last issue — it was of his own taking.

Stockbridge, Hampshire Annual Auction Sale Of STEAM ENGINES and VINTAGE TRACTORS STATIONARY ENGINES ETC Including — 1914 Aveling & Porter 6hp compound 3 speed road locomotive, 1915 Burrell 8hp 2 speed traction engine; 1899 Burrell 7hp traction engine

SATURDAY 16th MAY 1981 Illustrated Catalogues available shortly, prit e £2 from

REAR SONSI

Agriculture House, High Street, Stockbridge, Hampshire.

Tel 026 481 702

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Heard but not seen. This relative youngster of a Foster compound was contrary to required standards of childrens' behaviour and will be recalled by some readers as one of the stars of The Archers radio serial during the early 1960s. The 'Little Gem' traction engine (14564 of 1926) was new to a threshing contractor on the Gower, South Wales and bought by F.C. Lambe of Bromsgrove in 1960. The top picture depicts the Foster as acquired, surrounded by other preservable machines, whilst the lower illustration shows the restored engine — retubed and with a new canopy and fresh livery of Royal green with black, red and yellow lining. Subsequently owned by a Peterborough enthusiast and well rallied by a keen crew the Foster has now had its spots changed by Jesse Swingler of Nottingham and appears as a showmans road locomotive. (Roger West; collection F. Lambe)

MmonInDE Jy aoomma Compiled by Derek Rayner

of ludicrous, when one realises that the Council themselves commit exactly the same 'offence' at the Sheffield Show. Unfortunately for our engine friends, although it appears that certain recent legislation exceptions are now in force, excluding specified events from the requirements of the 1928 Act, a traction engine rally is not one of these events!

If anyone would like to comment or send a letter of support to the society, their secretary is Mr P.J. Plant, 4 Ullswater Avenue, Halfway, Sheffield 19.

Thank you once more to those editors etc who have taken the trouble to send me copies of their journals and magazines. These have been received from the Scottish Traction, Engine Society; Notts & District Club; Sheffield & District Steam Society; Road Roller Association; Southern Counties HVPT; West of England SES and the Melbourne STE Club Ltd. Much in nation has been gleaned from within the pages of the above publications but I should still like some more. Secretaries and Editors of journals of Affiliated Clubs — please note.

It seems incredible in this day and age that a traction engine club can be prosecuted for allowing people to enjoy themselves on a Sunday by providing fairground attractions, donkey rides and motor cycles for hire at their rally. Such is the situation, however, which is described in the Yorkshire notes; Sheffield and District Steam Society are to be taken to court for doing just that.

It was a pity that the original, incorrect, charge was pointed out to the Council for they could well have been laughed out of court on it.

However, known errors must be

pointed out, so the correct charge has now been made. Although the Sheffield Society ale nut nuw affiliated to the NTEC, perhaps David Tew, our honorary solicitor would care to comment on this issue for, as far as I am aware, no other traction engine group is being hounded in this puritanical way by a public body. A lot of rally organisers are aware of the Lord's Day Observance Society and the necessary arrangements that have to be made to enable events to keep within the broad requirements of Sunday entertainment, but what is happening at Sheffield is nothing short

Press date for the next issue is the last day of April 1981. Information, news, letters etc by then to D.A. Rayner, 'Invicta', Lower Street, Sa!house, Norwich NR13 6RH. Press dates for future issues are the end of July, October and January.

BEDFORDSHIRE

travelled Burrell. It has subsequently been sold by Steve, a member of the Bedford club, to Mr C.R. Marsh of Stockport, Cheshire. Steve has, however, another engine to take its place, this being 1914 Burrell 6hp 3 speed compound road locomotive 3593 (KE3865) which he has purchased from Mr Day of Kent.

The Saunders family have their showmans engine EX MAYOR completely stripped down and the firebox removed. They are expecting delivery of the new box presently, and it is hoped that the engine will be ready for the 1981 Weston Park Rally.

The Fowler road loco mentioned in the last notes, DUKE OF YORK has now had the boiler inspected and passed. The owner is now preparing to rebuild it, a task in which he is very thorough. He doesn't mind how long a job takes, so long as the result is right; progress will be watched with interest.

Jim Rochester has taken the gears off his Burrell Gold Medal tractor and is refurbishing them. Jim's business is

gear cutting, so the job will be sure to be done properly.

Les King's 1922 Aveling roller 10372 (ME5769) now requires a new firebox. Les has started dismantling but does not intend doing much work until the weather improves. Unfortunately he will miss the 1981 season.

George Care has now got the boiler of his 1907 Fowler compound agricultural 10855 (NK911) PRIDE OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, back from Mr Smith of Old Leake. He has fitted a new firebox, smokebox and smokebox door. George and his sons are now preparing to de-grease and re-paint the engine, and are also making good other worn parts as the re-build progresses.

Last season Alan Jones was experiencing a whistle from the cylinder block on his 1923 Aveling roller 10718 (NM3825). On investigation, he found that the piston rings had broken up and so this winter he is making and fitting new ones. Alan has recently purchased a roller living van to go with his engine and is working on

Two weddings have taken place.

On 27th September, Julie Ives married Sam Abrahams, and the bride arrived at the church in a veteran motor car and emerged from the ceremony under an archway of firing shovels. Her father's Garrett and the organ were in action outside the hall in which the reception was held.

On 25th October, Denise King of Stotfold, owner of 1936 Wallis Advance roller 8096 (ACG760) married David Piggott. It was a proper steam wedding as Steve Neville's Burrell Showmans LORD LASCELLES was used for transport from Stotfold to the reception at Letchworth, some five miles away. The groom often works on his uncle's Foster engine and Denise's father Jack King owns Aveling roller 10346 IN05892). LORD LASCELLES stayed at the reception until quite late, generating for its canopy lights and causing quite a lot of interest.

It was one of the last public appearances in the area of this widely

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82

bringing it up to scratch. He also plans to convert it from steel wheels to pneumatic tyred ones to give a smoother ride.

Mr Skinner of Raunds is doing extensive work to the front end of his 1903 Aveling compound traction 5293 (IB1726). This includes a new smokebox and perch bracket. Tony Whitmill is assisting in the work, between making patterns for those owners requiring castings. Peter Johnson has removed his high speed gear as it has some play on the shaft and this is also receiving attention from Jim Rochester. Peter owns 1924 Fowler roller 16175 (NW8198) which was previously in Yorkshire.

Johnny Mayes of Luton hopes to have his Fowler showmans PHIUL 01SHANNON, 15713 (T11501) of about 1922, out on the rally fields this year.

This engine stood for many years on the market place at Ballina, Co Mayo in Ireland, becoming more and more derelict. It was pictured in the December 1978 issue of Steaming.

Finally, it is with much regret that we record the death in December of Mrs Eva Pentlow. She always had a cheery word for everyone she met as she walked around rally fields and our sympathies are extended to Celia and Robert.

BERKSHIRE Saturday, 11th October, saw a small gathering in damp and windy conditions at the New Leathern Bottle pub near Bracknell, Held in aid of the local hospital for mentally handicapped, this little event is always well supported by enginemen, who this year contributed eleven engines and supporting exhibits. The last outing for Garrett 33180 was on Saturday 25th October, when it joined the Chiltern club's end of season steam-up at Honour's Yard at Little Chalfont. A grey day — but warm smells from two or three engines working and the rest just sitting, gently steaming, made a very pleasant afternoon to end a busy, enjoyable season.

1929 Aveling roller 14001 (KR478) belonging to M. Bennett has been noted as being for sale.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Boughton's were again out in force at the end of season steam up held at Honour's Little Chalfont yard. Some eight engines attended which included, in Boughton's display, the 1915 Tasker tractor 1697 ISR1516), Fowler traction engines 16044 (AF7718), and 7788, BLACK JACK (BH6971), whilst another of the visitors was Bernard Ruff's 1925 Burrell 4005 (RL574) SANTON. Phil

Honour's 1921 Aveling roller 9314 (HR4399) THE HIGHWAYMAN was the only roller in attendance.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE Engines noted as being for sale in the county have been Peter Longfoot's 1919 Fowler ploughing engines 15334 and 15335 (N02045 and 2044), both BB1s, and his 1910 K5 12366 (BP5599) ex Taylor Bros, Wimbish and also a rare 1894 Fowler compound traction engine, 7129 (BH8579) owned by Tony Warwick of Huntingdon. This latter has now been sold to D.L. Clark of Halstead, Essex.

Another working rally was staged at Melbourn near Cambridge where some ten engines were displayed and worked alongside vintage tractors.

Three rollers were present, these being Roy Swain's 1926 Aveling 11556 (MK6933), the 1923 Fowler 15902 (KR8728) of Jack Covill making its first appearance and Dave Dale's Garrett. The agricultural engines of David Nourse — 1916 Garrett 32936 (ER603) FELSTEAD BELLE and Bill Davenport — 1907 Burrell 2921 (N0440) VIOLET were also on show, together with Edgar Shone's 1928 Foden tractor.

CHESHIRE The massive Aveling roller which has been lying in a farm yard at Grapenhall for some eight years has been acquired by Ray Wakefield of Prestbury. It was built in 1906 for Beverley RDC, 6090 (BT8883) and is a 15 ton compound. It later saw use in the East Riding CC fleet from 1930 to 1961 when it was sold to H.0 Andrews & Co of Leeds who 'scrapped' it in 1963.

Early October saw another successful autumn steam party at the now traditional location of the Holly Bush Inn, Little Leigh. Bill Briggs was there with his 1908 Foden wagon 1742 (M2128), and Peter Startup's 1921 Fowler showmans 15652 (CU977) REPULSE, contrasted well with the rollers of Peter Walton — 1927 Burell 4067 (WW1556), Denis Priestner — 1923 Fowler 16007 (NW4058) and Jim Stevenson — 1924 Aveling single 10906 (MB5846)• The 1911 Foden 2312 (MA7770) owned by Walter Fitter was also present, driving a threshing machine.

To conclude the season, some of the engines from the Holly Bush event drove on to the Red Lion Inn at Goostrey to a steam party organised

by Bill Dakin at which his 1890 Humphries portable number 1663 featured. Another portable on display was a Banbury built Barrows &

Stewart which Bill Briggs had just purchased from Gloucester. The 1933 Sentinel of E. and P. Williamson, 8884 (TJ3319) arrived from Stoke-on-Trent whilst Andrew Barber's 1900 Burrell 2336 (E5113) STANLEY MONARCH was also present. Two traction engines were also on display — 1914 Aveling of Millington's, 8420 (13T8884) and George Cole's 1913 Clayton . & Shuttleworth 46059 (CE7943).

The Tom Barlow Boxing Day run, now named in his memory, took place as usual from 'The Jolly Thresher' Broomedge to Little Bollington. A nice touch as the engines passed the churchyard where Tom lies buried, was the long blow on the whistles as a token of respect. Some half dozen engines took part including Tom's old Foden 2654 (E5684) KING GEORGE V, built in 1911, driven by Greg Barlow; the oldest known Foden, 443 of 1899 (DJ1142) owned by Frank Lythgoe and Denis Priestner's 1923 Fowler roller. Peter Froud's 1909 Burrell road loco 3098 (MA5657) and George Cole's 1913 Clayton engine also took part.

Another of Frank Lythgoe's engines 1925 Burrell showmans 4030 (FA2316) DOLPHIN, and his Marenghi organ provided music in the car park and continued playing after the engines had returned from their journey, they having made various calls en route. The patrons of the inn enjoyed the music until after nine o'clock at night.

CUMBRIA Having sold their 1910 Burrell conversion 3220 (TB3719) to Anthony Myers, the Woodends have now purchased the rare 1925 Marshall 'Universal' roller 87635 (APX542) ex Hardwicks, Surrey. It is to be hoped that its unusual features ensure it remains in original condition as only five of this type remain.

CORNWALL Reg Morse's open day at Porthtowan was attended by, amongst others, the 1922 Marshall roller of Paul Richards 75826 (AF6015) and the S type Marshall roller 88096 (DAF560) built in 1937 and owned by John Pengelly.

The last steam event in this part of the country for 1980 took place at Brian Saunders' yard at Penryn in early November. In steam were Brian's 1925 Burrell roller 3999 (RL74) and David Hicks' 1915 Aveling roller 8585 (FH2253). Since its arrival from Cambridgeshire in October, David's other engine, Fowler ploughing engine 15529 has had its wire rope and drum 83

A survivor of Born ford & Evershed's large fleet of rollers. Aveling & Porter F type 10 tonner (10669 of 1923) steams home from a rally at Long Marston in 1976. (R.J. Blenkinsop)

removed and a lot of accumulated rust and dirt cleaned out, via the mudholes.

The engine now awaits the boiler inspector's verdict before the restoration work commences. It would appear that the original livery of the engine was dark green. In the same yard, Brian hopes to proceed with the re-boxing of his 1903 Burrell traction 2575 BULLER during the winter months, and also intends fitting a new tubeplate. His 1905 Aveling roller 5683 CORNISHMAN (TA2433) is standing by, awaiting its turn for major surgery in due course.

At Carn Brea Village, Joe and Dennis Warren continue to make further progress with their 1922 Foden' wagon 11208 IYA79521. The back axle has been overhauled and refitted and the braking system is currently being put into place. The hydraulicallyoperated tipping gear has also been restored and mounted back in the chassis, and it cannot now be too far in the future before the boiler unit 84

rejoins the chassis. Nearby, Paul Richards has now just about dismantled his 1924 Robey tandem roller 42129 IRL75) to the last nut and bolt, and clearly intends making a thorough job of this interesting little engine.

Another Robey, Derek Hattam's 1923 5 ton tractor 41493 LITTLE GLUTTON is being stabled in the Redruth area this winter. In Redruth itself, Burrell 3159 GLADIATOR is having routine maintenance carried out.

Dick Wood used his Burrell showman 2651 CHALLENGER for loading work at his farm near Little Petherick during November, and the Daniel brothers were out and about in the Nanstallon area with their newly restored Fowler ploughing engine 15163 during the same month. Work is now being concentrated on their MacLaren ploughing engine 1552 HERO in the hope that the two engines will return to the rally fields during 1981.

John Dyke has fitted new piston

rings to his 1903 Wallis & Steevens 'Expansion' traction 2672 (AF4740) since its rally debut earlier last year, the old ones being the the reason for its problems on previous occasions.

John hopes to tidy up the paintwork by the time the next round of rallies comes round. Mike Leath's 1921 Aveling roller 10187 IFX8131) THE HIGHWAYMAN is noted as being for sale — it needs a new firebox.

DERBYSHIRE A late season event at Elvaston Castle was almost doomed to failure by an error by the county council department concerned with the booking of the site. It was, in fact, triple booked and that, combined with a fire involving a haystack which had been specially made for the event, did not set the show off to a good start.

However, much was achieved and it is likely that this old time and working weekend will lead to similar events being staged by the Derby museums in the future. Many of the engines there worked demonstrations and those present included one of Nottingham Industrial Museum's Fowler ploughing engines, Jack

Beeby's 1911 Clayton general purpose 44103 (AL9348), and the rollers BLODWEN and EVELYN. On the same weekend, the Derby Yesteryear Festival saw steam engines appearing for the first time.

Among those present were Ernie Bull with his 1920 Aveling roller 9103 (N01218) ANNETTE, Beeby's Marshall roller 82517 (RR7519) and the 1926 Fowler roller 16979 (WW1442) owned by John Pattinson. The 1921 Burrell showman ST BRANNOCK of D. Walker was also in attendance.

The Smalley Preservation Group held their seventh annual bonfire steam party at Horsley Woodhouse in early November. The Sitwell Arms was the venue for this event which was well attended by local rollers — SUSAN MARY, GOOLIE, MAJOR, ANNETTE and BLODWEN were present, along with Jess Swinglet's 1922 Foster engine 14564 (FE8055).

Tim Moore of Tull'ditch made his annual New Year's Day trip to a local pub with his 1914 Fowler convertible 14211 (B11883). This engine will shortly be re-registered with a suitable English number, courtesy of Swansea DVLC. (What was wrong with the existing number? DAR).

Pete Wood of Sawley has bought a stable mate for his .1925 Marshall roller 78572 (NR6296), this being the 1917 Ransomes Sims & Jefferies general purpose engine 27014 (D02043) CAMBRIAN, lately owned

by Clive Dabell of Gotham, Notts. The two ploughing engines, 15426/ 15427 (WR7181/7182), also owned

by Mr Dabell, are still up for sale as is his 12 ton Aveling roller which was noted in these columns in the last issue.

DEVON The 1926 Robey tandem roller 42693 (FE7490) presently 'parked-up' in the Meadows at Tavistock has been offered for sale by tender by its owners Tavistock Town Council, after several protracted discussions at council sub-committee and full meetings. The local press gave a good but unfortunately incorrect coverage of the fact that discussions were taking place which resulted in a well meaning lady organising a petition to 'save the roller' — although how it could be be 'saved' by letting it remain somewhat uncared for in a park was somewhat unclear. As a result of letters from several enthusiasts and societies the Council eventually decided to put the roller on offer.

Further information will be published as available.

A number of engines run by members of the Devon Traction Engine

Club will be going 'over the water' to present the first steam event on French soil during the early summer.

Engines so far selected to represent the Club include the Devon County Council owned Green and Marshall S-type rollers and Bernard Broad's Garrett showmans tractor and Marenghi organ. Dennis Warren also hopes to take his Aveling roller over, so Cornwall will also be represented.

We wish all exhibitors well on this venture and look forward to hearing about its success later in the year.

The 1924 Aveling roller 10981 (AF9604) has been sold by R. Parkinson to Mike Parsonage at Bromsgrove but for the time being remains in Devon and is now offered for sale again by the new owner)

ESSEX Another end of season event was held at the Spread Eagle pub at Ford End near Chelmsford where some dozen engines attended including rollers, tractors, a wagon and several traction engines. Among the engines were Arthur Clarke's •1922 Aveling roller 10217 (MV763); John Downs' 1913 Burrell tractor 3453 (AH0117) THE MAY; Barry Freeman's 1930 Burrell agricultural 4088 (VF9646) and Robert Clarke's 1920 Aveling roller 9102 (N01226).

An engine to move out of the county is the 1912 Aveling showmans type tractor 7778 (OS803). The owner, Ted Manton, has moved from Essex to Hythe, Kent.

HAMPSHIRE About a dozen engines attended the late season event at the Martin home of Bert Dibben, and again the outstanding exhibit was the exAnderton & Rowland 1932 Fowler showmans engine 19782 (UB9763) THE LION, owned by Ernie Lucas.

Since last year, a start has been made on repainting and .she was joined by that other well known and much travelled A & R Burrell LORD NELSON from the National Motor Museum just down the road. Paul Antell was there with his 1910 Robey agricultural 29333 (AD9899) together with brother Dave's 1936 Wallis Advance roller 8100 (BAA432) and another roller, that of A G Tanner, 1928 Aveling 12172 (UR1881), driven by Brian Snelgar. The Dibbens' own rollers were also there, 1925 Burrell 4025 (PR6641) PRIDE OF DORSET and 1936 Wallis Advance 8105 (SOR490G).

Another late season steam party was held at Derek Marder's yard at Andover at which Eric Best exhibited his newly acquired 1923 Wallis roller

7779 (H06260). Also present were David Hirst's 1912 Foden 3210 (M4257) and Captain Willis' 1899 Burrell general purpose 2159 (BW4424). There were four portables in steam (out of the collection of six in the yard), the makers ranging from the common — Marshall — to the rare — Tuxford and Robinson & Auden.

Engines undergoing attention included Gordon Howell's 1932 Foden D type tractor 14078 (MJ369) MIGHTY ATOM and Viv Kirk's 1920 Burrell showmans engine 3833 (BR1498) QUEEN MARY, which is to receive a new firebox.

Steaming for the first time for an enthusiast public was the 1932 Fowler roller 19194 (PJ8763) which spent a good many years derelict at a market garden near Godalming. Other engines in for firebox repairs included a rare Clayton & Shuttleworth road loco and the 1924 Fowler roller 16100 IFF17791. The Aveling roller lately 'parked-up' at Strood, Kent was also to be seen. This unfortunately has a cracked saddle which will somewhat impede restoration.

Two engines have been noted as being for sale in the county, a 1928 Wallis Advance roller 7975 (0U228) owned by Doug Roberts of Southampton and a 1936 wood burning Marshall portable (complete with boiler certificate) at Horndean. The new owner of the Advance is Mr Chiverton of Romsey and Doug has obtained 1913 Wallis tractor 7372 (H05608) from Roy Coates in Essex in its place.

An event is being held on 6th/7th June 1981 at HMS Sultan, the Marine Engineering School at Gosport, to celebrate it's Silver Jubilee. The School's 1930 Sentinel will attend, and other potential entrants should contact Lt. Cmdr. G. Baker at HMS Sultan, Gosport, Hants.

HERTFORDSHIRE The Herts Steam Preservation Society's end of season event took place at Flamstead and was preceded by an informal road run to Redbourn and back. Some six engines took part, including Albert Fensome's 1921 Garrett tractor 33991 (FK1300) PATRICIA and the 1905 Marshall engine 43560 (BD5414) WINIFRED. Ken Drew's 1926 Aveling roller 11347 (PP4996) also participated as did another Aveling roller, that of Bernard Emerton, 11542 (RP2925) built in 1926 and which towed an exBedford C.C. living van.

HEREF.ORDSHIRE and WORCESTERSHIRE David Webster has advertised his Fowler roller 22596 (EJ5535) for 85

Just a glimpse of Foden showmans wagon 11400 (FK2063) as it generates at Tewkesbury Fair in 1938. Named CITY OF WORCESTER it was owned, together with the gallopers, by the Worcester-based showman Alf Peters. (courtesy Fairground Society/W. H. McAlpine)

sale. This was the last steam roller built by Fowler's and is appropriately named EVENING STAR (as was the last steam locomotive built for British Railways and which is now part of the National Collection). It was, at the time of advertising, located in the Wirral.

KENT At Sittingbourne, Smudger Smith has had his 1922 Aveling roller 10271 (ME2103) ultrasonically tested, and the machine passed with flying colours. Bill Hedges' 1925 Aveling roller 11206 (PE2458) is undergoing heavy boiler repairs. It was originally hoped to merely fit a new crown but when the old one was cut out, it became obvious that the whole firebox wrapper was badly pitted, so the decision was made to take the whole box out. It will be a long job as Bill has only a small amount of available time for the project.

Engines for sale in the county have been the now unique Mann patching roller 1145 (KM514), built in 1915, and a 6 ton 1921 Aveling roller (piston valve single) believed to be 9903 (PU5894), offered by Michael ListBrain, and T.C. Lewis Evans' rare 1907 Allchin general purpose engine 1406 (KE1985). Details of new owners etc would be appreciated when known.

LANCASHIRE The 1937 Aveling-Barford roller AD073 (CUP396), ex-Treloar brothers of Haltwhistle, and mentioned in the last issue's notes has been confirmed in the ownership of J. Cooker of 86

Burton. In addition to putting Fowler road loco LADY BETTY up for sale, Tom Varley has also offered a Tasker showmans tractor and two Fowler ploughing engines (with new boxes and tenders).

LEICESTERSHIRE In the village of Burrough on the Hill, Frank Knight has put his 1912 Burrell single crank agricultural 3385 ISG66001 DANDIE DINMONT and his 1924 Marshall conversion 78150 (T11856) up for sale. Frank also owns the 1929 Fowler traction 18155 (AV9387) ROBERT THE BRUCE.

LINCOLNSHIRE As already recorded, the Lincolnshire Steam Engine Preservation Society suffered a great loss in the death of their treasurer, Tony Parker, who had served in that capacity for almost fifteen years. It is pleasing to report that Mrs Pat Parker has now taken over the treasurer's duties, and also that she intends to carry on as the owner of her late husband's Foster Wellington tractor 13031 THE MIGHTY ATOM. A new engine in this area arrived from the Paisley sale — the 1907 Davey Paxman 13073 (NK967) VICTORIA. It was bought by Jack Aldrich of Louth, and it is understood that it will be seen at local events this summer.

Gordon Flear reports that he has bought the Ruston Proctor single cylinder portable which has lain derelict for many years at Faldingworth. It is now at Kirton Lindsey and under heavy repair, but good progress is being

made. It is number 17589 of the early 1890s vintage.

The French Pecard engine owned

by Richard Marriot is also progressing in its heavy overhaul, but it is not known whether work will be sufficiently advanced for it to be seen in public during 1981.

Another heavy job about which little has been heard recently is the task of George and Ken Turner on 1907 Aveling 10 ton roller 6343 (6E7814). This single cylinder slide valve machine was new to the Lindsey County Council at Spilsby. A new firebox has been fitted and a section of the backplate of the boiler renewed at the same time. George and Ken are to be congratulated for tackling a job of this size in the open, quite without any weather protection whatever; we hope to see the roller running in the not too distant future.

Still among heavy repairs, it is nice to be able to report that Don Robinson at Market Rasen recently collected the boiler for his Burrell showmans THE BAILIE. Rebuilding work has just begun; no doubt it will be some time before we see this popular engine back in circulation, but we shall look forward to that time with great interest.

Very little steaming seems to have been done since last October when Fred Coupland held an open day on Sunday, 19th October. At this event Fred had his Fowler ploughing engines in steam and the gallopers running in the big shed. Other engines seen there included Jim Hebden's 1917 Clayton & Shuttleworth engine 48162 (CT8260) and Rundle's Brown & May showmans GENERAL BULLER, which was running an organ. The Eptons were also in attendance with 1936 Foster tractor 14639 (BWV338) and this was powering their Marenghi organ. All the visitors were very much indebted to Mr and Mrs Coupland for their hospitality and to going to so much trouble to make this such an entertaining afternoon.

Just as these notes were being prepared it was reported that the Lincs society had lost another member — George Cope of Ewerby, near Sleaford. George was owner of the attractive little 1935 Marshall 8 ton roller, 87618 (JL2172) and a frequent attender at local events. We offer our deepest sympathy to Mrs Cope and the family in their bereavement.

As the nights were drawing in, the Lincolnshire Rural Life Museum's Ruston Proctor engine SYLVIE took part in a rather unusual event in the form of a sponsored 'steam along' to raise money for a restoration project.

The Museum's two Fowler ploughing

engines, JOHN and MICHAEL require some extensive restoration work carried out on them and in order to raise money for this, they hit upon the idea of having a sponsored run using SYLVIE. She steamed the two dozen miles or so from outside Grantham to Lincoln in just under 13 hours and was favoured with a police escort for the last part of the journey which was completed without lights.

Two engines have been noted as for sale in the county — a three-speed 6hp Burrell road loco at 024,000 by A. Padgett of Billingborough, and H. Gurnhill's 1925 Marshall tractor 78953 11D2652).

A pair of ploughing engines owned

by Nicholson's of Faldingworth have been sold. These are 1913 Fowler BB1s 13776/13777 (BP6123/6121) HEROINE and HERO but the new owner is not known at present.

LONDON Steam returned to Waterloo Station in late October when Traveller's Fare, British Rail's catering offshoot, used a traction engine as part of the publicity for opening a new 'fast food' restaurant. The name given to this, the world's first full fast food operation developed specifically for a railway station, is 'Casey Jones' after the legendary American engine driver, renowned for speed and safety — hence the traction engine introduction.

Actress Susan Hampshire, dressed in American engineer's gear (as will be all the staff in the new venture► , arrived on NTEC Chairman Peter Barber's 1912 Fowler traction engine 13140 (Y9955) to open the new restaurant.

It has subsequently proved such a success with the travelling public that Traveller's Fare are planning other similar ventures elsewhere.

About the same time, Kew Bridge held their Fifth Great Working of Model Steam Engines. The biggest model was the half-size replica of a 1927 Foster engine built by Mr A Falconer.

In addition to many traction engine miniatures and other fine models, there was a Foden wagon by Mr Pullen and an unusual item in a Clayton undertype articulated wagon. Full size engines included the resident Kew Bridge engines, of which Denis Brandt's 1922 Foster tractor HIS GRACE was driven around the surrounding area on a valuable advertising tour. Ian Bennett's Hobey tractor VILLAGE QUEEN also arrived with a showmans van in tow.

The New Year was brought in with a difference at Kew — not for them the traditional chimes of Big Beii, but a full blooded blast on a great collection of whistles which had been assembled and connected to Ivan Fear's Marshall portable 86161 of 1931. It stood in the doorway of the engine house and at midnight the air was rent asunder by the magnificent sound of them all being blown.

The Kew Bridge Engines Trust were also in evidence again in the arrangements for the 50th Model Engineer Exhibition held at Wembley Conference Centre in early January.

Denis Brandt's two engines, The Foster HIS GRACE and the 1929 Foden wagon 13488 (R06330) were both, present, together with a formidable array of more than 800 models of

all scales and subjects.

Steam was noted in another part of London at the end of November.

Steaming slowly along Commercial Road, Stepney, was 1921 Aveling roller 10175 PRIDE OF ILFORD (N02142) reported as being for sale in the December 1979 issue of Steaming. It continued through the City, much to the amusement of the tourists at St Pauls, most of whom had presumably seen nothing like it for some years. Advice as to its ultimate destination would be welcomed.

NORFOLK Another excellent Christmas party was held at the Thursford premises of George Cushing. In addition to the usual engines steamed — the Aveling ploughing engine and the two big stationary engines in the corner — this year was notable for having 1920 Burrell 3827 VICTORY, (CL4299), in steam and with Its canopy lights on; it really was a big attraction. All the mechanical organs were played.

Billy Bird is progressing with restoration work on his 1921 Wallis & Steevens agricultural engine 7690 (BJ8765) which he bought at the Henham Rally a couple of years ago.

The engine is stripped right down and some welding has been carried out in the firebox area and some new stays have been put in. The slow job of rebuilding and renewing worn parts, cleaning and repainting is now underway. The end result should be worth waiting for.

The Tasker showmans tractor for sale by Tom Varley has come into the county. This is the 1920 three speed compound 1822 (H02930) LITTLE JIM II, and now owned by Geoff Reed of Downham Market.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Bringing loads of granite such as this down the steep Malvern hills must have been a tricky job for the drivers of the Pyx Granite Co's Burrell Gold Medal tractors. The engine is either Burrell 3119 of 1907, or 3475 of 1913.

(Welland Valley Club collection)

The last steam up in the Retford area was the vintage tractor event at Bothamsall in the middle of October.

As this was a tractor event, the steam engines in attendance were set to work in the respective areas — Messrs Flear and Hammond with their Fowler BB ploughing engines were in one field showing their paces, with Sam Wright and Mike Beeby in charge of the balance plough. The Scholeys, with their Foster JANE, and John Blagg with his Marshall engine were on the belt in the threshing area, and the two rollers in attendance, Pete and Janet Waite's Clayton, and Mick and Les Baines' Wallis, were rolling the farm track. There were two showmans tractors in attendance and powering organs — Jess Swingler's MAID MARIAN which was looked after by the Ragsdales and provided power for 87

Tennant Budd lid

LIFE AND PENSIONS

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Pete Barlow's Chiappa organ and from Grassmoor, Teddy Eansworth sent his Fowler FIREFLY in the capable hands of his son David, this providing the power for the Howard Brothers Dutch street organ.

Now onto engine news from the area. At Ranskill, the Scholeys have started work on their 1908 Aveling tandem roller 6530 (NM291), which they recently obtained from Tom Varley. They have already replaced the rivets which hold the rear roll assembly to the horn plates; these were so loose that it tended to bend in the middle!

They still have to take a close look at the smokebox which has an wrapper plate welded on. Scholey's also acquired 1900 Fowler road loco 8712 (DE2439) in November. This came from Wales via the Saunders at Stotfold, Herts and requires an awful lot of work to be done. So far, Paul and Tony have removed all the top motion, smokebox, tubes, perch bracket and front axle assembly. Paul is hoping to have the engine restored in three years.

At Clarborough, Pete Gull is making progress with the construction of a shed for his two rollers and is hoping to have Aveling SPIT back together during the coming season.

His other roller, Fowler 15688 (AD9802) from the Hull playground, has had the tender removed and the second and third shafts have been taken out. Considering that this engine stood out in the open in salty air for over fifteen years, the bearings are in remarkably good condition. Perhaps the engine was overhauled just prior to the end of its working life. So far it has been found that the gear covers will require replacing, and undoubtedly other items will become apparent as 88

time progresses.

The gallopers at Cleethorpes which for very many years gave rides to millions of people have been purchased by Jack Schofield of Retford.

Jack has moved the set to Gloucestershire for the coming summer season and further information will be given on its return to this area. He is making headway in the restoration of the exAshley gallopers which he bought — the centre truck body is nearly finished and the Savage centre engine has been removed for restoration.

Keith Flinton is in the process of organising a steam roller working at Walesby. The location is the local scout camp, about 8 miles south of Retford on the A614. There is much rolling to be done and an invitation has already been extended to return in 1982 to do some more. Rollers attending will receive coal and some refreshments for the owners but unfortunately, no expenses will be paid. At the time of writing, there are five engines which have given notice of attending and there is work for up to five more; plenty of room for lowloaders and caravans. Anyone interested should ring Keith Flinton on Retford 700003 or Chloe Gull on Retford 702808. The dates are May 9th and 10th.

In early November, Denis Waters' 1920 Aveling roller 9128 (E5336) MAJOR and Steve Durance's 1910 Marshall roller 57168 (NN950) BLODWEN steamed from Horsley Woodhouse to Chilwell for the Reeder brothers bonfire steam party. It was an enjoyable event with most of the local engines taking part. The highlight was perhaps when five engines steamed from Dave Reeder's house to the Crown Inn at Beeston. From Beeston,

MAJOR steamed back to the Klondyke Steam Museum, Staffordshire, for the winter, having travelled almost 300 miles on the road during 1980, most of which was without trouble.

OXFORDSHIRE Robin Greenaway of Stoke Row advertised for sale his 1925 Super Sentinel 5778 (SF1345) and subsequently did a part-exchange deal with John Baldock at Hollycombe House in which Robin became owner of Aveling roller 6298 (D3313), built in 1907. Robin has also acquired the 1905 Wallis & Steevens tractor 2811 (AD7460) from D.M. Ledbetter of Hampshire.

A visit to Witney rounded off the ' year quite admirably for Jack showmans Fowler Wharton's SUPREME. A carol concert took place outside a supermarket in the town centre and music was provided by John Keeley's Limonaire organ. A good sum was collected from passersby during the day and subsequently distributed to old people's charities in the town.

SCOTLAND (courtesy STES) The traditional bonfire and fireworks party at Columbie Farm, Carstairs, marked the last weekend of the season for the STE Society. Jim and Walter Borthwick's Marshall portable supplied steam to the Patersons' collection of stationary engines. Following the Saturday night pyrotechnics, Sunday saw the tackle moved to George Alexander's garden centre at Cleghorn and there the season ended in fine style.

The society has decided that since 1982 is their 21st anniversary, they will forego a big rally at Lanark this

year, but have the two smaller steam parties and possibly others elsewhere, thus allowing all their efforts to be concentrated on their 'coming of age'.

A correction is necessary to an item in last issue's notes — the exPaisley DG4 Sentinel, 8381 (Cambridgeshire notes► is now at the City Sawmills, Glasgow — with which Tom Paisley was connected.

One of the two Marshall rollers acquired by Robert Carswell of East Lothian from Co Durham has had some fifteen months work carried out on it during which time it has been altered to a traction engine. Now named LOTHIAN LASS it was steamed last autumn for the first time in 22 years and slowly put through its paces round the farm . There are several small jobs requiring to be carried out and she has to be painted, but should be finished for the 1981 season.

Members of the Bon-Accord Steam Engine Club, and all steam men in the Aberdeen area will sadly miss the company of Dod Sim of Aberdeen who died recently. A founder member of the local club he was well known in steam circles, being closely associated with the late Donald Stewart and his fleet of engines, and subsequently with the same machines and their new owners.

AMBITION

STAFFORDSHIRE An end of season steam party was held at Klondyke Steam Museum, Draycott-in-the-Clay. It marked the first public appearance of Denis Waters' ex-Portuguese Fowler roller 16523 of 1926 (now EL1228), christened BETTY. Another Fowler roller present was the 1926 compound 16665 (UM3918) HENGIST which disgraced itself at the 1980 Birmingham rally when the flywheel dropped off. Thankfully, damage was slight and full repair has now been effected. Other engines present included two showmans Teddy Eansworth's FIREFLY and Phil Swindlehurst's Burrell RAJAH.

SURREY Dave Hermes briefly offered Fowler BB1 ploughing engine 15139 (HR33b9) for sale, but he has since taken it off the market and is making plans to rally it during the coming season.

SUSSEX The Hollycombe collection of John Baldock has acquired the unusual Wallis 'Simplicity' roller 8023 (CG571) built in 1929. It was previously with R. Corbett of Airesford. A 'Steam Drain-out Party' was held at Northchurch near Petworth

Two pictures from the working days of Garrett 33282, new in 1918, kindly sent in by Les Lambe of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. The No.4 compound tractor, named AMBITION, was purchased secondhand by his father — haulier C. H. Lambe of Bromsgrove.

The top photograph was taken about 1926 in Lambe's yard at Charford and shows drum and trusser as well as Les and his three brothers.

The second scene, also 1926, is on the Worcester road at Stoke Farm, Bromsgrove (now A38). Taking the picture probably provided brief but welcome respite for the gang from the hard work of unloading the tarmac — already handled once by them when transhipping it out of the railway trucks at the station.

89

4

Good thatching straw is in high demand in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, so David Davenport and his father Teddy found a ready market for the straw from their October steam threshing last year. Their engine, pictured here at New Farm, Tetworth, near Sandy, Beds is Burrell single crank compound 2921 of 1907, and the Ransomes drum is fitted with a Hornsby trusser. (courtesy Cambridge Evening News)

which was attended by Derek Trice's 1909 Burrell showmans 3118 (AH5305) DREADNOUGHT; other engines attending included the Aveling rollers of Dick Martino — 14147 of 1931 (YD4470) — and Gerald Whittaker — pv single 10994 of 1924 (WT6042). The showmans engine powered an organ. The event was organised by the same group who put on the Woodlarks ploughing match and took place outside a local hostelry, the landlord laying on cut-price beer, a gesture which certainly reaped its reward for him!

Leyland Trucks are to be the sponsors of this year's HCVC London to Brighton run on Sunday, May 3rd.

Their own steam wagon should be in attendance, possibly as a participant.

WALES The new owner of Aveling roller 8601 of 1915, mentioned in the last issue, is Mr P.A. Warby of Penymynydd, near Chester. The registration book for the roller claims the index number is OT 4239, although it 90

is generally thought to be 4329 and this indeed is what the roller carries, at least it was in 1970 when photographed near Bristol! The roller has an interesting history, having been at one time oil-fired, and previously registered in Devon. It has not been seen on the road for at least seven years but Mr Warby hopes to rally it in 1981.

At Mold, the Charlton's have purchased a set of gallopers from the Colwyn Bay area. These have not travelled since 1939, though as they have now been advertised as being available for rallies etc., they must presumably have been already restored to travelling condition. It was this same family who purchased and cut up some of the Fowler rollers belonging to Flintshire County Council during the early sixties; Fred Dibnah's 1912 Aveling 7632 (DM3079) ALISON is understood to have come from the firm as a derelict. This machine and the 1923 Fowler 15977 (DM2621) owned by the Pearson brothers in Warwickshire are believed to be the only ex-Flintshire 'county

rollers to survive.

The now unique Mann's tractor (built about 1917 and of conventional tractor appearance, rather than the shape usually associated with Mann's tractor products) owned by J. Philips of Holyhead, 1325 (U4748) has been trial steamed on the completion of boiler work and re-assembly of motion work by E. Lloyd-Jones at Llanfair D.C. A considerable amount of work remains to be done — renewal of both the water tank and tender are envisaged, together with de-rusting and re-painting of the engine before she is fit for shows.

White Metal Model Kits Approx. 4mm scale non-members members 6.50 Burrell Showmans Engine . 7.00 6.75 Fowler Showmans Engine 7.25 6.00 Burrell Road Locomotive 6.50 5.20 5.50 Foden D type Tractor 5.30 5.60 Foden C type Tipper Foden K type Tipper 7.00 6.50 6 wheel Foden K type Low-side 7.00 6.50 6 wheel Foden K type Special GWR 6.50 Winch Tractor 6 wheel 7.00 6.50 Fowler Road Locomotive 7.00 6.00 Ploughing Engine (single) 6.50 Ploughing Engines (pair) . 11.50 11.00 Available from Stuart Gray, NTEC Sales (see inside front cover) or NTEC Rally Stands.

An 1889 Aveling roller has now arrived in the same yard for extensive repairs. This is Gwynedd County Council's single 2439 (EY1382) which is now in the care of the Isle of Anglesey Vintage Machinery Society.

The roller worked until the mid-fifties and is basically complete except for one or two items. She has languished in the Council's yard on Anglesey for a few years and is to have extensive repairs at Ruthin. At the same location the 1928 Fowler roller 17077 (UW1331) belonging to Robin Gibson is being retubed in preparation for the coming season.

West Wales seems to have been a dumping ground for derelict traction engines. In addition to the Marshall general purpose 52788, row restored by the Saunders family and subsequently returned to Wales, and two Fowler road locos taken from Pembrokeshire in exchange, there is a derelict Marshall single of around 1900, some five miles away. Engines are still available for restoration for those with enough enthusiasm land money) to do so!

The 1916 Fowler BB ploughing engine 14378 1FX6738I bought by C. Roads at the Paisley sale is destined for Wales; it was bought on behalf of John Bush.

WEST MIDLANDS A Burrell 8hp boiler is an unusual item recently offered for sale (at £1,0001 with various other traction engine spares. 10 ton Fowler roller 17480 of 1928 has also been put on the market at an asking price of

£3,850. The vendors of these interesting lots are Millward Bros, Halesowen.

YORKSHIRE Dick Preston held a Steam-up and organ recital at Potto in the north of the county in late November. It was marvellous afternoon and evening entertainment with everything under cover except for the five engines in steam. Pride of place went to the 1913 Burrell showmans 3526 (A06302) LIGHTNING II in the capable charge of David Preston and the little Burrell tractor 3618, THE SCOUT built in the following year, with Percy Dabbs at the regulator.

Jack Peirson from Darlington looked after the Savage electric lighting set which Dick bought from the Paisley sale. The miniature ESKDALE hauled a couple of trailers around the yards and the fifth engine in steam was the 1918 Garrett No 4 tractor 33295 (81-15567) PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, owned by Harland Franks of Great Ayton.

Around two hundred people attended the event which was held partly in place of a normal monthly meeting of the Masham Steam Engine Club.

Speaking of the Masham club, several members have been driving or generally looking after the pair of ploughing engines owned by Jim Lowther and previously mentioned in these columns. They have been dredging a lake at a farm (Cocked Flat Farm) near Newton-le-Willows, Bedele and stood there over the Christmas holidays.

A new engine in the area, and an

Fowler AA ploughing engine SANDR/NGHAM (15365 of 1919) photographed this winter whilst engaged on dredging work neat Sedate — see the Yorkshire notes. (M. M. 1-orland)

exciting addition to the ranks of Yorkshire engines (and indeed British engines) is an American ploughing engine recently imported from Illinois, USA by J. Harrison of Little Smeaton.

Details of the engine are a little uncertain at present but it is believed to have been built about 1900 by Rumely & Co. It is possibly the only one of its type in existence as it is a compound, but of the tandem type with a boilbr pressure of 100 psi. The mechanical side of the engine appears to be in good condition but it looks somewhat unusual to British eyes, having round spoked wheels and a clutch arrangement built into the flywheel. At present the engine has been totally stripped for preparing for rallying (painting, cleaning etcl. Mr Harrison would appreciate being contacted by any experts in this country on Rumely engines, as he would like to know more about the intricacies of his new acquisition (letters to DAR will be passed on).

Fowler roller 16439 (SM5121) has now been sold by David Parkin to a new enthusiast, John Slater of Denby Dale; David's search for something faster continues. On this latter topic the 1934 'S' model Sentinel 8970 (WJ 8985) owned by Frank Hall and which has been in the Ossett area for a number of years has now been moved to Castleford, following a part ownership deal with Ian Fearnley. The journey was accomplished in fine style — and in a proper manner with steam providing the motive power in the shape of the well travelled DG4 Sentinel 8694 belonging to Ted Ashton. Although the 'dead' wagon was hauled in this instance, it provided echoes of a previous Fearnley journey involving Ron's 'Super' Sentinel pushing a Fowler roller home to their yard from Dewsbury in the mid1960's. Both wagons coughed somewhat when ascending Pineapple Hill on the outskirts of Normanton!

It is nice to see a Sentinel wagon in the yard at Castleford again, for since the departure of Ron's wagon to Penistone and the 'S' model to Lancashire the place has looked rather bare! Restoration has commenced on 8970 and it might even be completed and back on the road in steam before the 'Forth Bridge' job being undertaken by H. Snowden and J. Bradley on their 1934 S model 8992 ITJ41481.

A surprising departure from the county has been the sale of 1901 Fowler traction engine 9271 by C. Turner, Lazenby, Teeside to J. Davies, Uffington, Oxon. This engine was one of the Yorkshire 'recluses' and had not seen the light of day for many years. It is pleasing to know it will be seen by 91

more people now, although regrettably not in its native county.

John Smith of Dalton has been advertising for spares for his 1902 Fowler 8hp single cylinder traction engine 9544. This is a B5 model and is believed to have come from Australia.

The traditional New Year's Eve steam up at Sheffield took place in the built up and hilly residential area in the south of the city, where Carr brothers 1929 Aveling roller 12467 (RF6437) let the New Year in with a resounding blast on its whistle as midnight struck.

Non steam enthusiasts in the area may well think that some weird railway engine ghost returns each turn of the year to haunt the area, which is not far from the large ex-Midland Railway engine sheds at Millhouses.

Mention was made in the last issue of Steaming of the visit by Environmental Health officials to the Sheffield & District Steam Society's rally at Oakes Park. The Society now learn the result of this: they are being prosecuted under the Sheffield Corporation Pleasure Fairs Act 1928. It was first claimed that the relevant Section was 215, sub-section 4, but when it was pointed out that this applied to 'Livestock: slaughtering thereof' the Corporation, red faced, issued a corrected summons. The case is due to be heard at the Sheffield Magistrate's Court on 19th February.

At the time of writing, the Society was busy collecting evidence relating to the Sunday activities at the Corporation's own Sheffield Show at which it is known that fun bags, donkeys and motor cycle rides were operated. Is it a question of one law for the Corporation and another for everyone else? Further details in due course.

ROAD ROLLER ASSOCIATION The Association's socials at Ockbrook, Derby, continue to be enjoyed. At the pre-Christmas show, entertainment was provided by Graham Love and the Howard brothers (sounds like a musical act!). Graham's films depicted the travels of his 1919 Fowler road loco 15323 (HR3697) EXCELSIOR whilst Ian and Gary's contribution showed the various stages of restoration work carried out on their 1921 Fowler showmans 15653 (CU978) RENOWN; recent works include a new rear axle.

In addition to the vintage motor roller register launched last year by our president Lyndon Shearman (see last issue of Steaming), chairman Derek Rayner has commenced a similar register for steam roller living vans.

Derek has a well restored ex-Eddison 92

van, towed to many events behind his 1915 Aveling roller WHITE ROSE; this has contributed somewhat to his thoughts on the subject.

Assistance would be appreciated from all readers in the compilation of the register. Information would be required on such items as present owner and location (approx); date built and builder; identification number, if any; livery; window(s); number of

bunks; whether a stove is fitted and any other unusual features.

A register based on the above points will be a useful reference work and will eventually form part of the Association's library. Please send details of your van, and any others which you may know (not ploughing vans or showmans, please) to D.A Rayner, 'Invicta', Lower Street, Salhouse, Norwich NR13 6RH.

Aveling (Sc Porter's Travelling Van for Steam Road Roller.

WHEN a roller is required to be at work some distance from

home, it is a convenience and an economy to house the men in a sleeping van. The illustration above shows one arranged to accommodate three men ; it is mounted on strong cast-iron wheels, and is fitted with boxes, lockers, bunks, table, pair of steps, stove and piping, and a vice-bench. The bedding for three men is complete, consisting of mattresses and cases, bolsters and cases, three pairs of blankets, and three counterpanes.

From Aveling & Porter's publication Steam Road Rolling, dated October 1907.

(Welland Valley Club collection)

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93

goT221@ro Steaming With the 'new look' of the magazine — on which I congratulate our Editor — may I take opportunity to seek space to publicly thank Alan Duke, the Records Officer, for all the kind help he has given over many years. He has assisted in identifying many of the old photographs featured in previous issues of Steaming and without such help the captions would have had to be devoid of much detail, and even the location in some cases.

A/an Martin

Ruislip, Middlesex

(May I echo A/an Martin's words and add my thanks to A/an Duke for his ready assistance in my presently short tenure as Editor. But his records, though a veritable mine of information, can probably never be complete, and I would urge anyone ever able to extend the histories of old engines mentioned in the magazine to add to Alan's work through the medium of these columns.

— Hon Editor)

Mash I refer to the paragraph entitled 'Mash' on page 23 of the Winter issue of Steaming.

I have never experimented with it, but old enginemen have whispered, as a great secret, that putting potatoes round the foundation ring was a very efficient and cheap form of water treatment.

It would appear to have been common practice half a century before The Mechanic came across it in 1869,

as the following extract from The Manchester Iris (a scientific weekly) of 25th January 1823 shows — "The practice of adding about one per cent of potatoes to the bulk of water contained in a steam-engine which has been long boiler, practised in this country [my emphasis], has been introduced into France recently, and merits the encomium which is bestowed on it by Ms Payen, in a letter to the Editor of the Jour de Phar. in October 1822. He assigns the true cause of the beneficial agency of the root. The potato dissolves in the boiler water, forming a somewhat viscid liquid, which envelopes every particle of the precipated calcareous salt, (usually selenite, sometimes carbonate of lime) renders them slippery, so to speak, and prevents their mutual contact and cohesion. After a month's service, the boiler is emptied, and new potatoes added along with the charge of water."

That was written before the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway!

G. Limb

Halesown, West Midlands

(A friend in Leeds tried this treatment in an attempt to seal his leaking foundation ring. It was without much success as it happened, though it did have the side effect of keeping the boiler insides clean and black. And it smelt horrible, as did the after effects of the porridge treatment that followed — and I'll not go into what else he used/ Interesting though these old-time remedies are, it may be as well to refer to the more scientific approach outlined in R.J. Garrett's article in our June 1979 issue. — D.A. Rayner)

94

Area Sales Representatives Vounteers are required to run NTEC Sales Stands at rallies etc in various areas (but especially the East). It will be necessary to have your own car and caravan/tent, and travelling expenses etc will be paid.

This interesting and worthwhile job offers the chance to meet other enthusiasts in steam surroundings over a wide area.

If you are interested please seek further details from the National Sales Officer — Stuart Gray, 60 Harbour Avenue, Comberton, Cambridgeshire CB3 7DD (022-026-3662)

may be a Titan. The rear wheels are about 70in diameter and the engine bore is 6in.

If any readers have information to identify this tractor I would be very pleased to hear from them.

Box 144, Booleroo Centre, South Australia 5482, Australia.

Brian Knauerhase

Bridge Testing Mystery Machine

The Museum of Lincolnshire life speak up for their Ruston Proctor traction engine. It is named SYLVIE, not as printed in recent reports.

Although it may seem a small point it is in fact quite significant because the engine was an export model which spent its working life in France. The name is that of the grand-daughter of the last French owner and the museum agreed to adopt it in memory of the engine's history. The threshing' drum which accompanies the Ruston, incidentally, is the Museum's 1878 Foster machine, not a Marshall.

WANTED

The Booleroo Steam and Traction Preservation Society Inc. has recently found an unusual internal combustion engined tractor. It is factory built like a traction engine and it is not a conversion. The engine fitted on top of the "boiler" is a horizontally opposed 4-cylinder type — two cylinders fore and two aft. The "firebox" contains the gearing, and a cooler of some sort (missing) was fitted into the "smokebox". It has saddle tanks and the tender has a door to make a roomy toolbox.

No names can be found on the machine, but it has been suggested it

May I correct and amplify some of the statements made in the paragraph concerning the reinforced concrete bridge at Newbridge-on-Wye? (By the way, September 1980 issue, page 248.)

This bridge, of three 50ft arch spans with a 14ft wide roadway, replaced a timber bridge of seven 24ft bays of baulk timber on trestles and a 3 inch plank deck. The concrete bridge was designed by L.G. Mouchel and Partners, and built by the Yorkshire Hennebique Contracting Co Ltd of Leeds, work being started in August 1910 and completed in April 1911.

At that time reinforced concrete could hardly be described as "new".

Louis Gustave Mouchel introduced "Ferro-Concrete", as he called it, into the British Isles in 1897, his first project being a flour mill and grain silo built at Swansea in that year.

The Wye bridge was Mouchel Project Job No 3250, and of these projects more than 1,000 had been actually constructed by 1910. The test loads referred to occur on their drawing No 5: a 16 ton traction engine or 210 lbs per square foot, which gives an equally distributed load of 16 tons over an area of 8ft 6in by 20ft Din, approximately the space which would be occupied by a large traction engine.

The bridge was tested on 29th March 1911, and a photograph shows a traction engine and an Aveling & Porter steam roller, side by side but facing in opposite directions, at the centre of the middle arch. This gave a maximum deflection of 1/16th of an inch. There were a number of officials on the bridge, amongst whom there seems to be the village policeman, while other men were at river level below the spans to measure and record the deflection as the loads moved across. A full description of this bridge written by Alfred T. Best AMICE, Deputy County Surveyor for Breconshire (who was in overall charge of planning and supervision) appeared in the journal Ferro-Concrete in May 1911.

With regard to the reference to Brooklands racing track, Mouchels designed the structure that carried the banked track across the River Wey. This was 1 65ft long, 100ft wide with a super-elevation of 25ft, and was built between December 1906 and April 1907. The foundation of this structure was undermined during floods in September 1968, and had it subsided in the future, it would have formed a perfect dam across the river.

As this would have led to catastrophic flooding of the Wey Valley above this point, it was demolished in November 1969.

The firm of L.G. Mouchel and Partners is still in existence, now at West Byfleet in Surrey, and has designed the replacement bridge at Newbridge-on-Wye which is now nearing completion. They are also designing other major roadworks, power stations, grain silos etc all in keeping with present day requirements.

C. G. Mileham

Woking, Surrey.

(We are grateful to L.G. Mouchel & Partners, through Mr Mileham, for the opportunity to reproduce these illustrations from 1910/1911 issues of Ferro Concrete. The magazines make fascinating reading, and steam engines feature in the testing of practically every bridge construction

described in its pages.

Shown here are (top) the scene at Newbridge-on-Wye on testing day and (bottom) New John's Bridge at Kilkenny, Ireland on 24th October 1910. This latter bridge at 140ft span was the longest then built. the 220 tons deadweight had been placed on the footpaths and over the main beams, leaving narrow passages for two 45 ton trains to proceed along, each train consisting of two heavy traction engines hauling three loaded trucks. But perhaps, to us, the most spectacular sight would have been at Merthyr Tydfil in September 1910 when the new Cefn Bridge was tested.

Here a veritable cavalcade — one 1.3% ton traction engine, two 11 Y2 ton rollers travelling abreast with a dignitary-loaded electric tramcar from the town's tramway system in the rear — is reported to have crossed the arch at 'full speed' to produce a deflection of less than a twentyfifth of an inch.)

95

Members are invited to participate in meetings of Affiliated Clubs. The information provided here has necessarily to be in brief form but regular meetings usually consist of lectures, slide shows etc: many clubs cater for associated interests and are not exclusively steam based. There are generally no charges but fund raising raffles may take place. Intending visitors should note that arrangements often change near holiday times and during summer months, and are therefore strongly advised to check before travelling any distance.

RgEllrial2 glluu

The following information is offered in good faith for the benefit of all readers but whilst we endeavour to be accurate, no responsibility can be accepted by the Editor, the NTEC or the relevant Affiliated Clubs for erroneous information, or changed circumstances.

Dmmo7 affiliated club

usual night in month

venue

contact

2nd Mon 7.30pm 2nd Mon 7.30pm

George Hotel, King Street,

Mrs Mary Cragg, South View, Kirby Thore, Penrith, Cumbria 1093-06-480 or 377) Mrs Mary Cragg, as above

1st Sun

White Horse Hotel, Railway Road,

NORTH Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society

Lancashire Traction Engine Club Leeds & District Traction Engine Club

Penrith, Cumbria

Wayfarer Restaurant, Selside, near Kendal, Cumbria Leigh, Lancs

G. Coles, 18 Braemar Ave, Stretford, Manchester 1061-865-3154) N. Boyes, 93 Woodside Rd, Wyke, Bradford 10274-676227)

3rd Tue 7.30pm (Oct-Apr inc.)

Canning W.M.C., Dewsbury Rd, Leeds

Masham Traction Engine & Vintage Tractor Club

2nd Wed 7.30pm (Oct-Mar inc.)

Masham Town Hall, Masham.

C.F. Holiday 1076-582-453) or B. Winterburn (0765-2322)

Morecambe Bay Traction Engine Club

3rd Thu

Trades & Labour Club, King St, Lancaster

South Tyne Traction Engine Society

1st Wed 7.30pm

Railway Hotel, Church Street,

Mrs F.M. Carr, 27 Norfolk Ave, Morecambe, Lancs (0524-411956) Mrs L.A. Black, 5 Abbey view, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 1g0 10434-605415)

Scottish Traction Engine Society

2nd Sat (winter only)

Ulster Traction Engine Club

last Wed 8.30pm

Haydon Brie, Northumberland Hamilton Town Hall, Auchingramont Rd, Mrs E. Craig, 1 Mossneuk Drive, Wishaw ML2 8LU (069-83-75255) Hamilton, Lanarkshire Geo. Little, Lismore, Lisdoart, Ballygawley, Clanmore Arms Hotel, Randalstown, Co. Tyrone, NI (066-253-2351 Co. Antrim

EAST Lincolnshire Steam Engine Preservation Society

varies 8.00pm (winter only)

Adam & Eve Hotel, Wragby, Lincs

F. Strange, 1 New Street, Brigg, S. Humberside DN20 8HL 10652-54890)

Plas Coch, Llanedwen, nr Llanfair PG, Anglesey

J.A. Phillips, 6 Bryngwyn Rd, Holyhead, Anglesey (0407-3501) Mrs E.A. Powell, Wallwyn Court, Much Marcie, Ledbury, Herefordshire

WEST Anglesey Vintage Equipment 1st Wed 8.00pm Society

The Welwyn Arms, Much Marcie,

Ross on Wye Steam Society

3rd Tue

County of Salop Steam Engine Society

last Fri 7.30pm

Three Tuns, Bishops Castle,

Banbury Steam Society

3rd Tue

Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society

1st Mon

British Rail Social Club, Middleton Road, Banbury Kings Arms, St Mary's St, Bedford

National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club

last Thur 8.00pm

Ledbury, Herefordshire

1053-184-662) Shropshire

A. Semple, Brookfield, Waterwheel, Minsterley, Shropshire 1074-374-479)

MIDLANDS

Notts & District Steam and 3rd Wed 8.00pm Vintage Machinery Club last Fri Welland Valley Vintage 8.00pm Traction Club

Fairford & District Steam Club

96

2nd Tue

Mrs L. Worbey, 35 Old Hale Way, Hitchin,

Herts SG5 1XJ (0462-2107) Somers Arms, Leigh Linton, Worcester

J.L. Thomas, 5 Minett Ave, Rushwick,

Worcester (0905-421252) Forest Folk, Blidworth, Notts

P and R White, 91 North Rd, Retford, Notts DN22 7XL (077-702945)

White Lion, North Kilworth, Market Harborough, Leics

D. Wing, Oakleigh, West St, Welford, Northampton (0858-81-306)

Boars Head, North Boarhunt,

John Peck, 50A Nightingale Rd, Southsea, Hants (0705-752502) Mrs J.R. Yells, Ivy Villa, Cirencester Rd, Fairford, Glos. (0285-71 2232)

SOUTH 1st Wed Boarhunt & District Eng'g Preservation Society 8.00pm

C. Burbridge, The Bungalow, Blakesley,

Towcester, Northants 1032-732-422)

(A333) near Wickham, Hants Bull Hotel, Market Place Fairford, Gloucestershire

Horsham Historics

3rd Thur (winter only)

Queens Head, Queens St Horsham,

Audrey Frampton, 32 Brownleaf Rd, Woodingdean, Brighton, Sussex (0273-368171

Southern Counties Historic Vehicles Preservation Trust (all Oct-Apr inc)

1 st Fri 8.00pm

Queens Hall, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, Sussex

B. Johnson, 2 Ivy Lane, Westergate, Chichester, Sussex (024-368-2617)

2nd Tue 8.00pm

New Inn, Whyke Rd, Chichester

B. Johnson — as above

2nd Fri 8.00pm

Langton Hall, Langton Green, Battle, E Sussex

D. Watson, Woods Mill, Virgins Lane, E Sussex

last Fri 8.00pm

Village Hall, Riding Lane, Hildenborough, near Tunbridge Wells

D. Warwick, 36 Annetts Hall, Borough Green, Sevenoaks, Kent (0732-883011)

Thames Valley Traction Engine Club

2nd Mon

Englefield Social Club, Englefield, Reading, Berks.

C.F. Dixon, 18 Covey Way, Alresford, Hants (096-273-3226)

Three Counties Steam Preservation Society

3rd Tue 8.00pm

The Barley Room, Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey

Mrs C. Evans, 82 Albany Road, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (093-22-436041

Lake Goldsmith Steam Preservation Co-op

rallies about April and Oct

Lake Goldsmith, via Beaufort, Victoria (100 miles Melbourne)

George Mulcahy, Wayside Mail, Beaufort, Victoria 3373 (053-495512) (for overseas visitors anytime)

Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club

1st Wed (annual rally

Knoxfield (18 miles Melbourne)

D.N. Moore, 31 Sunbeam Ave, Ringwood East, Victoria 3135 (870-5184) (for overseas visitors anytime)

OVERSEAS

eal:jy Mar)

For some years a familiar sight to steam enthusiasts in southern and eastern England, LORD LASCELLES (Burrell 3886 of 1921) has recently changed ownership and moved to Cheshire. It is pictured here at the 1980 Peterborough event. We understand that flowering cherry trees in East Anglia have now decided they are safe to bloom this spring.

(Roger West) 97

COUNTRY PADRE, by Philip Wright.

102 pages, 8 Y2in x 6in, casebound, 43 illustrations. Published November 1980 by Egon Publishers Ltd, Meeting House Lane, Church Street, Baldock, Herts. Price £4.95.

The name Philip Wright may mean little to many readers but to those who have been members since the 1 950s the name brings back memories of early rallies and the formative years of NTEC. Philip has written a number of books. His latest, Country Padre, is mainly autobiographical. Only a couple of pages and two illustrations are devoted to traction engines; not a lot it might seem when the author was closely connected for ten years first as Chairman and later President of NTEC. But he has lead a very full life and has interested himself in all aspects of country activity. We read of his boyhood and youth as the son of a working Suffolk farmer, his days at Agricultural College, his call to the Church, his curacies in Liverpool's dockland and Saffron Walden, his wartime work, and his years at Woodford Green and Roxwell. He is or has been closely involved with Agricultural journalism, the Essex Show, Long Service Awards for farm workers, Army Cadets, horse parades,

rural museums and many other country activities.

Philip Wright laid the foundations of NTEC and they are sound. Those who know him will want to read Country Padre. Those who have come along later would do well to learn of the man who was at the helm of our club in the formative years. (G.R. Hawthorne)

THE TRACTION ENGINE IN AUSTRALIA, by Robert Butrims and Bruce Roberts. 64 pages plus card covers, 6in x 8% in, 71 illustrations.

Published by the authors in Australia, and available shortly from NTEC Sales.

This modest but nicely produced picture albumn — similar in format to those produced in England some 20 years ago — will act as an excellent introduction to the Australian scene.

Two thirds of the book is devoted to old pictures of working engines; the rest are of preservation days. Each section has a brief introduction and each photograph a short caption — generally of adequate information, even for a Pommie. The standard of picture reproduction is satisfactory although some recently-taken shots are rather dull — lesser quality pictures from 70 years ago are more excusable.

Engines depicted are mostly English built tractions, with the odd road loco, roller or wagon, and a number of ploughing engines. Well known names like Fowler, Marshall,

November 1980 — February 1981

WG'In GTO B.G. Thomas, 57 Maesglas, Cardigan, Dyfed.

A. Brittan, 24 Collingwood Road, Newport, Isle of Wight.

D. Spearman, 1 Fenners, High Laver, Ongar, Essex. Family member — Phyllis Spearman.

P.A. Warby, De Silva, Penymynydd Road, Penymynydd, Chester.

R. Vernon, Hall Farm, Cotesbach, Lutterworth, Leics.

J. Kuester, 7 Eighth Street, Clintonville, Wisconsin, USA. A. Christie, 18 Lingley Avenue, Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

D. Skittrall, 2 River Road, Barking, Essex.

A.R. Lowles, 7 Howard Close, Loughborough, Leics.

M.E. Peace, Kantara, 139 The Street, West Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey.

J.G. Stevenson, 14 Arran Ave, Sale, Cheshire.

N.G. Macleod, 600 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

98

Foden and McLaren appear. The subjects give an overall impression of big engines and, of course, have interesting differences from their stay at home brothers; however, American builder Buffalo Pitts' contrived efforts to provide a rope drum on their traction makes a fascinating study. The Z7 Fowlers one time owned by Bomford & Evershed also feature — will they try for a mention in every issue of our magazine?

A good buy for those with interests off the straight and narrow — proceeds are to go towards the authors' engine restoration projects.

(REW)

LYNNE CASTELL DRAWINGS Please send a stamped addressed envelope for up-to-date list of prints of steam engines, tractors, steam threshing scene, shire horses. Also greetings cards, notelets.

NEW — David Brown Cropmaster TVO, and DUKE OF KENT 6hp Burrell No.3593.

All tractor prints now available handcoloured.

Ready soon — stationary engines, classic motor cars and motorbikes.

Club and Trade enquiries welcomed.

Lynne Castel!, 23 Kensington Road, Weston-Super-Mare, Avon BS23 3QR.

D.G. Jones, Maple Drive, Ewenny Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan.

G.F. Barnes, 3 Shelley Road, Kettering, Northants.

C.A. Wagstaff, Thieves Den, Hatfield, Doncaster. Family member — Shirley Wagstaff.

G. Jenkins, 43 Stonewell Park Road, Congresbury, Bristol.

J. Rochfort, Newtown, Cleariestown, Co. Wexford, Ireland.

J. Davis, 49 St. Albans Road, Schofield's, NSW, Australia.

M.S. Hughes, 11 Denbigh Road, Clifton, Manchester.

F. Johnson, Warren Farm, St. Osyth, Essex.

D. Evershed-Martin, 63 Upper Berkeley Street, London. Family members — Jillian and Justin.

J.H. Slater, 17 Miller Hill, Denby Dale, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

Family members — Molly, Julie, Stephen and Richard.

T.H. Andrews, Woodlands, Shootash, Romsey, Hampshire. Family members — Patricia, Sarah, Stephen and Stewart.

K. Woolley, 2 Algate, Ketton, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

S. Coles, 41 Summerfield Road, Goring, Oxfordshire.

P.M. Reynolds, Kent Cottage, Eltisley, St Neots, Cambridgeshire.

R.M. Waller, Burglistrasse 3, CH-8400, Winterthur, Switzerland.

K.V. Jones, Seal Sanctuary, near Helston, Cornwall.

G. Atkinson, 38 Rowley's Green Lane, Longford, Coventry. Family members — Ivy, Dean and Brent.

J. Rudd, Sadaw, Church Road, Ketton, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

D.T. Jones, Green-lyn, Gorsedd, near Holywell, Clwyd.

G.M. Matthews, Flat D, 49 The Avenue, Surbition, Surrey.

E. Hodgkins, The Newlands, Coton Clanford, Stafford.

M. Jones, 8'Bowen Road, Hillmorton, Rugby, Warwickshire.

J.A. Carpenter, 23 Portland Road, South Norwood, London.

J.S. Harrison, Manor House, Little Smeaton, near Pontefract, Yorkshire.

A.R. Deacon, 18 Station Road, Warminster, Wiltshire.

I.F. Tibbles, 91 Sinnott Road, Greymouth, South Island, New Zealand.

Bass Museum, 137 High Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

D.J. Coulson, 3 Millers Way, Warboys Fen, Warboys, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

0=112

iLo,

Small advertisements for bona fide SALES and WANTS, and appertaining to steam engines or associated items, are free of chargo to National Traction Engine Club members. Advertisements should be in block capitals or typed, and to ensure publication must be accompanied by the advertisers NTEC membership number.

Non-members rates for small adverts are 5p per word, with a minimum charge of £1.00, payable in advance.

The publishers retain the right to refuse or withdraw advertisements at their discretion and do not accept liability for clerical or printers errors although every care is taken to avoid mistakes.

ALL SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE SENT TO THE EDITOR. SEE TITLE PAGE FOR PRESS DATE.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 is now in force. This states that persons seeking to sell goods in the course of a business should indicate this clearly in the advertisement.

S For sale — steam balance plough, requiring restoration — our last piece of steam equipment. — Offers to Bomford & Evershed Ltd, Salford Priors, Evesham, Worcs (Tel 079-88-3383).

Wanted — to purchase or borrow, postcards of Fowler showmans engines taken prior to 1950. — G.R. Turner, Spy Hill, West Crescent, Hurds Hollow, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3LB. For sale — Marshall low pressure steam boiler, 1942, stands approx 4ft 6in high complete with hand feed pump. In reasonable condition but needs small amount of work on chimney; offers. Also twin cylinder stationary steam engine, make unknown, originally used in pumping station as starter for large steam pumping engine. Size approx 3ft Gin long x 111 Sin wide x 4ft high; offers. Also 4hp Lister 106/51H stationary engine on trolley complete with saw bench. — J.E. Brice, 37 Swan Lane, Sellindge, near Ashford, Kent. (Tel Sellindge 3394).

For sale — Aveling & Porter chimney ring, cast, 8 3/4 in inside diameter. Fowler steering wheel. Fowler differential star wheels. Pair of Fowler B6 crosshead slide bars. Baker of Compton 150 gall. water cart with shafts and drawbar. New Caledonia living van stove.

Transformer 230/250v to 110v single phase 1 Kve. Alternator.6Kva, 110v. Foden pressure gauge. — G.R. Hawthorne, 19 Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading RG8 OSE (Tel 0491-680484).

Wanted — 'Wallis Patent Motor' smokebox door ring for Oilbath Tractor, also steersmans seat and bracket. — D.F. Roberts, 278 Shirley Road, Southampton, Hants (Tel 0703-776688).

For sale — 1912 Aveling & Porter 6 ton steam roller. Superb condition. Excellent boiler report; firebox repairs and retubed 1980.

Offers over £5000 — Tel Spalding 2441.

Wanted — English Mechanic Vols 1-24, 123-124, issued 1938/9 and 1952 and Engineering Vols 1-8, 1916-1922. — M.J. Gilkes, 42 The Green, Southwick, Sussex.

For sale — approx. 60 copies Light Steam Power from Vol 8; 1st series English Mechanic Vols 26, 27, 29-31, 36, 44, 100, 101-114 (560 copies), 2nd series Vole 1-22 unbound. Offers or part exchange for Steaming Vols 1, 2, 3(1 and 4), 4(1 and 3), 512) and 711 and 3).

— M.J. Gilkes, address as above.

Wanted — some Sentinel S4 steam inlet valves, would exchange for Sentinel DG inlet valves. — G.B. King, 44 Marine Drive, Barry, South Glamorgan (0446 734959).

For sale — Wallis & Steevens 3 ton diesel roller, running condition. — G.B. King, address as above.

For sale — Pulley, ex showmans engine dynamo 10in dia, 7in face. T & K mechanical lubricator. Hydrostatic lubricator ex stationary engine. Three drip feed glass bowl lubricators, unused. Stand pipe with tap and hydrant key. Firing irons. Two copper and brass standpipes with 'snap' fittings. Two 2in bronze water stop valves. A pair of gauge glass protectors 131/2 in long. Engine nameplate. Tug of war rope (used once at rally) approx. 100ft x 1 1/2 in dia. Fire hose with 'snap' fitting. Two vintage heavy duty driving mirrors. — G.R. Hawthorne, 19 Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading RG8 OSE (Tel 0491680484).

Wanted — Photographs for copying (prints returned as soon as possible) of Fowler BB ploughing engine 14378 (EX6738). New to either Eddisons or the Dorset Steam Plough Co, then to Blue Circle Cement. Last worked at Sundon Cement Works, Beds, in late 50s/early 60s. Towed by T.T. Boughton to G. Evans at Wiggington and later purchased by Tom Paisley. Any prints of the engine in its working life or at the sale on 1st October 1980 welcome. Please write to — John Bush, 53 Fidlas Ave, Llanishen, Cardiff, S. Wales.

Wanted — Sentinel steam wagon for restoration (Super or DG model perferred), Details of condition and price to R. Parkinson, 16 St Annes Road, Polsloe Park, Exeter, Deveon (Tel Exeter 31717).

For sale — Several ex railway steam whistles, also varied collection of steam spares tor Aveling piston valve series rollers, and other makes. SAE for list — R. Parkinson, address as above.

For sale — Aveling & Porter E type roller, 1922. Needs new firebox, otherwise in good order. — Telephone Leath at Penzance 795181, evenings preferred.

Assistance — offered to engine owners in N. London/Hertford areas by a club member with welding/fitting skills and with access to mobile heavy crane. Telephone C.Way, 01-889-7776.

For sale — Marshall portable steam engine, No 57325, built 1911. In need of restoration. Offers to W.K. Kirby, Western Farm, Peatling Magna, Leicester (Tel Peatling Magna 307).

For sale — Two smoke box door pressings, 19in dia. Small Weir injector pump. Medium Weir injector pump. Worthington-Simpson pump. — Tel Downland 54824.

Wanted — 5 stud boiler check valves. 33in disc flywheel for Marshall roller. Rotative injector pump or any interesting mechanism.

— Please telephone Downland 54824.

For sale — Aveling & Porter B ton roller 10981 of 1924, piston valve single, scarifier. Located Devon, offered due to poor health, 50p and SAE brings photo and reports etc. £6,500 or swop for relics to same value. — Mike Parsonage, 64 Elm Grove, Bromsgrove, Worcs (Tel 0527 75623).

Wanted — Enthusiast collector seeks engine worksplates, nameplates, niimhers, whistles and mnmentnes from railway stations. Also original of Bournes book Great Western Railway; not the reprint. Exchanges considered. — Mike Parsonage, address as above.

For sale — A.M.Co 3 Mule Team stationary engine. No 503570.

Still with original paint. £200 — P.J.N. Colburn, 2 Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside.

Wanted — Volumes 1 to 4 of Steaming; good price paid. Offers invited for Vol 5, 3 to Vol 23, 4 of Steaming — J. Parkinson, 124 London Road, Long Sutton, Lincs PE12 9EE (Tel 0406-362388).

Wanted — Steam roller living van in usuable condition. Please phone 0536-516482 (office hours) or write 56 Pioneer Avenue, Desborough, Kettering, Northants.

For sale — Steam Traction Engines (Bonnet); Age of the Traction Engine (Whitehead); Century of Steam Rolling (Whitehead); Illustrated History of T.E. (Wilkes); Compleat TE Man (Kimbell); Samson Cogg (Clark), all below published prices. — D. Roseaman, 10 Grimshaw Close, North Road, London N6 4BH. Wanted — Rally programmes. D. Roseaman, address as above.

Wanted — For restoration of Fowler B6 road locomotive; chimney base saddle casting (or loan of pattern), steam chest dome cover and Pickering governor, smokebox door fittings (hinge, locking pin and nameplate ring), Dewrance water level gauge and taps. — J. Coombes, 73 Church Road, Aspley Heath, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8TJ (Tel Milton Keynes 584236).

99

Insurance for steam vehicles and traction engine rallies As Insurance Brokers to the National Traction Engine Club for many years, we have arranged insurances especially suited to owners of steam vehicles or engines, and to organisers of steam rallies. Wide cover and competitive terms are available with special terms for club members.

For any further information you may require please do not hesitate to contact any of the following:Tonbridge Office (New Business, Renewals and Accounts) Mrs V.M. Jessup, Hildenbrook House, The Slade, Tonbridge, Kent.

Telephone: 0732 357011.

Head Office Saracen's Ffead House, 92 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4EE. Telephone: 01-481 8451.

Tennant Budd Ltd