Issuu

ISSN 0260 - 2962

Vol 38 No 1 Winter 1994/95

11r- 1i

9 MP

The Magazine of the National Traction Engine Trust

NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE TRUST Membership of the National Traction Engine Trust 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.

The annual subscription is £20.00 for individuals and family membership and £10.00 for pensioners. The Trust's magazine Steaming is sent free to members during the early part of January, April, July and October, and other benefits of membership include advantageous terms for boiler insurance as well as access to advice on technical matters. Membership of the Steam Apprentice Club is available to young people under 21; details from that section's Chairman (see right).

President: Eric A. Fillmore Vice Presidents: Esmond E. Kimbell; Richard N. Parrott Chairman: R.J. Sandercock, Milford Farm, near Lifton, Devon PL16 OAT (IT 01566 783425) Vice-Chairmen: Mrs Sylvia Dudley, 12 Hillway, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK17 8UL (v 01908 583006); A.J. Semple — see be/ow General Secretary: Mrs Susan Jackson, 153 Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 7HA Membership Secretary: J.R. Cook, 'Dolfarni', Church Lane, Kirkby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU Treasurer: J.T.G. Harris, The Bank, 36 High Street, Rothwell, Northamptonshire NN14 2BQ (72 01536 7103.9.9) Chairman, Rally sub-Committee: A.J. Semple, Penyghent, 8 Chelwick Close, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 7BY (v 01694 723139) Chairman, Engine Owners sub-Committee: M.O. Davies, Hill Farm, Avon Dassett, near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV33 OAA (v 01295 770217) Chairman, Steam Apprentice Club: J.R. Bosworth, 74 Main Road, Smalley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 6EF Iv 01332 880405) Chairman, Technical Board: J.M. Newnham, Penlands, High Easter, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4QW (Tr 01245 231283) Rally Authorisation Officer: J.R. Smith, The Poplars, Grange Road, North Frodingham, Driffield, North Humberside Y025 8LN (n 01262 488722) Insurance Officer: D.S. Smith, 21 The Ridgeway, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire B96 6LS (v 01527 893427) Public Relations Officer: Stephen Foster, 19a Westgate Lane, Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9TS (Tr 01858 432285)

&UM —Tr binder Each binder can take up to twelve copies — that's three year's issues. Produced in royal blue with the magazine title and club motif nicety blocked in gold on the spine — a fine addition to your bookshelves and an excellent way of keeping your magazines in good condition whilst near at hand.

-404114L.

For engine owning members ... The Trust's

CODE OF PRACTICE for Traction Engines and similar vehicles

is now available. Price f17.50 each including postage

ekcev..ingiVhia.

Price £5.25 Inc. posre Available by post from Colin and VaFBrown, 90 Devon Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 ORL.

from — Mrs Sylvia Dudley 12 Hillway Woburn Sands Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK17 8UL Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

The Magazine of the National Traction Engine Trust Volume 38 Number 1

Winter 1994/1995 Editor: Roger West, 14 Charles Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9AB Assistant Editor: Derek Rayner, 'Invicta', 9 Beagle Ridge Drive, Acomb, York Y02 3J1-1 Display Advertising: to the Editor Small Ads to the Editor Distribution and Change of Address: John Cook, 'Dolfarni', Church Lane, Kirkby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU The Editor is pleased to consider contributions of suitable articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issues. All material 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 Trust announcements, are those of the contributors and do not indicate the views of the Trust as a whole. All items are held copyright by the contributors and/or the NTET. Next issue: The press date for news items, recent photographs and small adverts is 24th February 1995. For the date for Steaming Around see that section.

Editorial The start of another volume of the Trust's magazine is an appropriate time to mention a few points on its progress. It is often said an organisation's journal can be seen as a barometer of the health of that body, so it is good to report Steaming continues to provide the Editor with a headache each issue, whilst attempting to squeeze the available material into the planned number of pages. An adequate supply of material continues to be sent in by members and it is particularly pleasing to find a strong ongoing response from readers to topics started in the Letters and Technical Topics columns. These sections should continue to be a forum for members interests and concerns on traction engines, whether they appertain to history, restoration or our continued enjoyment of them in steam alongside today's legislaticin. So, Editorial thanks go out to all those who supply the articles and pictures that fill our pages. We are particularly grateful to the select group of monochrome photographers who make prints available, and allow us to hold them on file for use at appropriate times. To end on a more personal note, I record my sincere thanks to the 'backroom staff': to Derek Rayner, who in a short time produces a goodly proportion of each issue; to my wife Celia, who puts up with much household disruption and consistently proves to be so much better at proof reading — and also to the ever helpful and resilient staff at AB Printers. Our thanks go to all who sent Christmas and New Year greetings to us and we trust 1995 will bring you much traction engine enjoyment.

This issue 4 10 16 20 22 24 25 28 44 47 51 56

Trust News Jack Wharton John Hirons Technical Topics Sentinels and Scouse 2 Jim Stevenson The 1994 Trust Awards Sentinels for Brewers Joe Thomas An Italian Connection Derek Rayner Steaming Around, compiled by Derek Rayner Letters Books, Videos New Members, Small Adverts The Great Challenge Robert Oliver, Dick Blenkinsop

ISSN 0260 - 2962 Published by the National Traction Engine Trust at 14 Charles St, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Printed by AB Printers Ltd, Leicester. STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Cover A brief respite for engine and crew at the Steam Plough Club's Great Challenge, which is featured elsewhere in this issue. Fowler single cylinder 3195 is working with four furrow balance plough 1514. (Dick Blenkinsopl 3

Trust News From the Chairman Our 1994 AGM was held in November at Gaydon, Warwickshire, the home of the British Heritage Motor Collection. The buildings are very impressive and the facilities and staff excellent and I wish to thank them for making us so welcome. Robert Herring arranged the day, assisted by our General Secretary, Sue Jackson, and they are to be praised for their efforts. There was an extensive collection of engines, in steam, to welcome us — including Dave Prout and Ted Freeman, later to be worthy recipients of trophies. The AGM is really a dry legal requirement to present the Trust's financial affairs to the membership, but more importantly it is one of the few chances for the membership and committee to meet both formally and informally to discuss our interests, and therefore more than a meeting room is required. We all wish to be entertained and have a full day's activity to justify our journey and the arrangements and surroundings provided were of an excellent nature. Prior to the formal meeting the Trust's own Exhibition Unit was open and serving coffee, which was most welcome; many later enjoyed lunch in

the restaurant. The meeting opened with a minute's silence to remember those no longer with us, in particular Jack Wharton, our late President. With countrywide support, I was delighted to ask Jack's son, John, to present Eric Fillmore with his badge of office as our new President. Eric steered us through very troubled waters and it is fitting that his work has been so recognised. Four new members of Committee were proposed and elected, as listed elsewhere, and I welcome them to the National Committee. We need the wide spread of interests and views that new people have to keep us aware of current thinking. At the meeting the Treasurer was able to report that our finances are being restored to health and should be set fair for the future. Plans to update

the Articles of the Trust were put forward; after many years they have become outdated and untidy. There was a healthy attendance of 120 at the AGM but still less than 10% of the members and I shall be seeking the Committee's approval for the new Articles to be circulated and voted on by postal vote, so as to give the whole membership a chance to speak, rather than the relatively few attending the meeting. This would also allow the new Articles to be in place for the next AGM. The great success of the Exhibiton Unit, both from a public relations and sales viewpoint was reported on, as were the continuing good work of the three main sub-Committees — Rally, Engine Owners and Steam Apprentice Club. The importance of the Federation of British Historic

From Alan Martin's Collection The taking of this fine picture was doubtless pre-arranged with the local photographer by a timber merchant or timber haulier anxious to have on record the transport of a very fine butt of ash. The Garrett 4CD tractor, 31118 of 1913, was owned by W. Price of Walford, Knighton, Herefordshire; the occasion was recorded in the early 1920s.

Vehicle Clubs was discussed, as was our standing in that body. The award of club trophies was made to several members from the Midlands and I felt it right to include this as part of the formal business of the meeting. The President presented the awards following an introduction for each one by Dave Smith, our local Committee member, and the recipients responded with few words. It was a very enjoyable part of the meeting. There were no formal resolutions to the meeting but questions and views were sought from those attending and various topics were raised and discussed. In particular, concern was expressed for the nonengine owning member and we were able to report that moves were in hand to involve them more fully. At the end of the meeting there was time for members to look round the Museum — other than the Committee, who met briefly to welcome their new colleagues, confirm chairmen of sub-Committees and open the new year. Thereafter a buffet was served, followed by an excellent slide show and talk by Dick Blenkinsop, which ended only when the management suggested it was time to go home. Next year we hope to be in Chatham for the AGM and look forward to meeting you all again. (Richard Sandercock — Chairman)

Engine Owners Column Engine Owners sub-Committee As this is the season for repairs and maintenance, I would remind engine owners that we are often able to help by recommending suitable sources for spares and services. Please contact me in the first instance. This year will be the first in which owners will need to operate within a suitable code of practice. As reported in the last issue of Steaming, the Technical Board reports that the pressure vessel inspectorate of Cornhill Insurance have accepted the NTET Code and their inspectors are working to it. We are still negotiating with the Associated Offices Technical Committee and very much hope that our efforts will soon bear fruit. Referring again to our last journal, I suggest that our Insurance Officer's excellent notes are well worth re-reading. We have already had quite a lot of interest in next year's driving course which we have now arranged for STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

13/14th May at the York's Museum of Farming, Murton Park. These courses are arranged for all members whether they intend to become owners or not, in the hope that greater knowledge will give people confidence to enjoy engines more and, of course, to promote safety. We also feel that the weekend affords an enjoyable opportunity to meet other members and some of the Committee. The talks on repairs and maintenance have proved particularly popular. This year's site has excellent facilities including a part-time bar and a list of local accommodation is available. The cost of the course will be £75. The Saturday night group meal is £10 per head and the site makes a small charge of £2.50 per night for camping. If you have not already applied, please do so as soon as possible so that we can make sure we have adequate facilities. I have just received a pamphlet detailing proposed Vehicle Excise Duty tax class changes resulting from the November budget which, if agreed, will become effective on 1st July 1995. Although this does not appear to affect vehicles which are licensed as agricultural machines, vehicles which up to now have been exempt, and in particular road rollers, appear to be going to have to pay as 'special vehicles', an HGV rate of £150. At the time of writing, this is only a proposal and we are trying to get further clarification. This appears to be part of a reduction in classes including phasing-out of exempt licences. (Michael Davies, Chairman, Engine Owners sub-Committee)

Technical Board Further to the report in the Autumn edition of Steaming, arrangements with Cornhill Insurance have row been completed and their Boiler Inspectors have a supply of suitable forms to connect each individual engine to the Scheme of Examination in Part Four of the NTET Code. There should now be no difficulty whatsoever about their boiler inspectors doing boiler examinations under the NTET Code. During the autumn, Cornhill ran a series of two-day courses on locomotive type boilers, which were attended by all their boiler inspectors. Representatives of the Trust attended each course and gave a presentation describing the NTET, its Code of Practice and the particular requirements and problems relating to traction engine boilers. This, so far as I know, is the first time that a major insurance company has ever invited active participation by the NTET in the training of their boiler inspectors and it

Officers and Committee 1995 President E.A. Fillmore Vice Presidents E.E. Kimbell R.N. Parrott Chairman R.J. Sandercock Vice Chairmen Mrs Sylvia Dudley A.J. Semple (Rally Organisers chairman) General Secretary Mrs Susan Jackson* Treasurer J.T.G. Harris * Hon Solicitor T. Driver* Hon Safety Adviser J M. Newnham* Membership Secretary J.R. Cook Hon Editor, Steaming R.E. West Sales Officers Colin and Val Brown" Public Relations Officer S. Foster* Committee J.R. Bosworth (SAC Chairman) N. Boyes (W. Yorks) P. Clare (Lancashire) M.O. Davies (Engine Owners chairman) A. Fookes (Essex) B. Gooding (Surrey) R.T. Herring (Oxfordshire) I.D. Howitt (W. Yorks) B. James (Norfolk) M. Middlewood (N. Yorks) S.J. Parrott (Bucks) R.J. Pierce (Kent) K.D. Shakespeare (West Midlands) 0. Slade (Devon) D.S. Smith (Insurance Officer) J.R. Smith (N. Yorks) M. Ward (Nottinghamshire) Technical Board J.M. Newnham (chairman) H, Pounder R. Swithenbank Representatives R. Mattless (NV Tractor & EC)" Auditors (and registered office) Hamiltons, Forum House, 1-6 Millmead, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4UQ

This column lists, for the information of members, all Officers and Committee of the Trust for 1995. The addresses of those with special duties are given inside the front cover of each issue of this magazine; others may be contacted via the General Secretary or sub-Committee Chairmen. Names marked with an asterisk* are appointments by the Committee and are nonvoting positions in Committee.

The Engine Owners sub-Committee presents another

PRACTICAL ENGINE DRIVING COURSE including informal instruction on basic boiler management and repair, as well as mechanical operation.

The course will be held on the weekend 13th and 14th May 1995 at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton Park, Murton, York The site has full facilities for caravans and camping, also an excellent restaurant. Please write to Michael Davies (address inside front cover) for an application form and further details.

is to be hoped that others will follow their lead. Contact is being maintained with the Associated Offices Technical Committee IAOTC), which is a joint body representing the British Engine, Eagle Star, National Vulcan and Plant Safety companies. A copy of the NTET Code was sent to the Committee a while ago and we have received a positive response. The next move will be to try to arrange a meeting early in the new year, at which hopefully any differences in approach to the examination of traction engine boilers will be ironed out. (Jim Newnham, chairman, Technical Board)

FBHVC News At the AGM of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, held on 29th October 1994, the existing Committee was re-elected to serve for a further three years. Both John Crawley and I therefore continue to look after steam engine owners' interests. According to the Federation's Constitution, Committee members do not actually represent an organisation, but through their own particular interests the various categories of groups of vehicle interests are covered. There are of course far too many vehicle clubs affiliated to the Federation for each to have its own representative and the constitution allows for a wide range of interests to be covered without having an enormous Committee! By the time this issue of Steaming reaches members the consultative document outlining the Government's proposals on the changes to the Vehicle Excise Duty system should hove been issued. The change to a system of continuous licensing has the 6

potential to increase the costs of owning preserved vehicles and it has been widely predicted that some concessions for old vehicles will be allowed. I will be reporting on the proposals as soon as they are known. Members may rest assured that their interests will be well represented through the Federation. (Peter Smart)

Rally Organisers Column Rally Authorisation It is with regret I am again forced to remind some Organisers and Safety Officers that Safety Officers Reports are now long overdue. The task of reminding organisations is becoming expensive and irksome. To keep costs down, reminders are not being sent, but a paragraph is being added to the letter acknowledging your request for 1995 Authorisation. Lack of the previous year's Report will delay Authorisation and therefore inclusion on the 1995 Rally List. May I also remind all concerned that the final date for inclusion in the 1995 Rally List is 31st January 1995. (Smudge Smith, Rally Authorisation Officer)

The Rally List 1995 The Rally List has been part of the Trust's activities for more years than most of us can recall — indeed a list of the year's forthcoming events has appeared in Steaming since the very

earliest issues. From May 1977 the List took the form of an illustrated selfcontained pull-out supplement and in more recent times several thousand copies of the folded leaflet style List have been distributed outside the Trust's membership to Tourist Boards and local Tourist Information centres. During the 1994 season they were freely available from the Exhibition Unit to passers by on the rally field. To give even more publicity to rallies organised by Affiliated Clubs and other bodies wishing to hold events under the NTET Code of Practice it is essential that an ever wider public be aware of the extent of traction engine gatherings throughout the country. To ensure an expanded distrihutinn of the List, the Committee have arranged that the printing of the Trust's Rally List 1995 will be sponsored by the publishers of the magazine Old Glory, thus giving it a presence on the high street newsstands. It will be distributed within the pages of the April edition of that magazine, available on 16th March, and a copy of the leaflet will be included as an insert in each member's copy of the Spring edition of Steaming. Thousands of additional copies will be available for distribution throughout the rally season from the Trust's Exhibition Unit, as well as the usual Tourist Board outlets. It is to be hoped that the public's awareness of traction engine events will be greatly enhanced by the increased availability of the List. With the above new arrangement, it is even more important that organisers notify their dates as soon as possible to gain from this increased publicity. The final date is 31st January 1995 — after that, you're on your own.

Steam Apprentice Club I am trying to arrange several gatherings for Steam Apprentices in the early part of this year. One is to the National Railway Museum at York, where we hope to have a member of staff to meet SAC members and parents or friends over tea. A training weekend is being planned at the Klondyke Centre, Draycott-in-theClay, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire — provisional date 6/7th May. Further details of these events will appear in the SAC magazine Raising Steam but I will be pleased to give more details, Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

Steam Apprentice Club

Wanted...

Editor

A superb winter cameo of a roller in the temporary grip of Pennine winter weather. The picture was taken by Arthur Booth, probably during January 1947, a time since well remembered as a particularly severe spell of cold winter weather. The scene is on the (present day) A628 Sheffield to Manchester road, just to the west of the village of Thurlstone. Clearly, whatever road works were in progress had come to a standstill and the steam roller and the watchman's hut seem to be providing an additional hazard to the icy road conditions. It's to be hoped the driver managed to drain off the engine's boiler and fittings in good time! Just what, and whose, was the roller is unknown — it's an Aveling & Porter, probably a 10 tonner of the piston valve era, with a timber canopy not of Aveling's making. Road Locomotive Society records (courtesy Robin Harding) show Thurlstone Urban District Council had two steam rollers — an 1898 Aveling and then a 1913 Fowler (and, incidentally, a Clayton & Shuttleworth wagon). Penistone UDC took over in 1938 but there is no sign of a late, Aveliny roller in any of the lists, so maybe the snowbound machine was on hire from a contractor. Have Yorkshire members any suggestions?

when known, to parents or friends of Apprentices (or potential Apprentices) who are reading these notes. The Driving Course to he run by the Engine Owners sub-Committee at Murton, near York, on 20/21st May is advertised elsewhere in this section of the magazine. Michael Davies is willing to take senior Apprentices on the course — those of 18 years of age and over — and a place on the weekend could make an excellent 18th or 21st birthday present for someone. Please contact Michael for further details. Ideas for further SAC activities are eagerly sought; bear in mind we shall need to attract sufficient numbers to make events viable, and, best of all, have sufficient input from adult helpers to ensure the activity is well planned and properly run. Just as this issue of Steaming was going to the printers I have heard from Steph Gillett, the Editor of the SAC magazine Raising Steam, that regretfully he finds it necessary to relinquish that position. Steph has made a fine job of the magazines he has produced for the SAC, bringing STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

just that right mix of comment from himself and contributions from membei s, and dlsu managing to produce something for all age groups — not easy in a section of the Trust which attempts to cater for virtually all ages up to 21! Thank you, Steph, for your efforts. I have asked that a display advert be included in this issue to make known the SAC Editorial vacancy, and do hope someone will find their curiosity stirred, or perhaps know of others who may find this a good opportunity to further the interests of our youngsters. I will, of course, be more than willing to discuss the job with any interested party. I wish all SAC members and their families a full head of steam for 1995. (John Bosworth, chairman, Steam Apprentice Club)

Photographers ... Do you have a burning ambition to see your photographs on display throughout the country?

The present Editor of the Steam Apprentice Club's magazine Raising Steam has indicated his wish to retire from the position in February, and we are therefore looking for a suitable person to take over the task. It involves gathering material from various sources, editing and arranging for printing the four A5 format issues per year, each about 24 pages If you would be interested to know more about this post and feel you may be able to help, please write to John Bosworth, telling him about yourself and asking for more details of this vital part of the future of our movement. The SAC magazine is the main point of contact with many of our members who are not able to travel to events under their own steam, and whose interests cover a wide range of the aspects of our hobby. Please contact John Bosworth, 74 Main Street, Smalley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 6EF (a 01332 880405)

Are they unusual, informative, funny, technically interesting or artistically good? Over the winter period members have the opportunity to assist the Trust revamping the display material on the exhibition unit. You are invited to submit any number of suitable photographs to be considered for display on the unit during the next rally season. Photographs can be in any size, format, colour or black and white, with the name and address of the member clearly marked on the reverse. Please do not send any negatives at this stage. The final selection will be made in February and members whose pictures have been selected for final consideration will then be asked to submit the negatives. We will be unable to return photographs unless you enclose a suitable SAE. Please send your entries to Stephen Foster, NTET Public Relations Officer, 19a Westgate Lane, Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9TS. 7

Always worthwhile...

Spring Conference for Rally Organisers and Affiliated Clubs SATURDAY 18th MARCH 1995 The Auto-Cycle Union, ACU House, Wood Street, Rugby, Warwickshire See Future Dates column for further details.

Obituaries Ken Judkins I regret to record the death of K.K.K. Judkins — Ken to his many friends. He was cremated at Stafford on 5th October 1994, aged 91 years. The last months of Ken's life were spent in a nursing home at Great Haywood, Staffordshire, just a few miles from his birthplace. Much of his life was recorded by himself in his books My Life in Steam and More of My Life in Steam. In those books the reader was given a graphic insight into the lite that Ken and his workmates endured — hard and sometimes dangerous work, yet still with time for

laughter, a jar of ale and a pipe of baccy. With the death of Ken Judkins our movement has lost another of that increasingly rare breed who drove steam engines for a living. Ken was a character; always ready with a tale to tell. To be in his company was always an entertaining experience. His books and the memories he left are a fitting memorial to the man. (Steve K. Durance) Ernie Lucas On 5th November 1994 the death occurred after a short illness of Ernest Albert Lucas. He was in his eightieth year. To many members away from the Hampshire and Dorset areas, Ernie's name may not be familiar, but he was one of the first in the steam preservation movement to purchase an engine, for in 1950 he acquired from Anderton & Rowland of Bristol the Fowler B6 Super Lion showmans load loco 19782 of 1932 THE LION. The engine was rallied quite regularly and in 1950s and 1960s attended many local carnivals. Later, the engine made few public appearances, but could most years be seen in steam outside its shed at Bert Dibben's autumn steam up — including the most recent nne in 1944 Great credit must be paid to Ernie for keeping the engine in its original working state — a subject of yearly pilgrimage for many locals and engine enthusiasts from up country. We otter our deepest sympathy to his family: Ernie will be greatly missed. (Peter Parrish, a lifetime friend)

Phoneday.... About the time the next issue of Steaming, the Spring one, is due to reach members, the nation's phone numbers are to be modified. From 16th April 1995 area codes starting 0 will start 01 and six other city codes are being changed completely. Members submitting small adverts for the Spring issue are therefore asked to ensure any phone numbers quoted have the revised code or number — the Editor will do his best to check but cannot accept responsibility if old numbers are used by advertisers.

... and Phone numbers In response to a request made at the recent AGM, the telephone numbers of most Committee members and Trust officials have been added to the addresses on the panel inside the front cover of each issue of this magazine. Members are asked to bear in mind that because a good proportion of our Committee only have evenings and weekends at their disposal for Trust affairs, due consideration should be given by callers to the times they seek to contact them. Early evenines will generally be best and we V would suggest not after 10.00pm.

Affiliated Clubs Sussex Steam Engine Club Four social meetings remain of the Sussex Steam Engine Club's winter programme. Illustrated talks to be presented include the subjects of Fodens; of Wallis & Steevens; on steam on the Continent (by Steaming assistant editor Derek Rayner) and of steam cultivation. Meetings are held at Cross-in-Hand, near Heathfield, East Sussex and details of the meetings and the Club are available from Richard Wade, 4 Rose Terrace, Sandy Cross Lane, Heathfield, E. Sussex (Tr 01435 866562)

Burrell Gold Medal Tractors Fowler 19782 THE LION with Ernie Lucas (left) and Archie Parrish (right) ready to travel to the Andover event in 1954. (collection Peter Parrish) 8

We have been sent a copy of Gold Medal Newsletter No 16 by Ron Walker, owner of Burrell 4072 TINKERBELL. Ron compiles the Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

for free Newsletter occasional distribution to Burrell tractor owners and others and this issue contains many items of interest to those who own and run this model as well as historical notes and queries, and general tips and chat around the marque, which has 36 survivors in preservation out of about 215 built. Ron kindly offers to send free copies of the Newsletter to any Trust members who are interested — please send a 9in x 6in 19p stamped addressed envelope to him at Lower Priory Farm, Clamp HA Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 3JJ.

War and sailing ships rounding Cape Horn. TUESDAY, 14th MARCH — The Editor of our magazine, Roger West, will show colour slides: rally scenes from the 1960s and more recent times and some black and white pictures of much earlier days. TUESDAY, 11th APRIL — The speaker for this evening has yet to be arranged.

Future dates Spring Conference for Rally Organisers and Affiliated Clubs

London Area Social Meetings The 1994/5 season of social meetings in London continues from January and all members, potential members and interested visitors will be welcome to attend one or all of the evening talks or slide shows which have been arranged for the Trust by Bill Timmings. The venue is the Yorkshire Grey public house, Langham Street, London W1. This location is off Langham Place and Portland Place and little more than five minutes walk north of Oxford Circus tube station. Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, at 8.00pm, with the room available from 7.30pm. It is hoped members will continue to support our speakers in the enthusiastic way they have in the past. TUESDAY 14th FEBRUARY — Alan Willmot will present an evening of films, including scenes of Britain at

The Spring Conference for Rally Organisers and Affiliated Clubs will take place at The Auto-Cycle Union, ACU House, Wood Street, Rugby, Warwickshire on Saturday, 18th March 1995 at 11.00am. Invitations and formal notices, together with details of the venue, will be sent out in the usual way, but newcomers are always welcome to these instructive and mutually beneficial gatherings. Discussions under various headings will take place throughout the day. An innovation to take place during the midday break will be a leaflet distribution circle. Please bring any publicity material that will benefit your 1995 event. Anyone unable to attend the Conference can send material to me. Coffee will be served prior to the morning meeting from 10.15am; a buffet lunch will be available during the mid-day break (prior booking is essential) and tea will be served at the conclusion of the conference at about 3.30pm. First time attenders are

Israel Newton & Sons Ltd

NTET Haberdashery The full range of Trust sweatshirts, tee shirts, and woven ties is still available from Mail Order Sales Please look back to the Trust News Section in the last issue to see the wide variety of sizes and colours available — something to suit everyone's taste

NTET Sales 90 Devon Road, Luton Beds LU2 ORL

404

invited to contact General Secretary Sue Jackson for further details and bookings. The venue is located in the town centre area of Rugby, close to the railway station (5 minutes walk). A location diagram for the venue appeared on page 178 of the Autumn issue — by road, whichever direction you come from, if you don't know Rugby the best approach is from Junction 1 on the M6, and then south on the A426 for 3 miles. This is a dual carriageway and then approaches the town under prominent railway bridges over the road. Wood Street is first on the left under the second of these bridges, as the road rises uphill towards the town centre. The ACU headquarters are on the left side of Wood Street. The new A14 road from East Anglia is now open to the M1/M6 junction 19. (Sue Jackson, General Secretary)

boilermakers established in 1803

manufacturers of:

* Locomotive type steam boilers of riveted or welded construction to BSS. Insurance company inspected. * Vertical cross tube boilers * Smokebox tubeplates, back heads, throat plates, new fireboxes, boiler retubing, welding repairs by coded welders. * Stockists of boiler tubes and rivets. * Industrial steam and hot water packaged boilers. * Hydraulic press work — dished and flanged ends.

Summerley Iron Works, Idle, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1O 8TT telephone 01274 612059, fax 01274 612059 STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

One of two Fowler ploughing engine boilers recently completed.

Jack Wharton John Hirons, a friend and business associate of many years' standing, records the lifetime achievements of the Trust's late President.

Photographs are from the collections of the Wharton family and of John Hirons.

Stanley John Wharton (Jack) was born in November 1909 on the Eynsham Hall estate in Oxfordshire, where hls father was engineer in charge of all the mechanical equipment — the steam engines, and the producer gas plant and engines for the electric lighting plant. He went to the local school at North Leigh, and at Oxford, later serving an engineering apprenticeship at Morris Motors Ltd at Cowley. Jack's father was no doubt able to arrange this by being friends of the Witney engineers Daniol Young who in turn were not only friends of William Morris (later Lord Nuffield) but also of Henry Young, at that time a director of Morris Motors. Jack was always proud of being given a signed photograph by Lord Nuffield. I remember it was brought over to him by Nuffield's personal secretary in later years. Jack's association with both Morris Cars and MG (Morris Garages) lasted throughout his entire life. He owned his first MG and Morris cars in the 1930s and still owned an MGC, a 1924 Bul!nose Morris and a Rover built at Cowley at his passing. He always had a very good taste in cars, and for the last 60 years he owned either a Bentley or Rolls Royce. Jack could tell many stories of his time at Cowley — the days when William Morris took a very active part in the production and testing of his cars. During this period in the mid 20s Jack went to France for the company when Morris took over the Leon Bollee company. However, after some eight years he left Morris Cars to achieve his ambition to go into business on his own. In the early 1930s Jack Wharton rented some derelict buildings at Minster Lovell on the edge of the then disused Witney Aerodrome to start a garage business. It was situated on what was at that time the main road 10

from London to South Wales, the A40. This was a period when times were quite hard and required working very long hours with the will and ability to do any job that came along, whether it was cars, motor cycles, lorries, farm tractors, or even steam vehicles, which were still using the main road. The premises were not on mains electricity so it wasn't long before Jack rigged up an oil engine driving a 100 volt dynamo. The petrol pumps were hand operated. Later when

diesel-engined lorries started to run, Jack supplied diesel at a few pence per gallon, served in 5 gallon jack cans. He also supplied water from a well and coal for the steamers. Around this period Jack fitted an L2 Gardner diesel engine into a lorry. This was at a time when I suppose there were hut a dozen diesel lorries in the country. Jack often used to sleep on the premises so as not to miss any trade, and I recall him telling he sold the starter motor of his own car to pay the rent one week. In 1936 Jack married Averil and in the years that followed Paula, Liz and John were born. Around this time Jack and Averil opened a cafe on the site (The Blarney). This became very well known amongst the long distance truck drivers, being open 24 hours a day. In the late 1930s flying recommenced from the aerodrome, and being developed there was a revolutionary delta wing plane. Jack made many parts for this and did fly in it to the Royal Aeronautical Garden Party at Hendon in 1938. But alas the plane crashed on one of its later test flights in 1939. One of the many unusual jobs that Jack took on was to collect an Avro 504K plane from North Wales and to tow it back to Witney! This was done

The management team of S.J. Wharton Ltd of Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire. Pictured at the factory in 1981 on the award of a Fit for Work presentation for the employment of disabled persons. Jack is flanked by his son John (right) and John Hirons, works manager (left). Winter 1994/95

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with an open 'Bul!nose' Morris car with the tail plane tied over the back seat and the wings tied alongside. The biggest problem was stopping every few miles to grease the plane's wheels, for they were not intended to run long distances — just short landing and take-off. Jack's breakdown truck at this time was a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost car with the back cut off and a crane mounted there. However it was commandeered at the outbreak of war as it was a similar chassis to the Rolls Royce vehicles used in the Middle East with armoured bodies. I don't think it was ever used and vanished without trace during the war. Jack was a great motor cyclist. He rode many different makes in the early days when going to work at Cowley, and also took part in grass track racing. His premises were a great haven for motor cyclists as Jack was always ready to help anyone in trouble or advise. In fact, that was how I first met him in 1938 — and our friendship lasted for over 50 years. When war broke out in 1939 Jack volunteered to join the Royal Navy, but when authority discovered he had an engineering business, his enlistment was withdrawn and like everyone else he had to take on war work. Some of the shop was taken requisitioned by De Havillands who had taken over the aerodrome. Jack took on work for them and from the Oxford car factories, who by then were on plane production. Many a Spitfire had parts produced at Minster Lovell — they were incorporated in the petrol tanks which were made at Morris Radiators. During and after the war Jack was a member of the Special Constabulary; in fact only a few weeks before he died he was presented with a belated long service and defence medal at a Rotary meeting. STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Burrell 3489 KING GEORGE VI being used to winch a lorry back to the highway at Minster Lovell in 1949 — a rescue described in the text. The 'quads' were used as anchors.

After the war all contracts finished and Jack was left to start again, but the increase of road traffic meant good business for the garage and petrol pumps. Between 1945 and 50 Jack purchased several steam engines. With the selling up of Willcox & Frost's threshing sets he managed to buy Marshall traction engine 15391 — the very one that was supplied new to the Eynsham Hall estate back in 1887 and

which had been looked after by his father. This engine, I think, gave Jack more pleasure of ownership than any other. He then bought a Wallis traction and a tractor with which he did some contract work for local farmers. He also ran a 10-20 International tractor. At one time he fitted a Lister diesel engine into the back of an army gun tractor and used it for baling. He also bought one of the Council's Fowler

Because of its connections with his father, Marshall traction 15391 was the engine Jack Wharton thought most of from those in his collection. It is seen here at the 1973 Fairford event. 11

KING GEORGE VI under restoration at Minster Lovell in 1949 — few road steam engines were receiving such thorough work even fifteen years on from that time.

rollers and a Foden tractor. This was later cut up and we used the boiler for heating the machine shop. When Smith Industries bought the old aerodrome Jack used the Marshall to pull up the many concrete aircraft anchors left over from wartime use. Being a time served engineer and having experience in toolmaking and modern automatic machine production machines, about this time Jack asked me to join the company. This I did and remained a director for over 30 years. Jack's aim was to build up a production plant to produce parts, mainly machine turned parts. The success of this was illustrated by the fact that the plant served nearly all major motor factories, also supplying R.A. Lister, and providing electrical parts for Switch Gear & Equipment, and W. Lucy & Co. Then there were tractor spares, many of which were exported to the USA. We also ran a maintenance department serving the local blanket factories, laundries and farmers. In the early 1950s the garage premises were modernised, as was the showroom and forecourt. The garage premises had the agency for Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG cars, BMC and Seddon lorries,

together with Perkins and Lister engines. Many petrol to diesel conversions of both lorries and tractors were undertaken. Jack's attention in his spare time was turning to steam preservation, and it was in 1951 that he bought Burrell showmans engine 3489 of 1913 KING GEORGE VI from Teddy Andrews. Some dismantling

had been done preparatory to restoration when we were called out to salvage an eight wheeler AEC which was on its side down a steep bank. Two ex-Army quads with winches couldn't move it, so the Burrell was quickly put back together and taken to the scene. It made no effort in dragging the lorry back onto

Burrell 3489 at Ducklington, Oxfordshire, on its way to Apple ford rally in 1952, and newly restored. The engine was much travelled about this time, visiting many of the early rallies in the northern home counties and around London — and all travelled to under its own steam.

the road. Just after this another lorry finished up in a boggy field minus its front axle, and as no wheeled vehicle could get near, we winched it across the field with KING GEORGE. Both these events caused quite a stir in the local press. Shortly after the engine was checked over and fully repainted for rallying. Its first public appearance was in the Witney carnival in June 1952. We also attended the first Appleford rally and in the following years went to many of the early events, always travelling under steam: Appleford, Rempstone, Kegworth, Woburn, Beaulieu ... Two of the most memorable runs were those to Wenvoe in South Wales, for a TV programme, and from Woodford Bridge, Essex through the City of London to Crystal Palace and home. The engine also appeared in the films with the Crazy Gang, Clowns in Clover, and in The Iron Maiden. It was in the early 1950s that Jack with others formed the National Traction Engine Club, of which he was President for many years until his death. He was also President of the Road Locomotive Society for a year. In 1953/54 Jack chaired a small committee to run two very successful rallies on the Witney Aerodrome, the proceeds going to the National Children's Homes. Later in the 1950s Jack decided to restore the old Marshall with the help of others. This was duly completed and had its first outing at the Royal Windsor Show. It was about this time that Jack bought the famous Fowler showmans SUPREME from Hardwicks at Ewell in Surrey. This purchase was an example of fine dealership; several were the visits to Hardwicks, Jack Wharton attempting not to show any enthusiasm for the engine but casually mentioning each time that he could be interested in it; Jack Hardwick trying to show not much inclination to sell. The final deal was done when on one visit Jack momentarily pressed a bundle of notes into Hardwick's hand and then left. The temptation of the feel of the pound notes was too great and a telephone call clinched the deal. The engine was delivered by Jesse Vines. It stood in the Minster Lovell yard for some time before the twelve year restoration started, a task completed in time for the engine to appear at the 1970 Banbury rally. Jack was a Mason and a founder member of Witney Rotary Club and he used the engine to collect monies for Rotary charities. In addition, after the death from cancer of a friend who helped run the Witney rallies back in 1953, Jack started to give to cancer STEAMING

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Jack Wharton and son John at the Fairford rally in 1972. Jack holds the award for Best Engine at Show for SUPREME; John the salver for Best Traction Engine at Show for Marshall 15391 — which provides the back piece. research and opened a bank account for that purpose. This went on for over 30 years. For his efforts in raising tens of thousands of pounds he was presented to Her Majesty the Queen at a garden party last year. Jack, in boyhood days, was a member of the Scouts, and he took interest in the movement all his life. But as an engineer there was only one word to describe his work and that was perfection. Those who have seen SUPREME will understand what is meant by this. Nothing was ever left to 'make do'. In recent years the Hook Norton Brewery consulted Jack with the view of restoring the Buxton & Thornley stationary engine that had been in daily use at the brewery since

1897. A few years ago the Corliss valves were renewed, Jack boring out the valve bores with a car engine cylinder borer and fitting oversize valves. Last year Jack decided that the complete governor and drop valve assembly should be renewed, as it was totally worn out after nearly a hundred years of use. A temporary electric drive was fixed up whilst the steam engine was out of action and the dismantled parts brought over to Witney for attention. Jack's health began to deteriorate, so I completed the work but with Jack taking close interest and coming over at each stage during the re-assembly and test running. In fact he wasn't quite satisfied with the performance and suggested 13

SUPREME — Fowler showmans 20223 of 1934 — at a low ebb in Hardwick's scrap yard at West Ewell, Surrey in 1954.

we check the valve timing and make some alterations to drop valve opening. This was just about the time that I was going on holiday. He said "Come and see me when you come back, and we'll have a talk about it." But this wasn't to he. Jack died the day before we went. It must be mentioned that during the 50 years and more that Jack and Averil were married, Averil played a very great part in supporting Jack in both his business and his other interests. She gave him her total support at all times. It is at this time whilst thinking of Jack's achievements and our loss we must think of Averil, Paula, Liz and John and of their great loss. I'm sure I speak for everyone in extending our deepest sympathy at this time.

Jack Wharton — Chairman, President and Trustee of the Banbury Steam Society Many tributes have been paid to Jack Wharton and it is perhaps roust appropriate for us to include here that from the Banbury Steam Society, Jack's local club and the one with which he especially identified. Ted Sutton prepared these words for the Banbury club's newsletter Yardsheet. Back in the fen-native yea's of Banbury Steam Society Jack Wharton played a large part in shaping our little club. It had started by an advertisement in the Banbury Guardian, placed there by Jim Russell, a professional photographer in the town and a steam enthusiast. The advertisement invited anyone interested in steam engines to a meeting at the White Lion Hotel, Banbury, with the idea of forming a steam engine club in Banbury. This was November 1966. At this meeting, the Banbury Steam Society was founded. All those who attended on that distant night were founder members, and the Officers and Committee were thus: Chairman — Jim Russell, Treasurer — Tom Gascoigne, Secretary — Frank Eatwell, Assistant Secretary — Andrew Gibbs, Committee — Brian Money, Norman

yvvaiei, Dave Goundry and John Mitchell, with George Eves taking on the task of Yardsheet Editor. With regular monthly meetings the little club grew with a steady recruitment of new members. The first Annual General Meeting was held on the 18th October, 1967 and in the November Yardsheet George Eves wrote 'Mr Jim Russell, the retiring Chairman, then nominated Mr Jack Wharton of Minster Lovell to fill the vacancy, which he accepted after a unanimous vote. He needs no introduction from me, his name being a household word wherever steam men foregather'. By October 1969 Yardsheet editor Frank Eatwell was writing: 'The AGM looms near, and looking back over the past year makes us realise what strides forward the Society has taken ... credit for this happy state of affairs is due in no small way to the wise guidance of

Chairman Jack Wharton ... his devotion to the Society is such that he has never missed a meeting (committee or general), during his term of office. This is in spite of a 50 mile round trip, sometimes in poor weather, and other duties such as the Vice President of the National Traction Engine Club, running a business and keeping his own engines in rally condition'. It was at our 1970 rally that Jack 'vVharton's engine SUPREiviE made its first rally appearance, after Jack's twelve year stint working on it was over, and the Fowler was finished. Frank Eatwell had written in the July Yardsheet: 'It would be hard for me to cap the comments on SUPREME that have appeared lately; all I can say is that to me it represents the outstanding devotion of a genuine steam enthusiast and the unselfish support of his many helpers over the years. On behalf of steam men everywhere, thank you Jack'. It was at an Extraordinary General Meeting following the AGM held in November 1975 that Jack's sure hand guided us along the road to Trust status, a move approved by all present. After the Society's AGM that took place in 1976, the Yardsheet editor was writing: 'This, our tenth AGM, was marked by the standing

Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

SUPREME restored to former splendour and posed at its birthplace — the John Fowler works at Hunslet, Leeds in 1970.

down of our Chairman of eight years, Jack Wharton ... during his term of office Jack has hardly ever missed a meeting. At all times he has given of his best for the club, especially at rally times, when he has forsaken his beloved SUPREME to toil as hard as anyone on that site, both during and after the event. By his infectious enthusiasm and example, Jack has shown us what a steam engine club is all about, and on behalf of Banbury Steam Society, may I say for all you have done for us, thank you Jack Wharton.' After his as retirement Chairman, Jack Wharton became President of Banbury Steam Society

until the AGM of 1980, when he was invited to become a life member. In more recent times Jack put in much work specifically to ensure his Marshall traction engine was ready, after its second rebuilding, to attend the Banbury society's 25th rally. Earlier he had purchased the surviving Lampitt traction engine — built in Banbury — to ensure it remained in the area. So, Jack was a member right up to the time of his death, having played a major part in the shaping of this local club. I can only repeat the rather inadequate words I wrote back in December 1976: 'for all you have done for us, thank you Jack Wharton.'

Engrossed in engineering work to the end, Jack Wharton works on the Manzell mechanical lubricator for the Hook Norton Brewery steam engine, in April 1994. STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

TECHNICAL TOPICS Forward gear, taps open .... Phil Johnson, of Hungerford, Berkshire writes: I fully agree with Esmond Kimbell's view concerning the position of an engine's reversing lever whilst in steam, but stopped, as discussed on page 134 of our Summer magazine. 'This is particularly so with regard to my own engine Clayton & Shuttleworth 7hp compound 47216. It is fitted with a brass piston valve regulator in a brass sleeve and seat in the top of the steam chest. Steam is admitted to both ends of the piston to balance the pressure, thus making movement very easy — in fact, finger and thumb control. The big snag,

however, is in keeping the piston and valve seat steam tight, for the slightest wear allows leakage of steam, and this fault causes endless trouble during hydraulic tests. The piston is fitted with a fluted pilot valve connected to the regulator rod, which opens first to allow a wisp of steam to start the crank turning; further movement pulls the piston off its seat to give more steam through gradually widening tapered holes in the sleeve. The accompanying copy of Clayton's drawing no 8544 of May 1912 shows the whole awkward arrangement. The spring loaded nut under the regulator handle quadrant is to prevent the regulator flying open. The hexagonal nut has been replaced by a wing nut on my engine. When I first obtained the machine, being unaware of the potentially dangerous movement of the regulator, I never used the lock nut until one day, when we were coupling up a water cart, it flew wide open. Fortunately, being out of gear, no harm was done and it has never happened since, but now, when in steam, the engine is always left out

of gear and blocked, lever forward, high pressure crank on stroke and drain cocks open. As a point of interest there was a tragic incident involving this type of regulator fitted to a Clayton & Shuttleworth tractor. It is described in Chapter 11 of the late Jack Hampshire's book / Worked with Traction Engines. Over the years I have considered replacing the valve and seat on 47216. Apart from some very tricky machining operations the Clayton drawing no.8518/5/6 of May 1912 gives no indication of clearances. The piston valve shows external diameter of 21/4 inches, using C&S gauge letter R, and the valve seat internal diameter as also 2 1/4 inches, using letter B. So obviously the clearances are set by the use of gauges of different tolerances during manufacture. I believe that Clayton engines fitted with the type of regulator discussed here were the 1912 design compound traction engines, road locos and tractors, of which mine appears, possibly, to be the only example left in Britain.

Problems with spokes Dave Davies of Tavistock and the Rohey Trust writes on the effectiveness (or otherwise) of a repair he had carried out to his 1914 Robey traction

1 stop valve 2 stop valve seat 3 stop valve pilot valve 4 stop valve spindle 5 stop valve spindle nut 6 stop valve cover 7 stop valve cover gland 8 stop valve coupling rod 9 stop valve hand lever 10 stop valve bracket 11 hand lever fulcrum bolt 12 hand lever stud 13 spring balance 1,1! : 1 1. „

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33348: Some of the spokes on the front wheels were loose and I contacted a local firm who assured me they could effect a suitable weld repair with little or no problem. They used a stainless steel specification rod with the usual electric arc welding technique without pre-heating the weld zone. After refitting the wheels to the engine it travelled less than a mile before it was found that two of the welds had cracked. The wheel went back and on the second attempt, using ordinary MIG welding there was a fairly substantial fillet built up instead of the usual right-angled corner where the spokes enter the hub. In general this seems to have proved satisfactory apart from in one location where the joint between a wrought iron spoke and the cast iron hub refused to 'take' at all and the repair firm admitted defeat. Looking back, I admit that at the time, the wheels were still covered in paint. There has also been several previous attempts at welding done in Ireland, the engine's previous home. There was, as a result of this, a fair amount of contamination present. Subsequent shot blasting prior to repainting revealed that the casting in the problem area had been of very poor quality, with blow holes and possibly dross in the metal when originally cast. If something is to be learned from this exercise, it must be that areas of this nature must be spotlessly clean prior to repairs being carried out and perhaps some grinding away to provide an adequate weld preparation should be undertaken. (Does any member have any similar experiences they may wish to share with us? — Hon Editor)

Exhaust Pipes Granville Oldroyd's somewhat tongue-in-cheek question on the diameter of blast pipe nozzles in the Letters secton of the Autumn issue (page 221) has brought forth interesting comment from several readers. Firstly, Philip Ogden of Thirsk's contribution: Mr Oldroyd's ingenious idea of changing his blastpipe for differing occasions could be a good idea but rather impractical and should not be necessary. I have, incidentally, seen a Canadian traction engine with different nozzles, each of which could be brought into use by turning a hand wheel on the outside of the smokebox while the machine was running.

STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Clayton & Shuttleworth 7hp compound 47216 of 1915; the engine's regulator stop valve is discussed opposite. Note also the neat rubber strakes to the rear wheels. (Roger Newbery)

about half its length, to a very shallow taper and then press firmly over the exhaust pipe orifice, having first ground or filed this so that the nozzle has about half its length showing after fitting. Should the hole in the exhaust pipe be too big, perhaps due to wastage, use a large enough socket to fill the hole, and screw into this a piece of pipe of the desired size. For good steam control it is essential that the joint between the exhaust pipe and chimney base is airtight, also the smokebox door, or you will not always be able to maintain full steam when you most need it, such as hill climbing. And if the ashpan and its door are not airtight you will have lots of steam when you don't need it, such as standing on the rally field.

However, many years ago I read in an American book that a good rule of thumb to determine the size of the exhaust nozzle is that it should have an area one twenty-fifth that of the piston. But there was no reference to what type of engine — traction or railway, single or compound. Nevertheless, I have used this method on four out of the five engines I have owned since 1960, with complete success on many long road journeys, at rallies, as well as on the belt and with all the differing types of coal we have had to use in those 35 years. The engines were Fowler compound roller 16031; Aveling single roller 8754; Burrell single traction 4032 and Burrell Gold Medal tractor 3808. The fact that two are compound and two single seems to have mattered not. Is this perhaps because though the exhaust of a compound is at lower pressure than that of a single, the volume of steam is greater? The design dimensions of a traction engine are such that no properly set and correctly fired engine will ever be short of steam because the heavier the load, the sharper is the pull of the blast on the fire and the more steam is made. By experiment over the years I find the exact size of the nozzle is not critical, and I use a piece of water pipe, about 3in long, or a pipe socket, to the nearest calculated size (under rather

Many members of the rivet counting fraternity have over the last 25 years pointed at my similar Aveling (10596 of 1923) and muttered under their breath (usually) inaccurate statements as to the authenticity of the roller, but nobody has as yet peered down the chimney whilst in steam to check the relevant orifice. If they were

than over► . Turn the outside of this, for

to look, they would find a ferrule that

Sandy Ross, from Redbourn, Hertfordshire, adds: Granville Oldroyd of Heysham (Worried of Lancs?) queries the diameter of the blastpipe on his E type Aveling.

has lurked there for, possibly, the last 50 years. Perhaps the next appearance of the rivet counter will see him inside the firebox dressed in an asbestos suit checking for stay diameters ... Maybe a Steaming agony aunt would suggest to Granville that he should check the piston valve liner and bobbins, bearing in mind that the problem might reside there rather than in the blastpipe. Some work here will transform the Aveling rampant horse from a tired old nag into a lively racehorse, so making for a happy driver. Richard Remington of Colchester comments on experiences with his Aveling roller: My D type compound — Aveling 12462 — was laid up for 20 years and purchased in stripped down condition requiring heavy rebuild. As work progressed I was often told to expect it to be a shy steamer. One D type owner told me the blower was always needed to maintain pressure when on the road. Since 12462's firebox is shorter than those on other local D types the problem could be expected to be worse. How wrong! The roller steams

freely and maintains 2001bs on the road, using rally issue domestic coal, with ease. The reason for the free steaming is in part due to the blastpipe nozzle having been restricted to a small degree by insertion of a ferrule. This gives the roller a sharper exhaust, thereby keeping the fire bright. The ferrule was fitted in commercial days. I never care much for what the purists think — the modification will therefore stay. ' Presumably Mr Oldroyd has eliminated the obvious potential causes of poor steaming, such as blocked or dirty tubes, holes in the smokebox, scale in the boiler ... Perhaps he has adjusted his firing technique and/or the spacing of firebars to suit the type

of coal being used. Worn rings could be allowing large volumes of steam to go straight up the chimney without doing much work. Given the above, I would not hesitate to improve the performance of an engine by a little fine-tuning — after all, with the choice of running a good steaming engine or a poor example, who in their right mind would opt for the latter? As for the purists, if a modification was justified in commercial days the same must hold in preservation. I for one wouldn't even consider removing a modification on the rally field to please the purists (especially as none would know it was there!) In railway loco design and construction the science of draughting

Aveling & Porter's detail drawing of the blastpipe (their description was exhaust pipe) for their single cylinder E type. This is reproduced from a much-copied print and some of the notes around the edges ere now indistinct. However, the drawing date is 2nd September 1921, indicating a completion in the earliest days of the piston valve design. According to notes on the right hand side it seems copies have been passed to 'RICH' (Ruston & Hornsby) in December 1936 and to 'Syston' (Road Rollers Ltd, Syston, near Leicester) in June 1946. The number E245 is cast into exhaust pipes on the E types — presumably different numbers were incorporated into fittings for the compound F type version and the smaller C and D types etc — and surely the dimensions would have differed too?

GAUGES REQUIRED

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was thoroughly examined, more so than in the road engine world. It was soon realised the ratio between diameters of blastpipe nozzle and chimney were critical to create the desired draught and pull on the fire. Naturally, the ashpan dampers have to be able to cope with the supply of primary air required for proper combustion. During the mammoth restoration task on the former British Railways prototype 4-6-2 71000 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER it was realised the draughting arrangements as built were wholly inadequate for an engine of its power classification. During its BR service the engine had never come up to expectations — the preservationists therefore redesigned the ashpan and dampers and fitted a double blastpipe chimney with which it should originally have been fitted. The result is a powerful, free steaming locomotive that has at last reached its design potential. The railway purists, who are far more vociferous than their road engine counterparts, have been uncharacteristically silent on 71000's modifications and transformed performance. And finally, on the subject of purism, in the few months that my Aveling has been out and about, she has rubbed shoulders with lots of fellow Rochester machines, finished in all shades of the 'authentic' Aveling green. Not wishing for 12462 to be yet another Aveling accused of being in the wrong shade she has been painted in gloss black — and looks splendid. Granville Oldroyd sums up (for the minute): I am pleased to see the useful discussion which has ensued from my original question which was, to be honest, posed more as light relief than to seek to clear up an unresolved problem that I had with my E type single 10906 of 1924. I have done considerable experimenting with regard to firebar spacing and depth of firebeds, but found that there was no improvement in steaming until the blastpipe nozzle area was reduced. During 1994 it has been discovered that having the firebed at the backplate level to the firehole door and tapering down to the tubeplate shows a marked reduction in coal consumption, with hard coal requiring a deeper fire than normal 'household'. This method presumably keeps the backhead hotter, as the action of the blast on the fire will tend to draw the hot gases towards the front of the box. The suggestion that the area of the exhaust nozzle should be 1/25 that of the piston is worthy of investigation. STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Measuring Brake Horse power We all talk about NHP, nominal horse power, which means virtually nothing. Which do you think would pull the heavier load: one of those 6nhp Burrell road locos pictured in a recent Steaming or a 7nhp agricultural engine? Exactly! So what about real power, that is brake horse power at the flywheel? I recently acquired from David Plant of Oaksey a beautifully restored small Barrows & Stewart portable engine made in about 1870. This engine typifies the first phase of portable engine design; low pressure boiler, unjacketed cylinder, exhaust pipe running inside the boiler barrel, long slender connecting rod, single bar crosshead guide and slow speed Watt governor.

I was therefore curious to know how much power it actually produced. The engine has a bore and stroke of 5 1/2 in x 9in, a working pressure of 601bs and a flywheel of 3ft 11in diameter. The illustration shows how to find out, by using a technique which goes back to the dawn of mechanical power measurement. A suitable spring balance is anchored to something really strong and its other end secured land I mean secured!) to a belt wrapped over the flywheel. Weights are hung from the free end of the belt. The engine is then run and the weight hanging on the free end of the belt is increased until the engine will only just sustain its working speed with wide open regulator. Now stop the engine and note the static reading on the spring balance; 251bs in this case. Run the engine at full power again. This time note both rpm and spring balance pull at the same time. The figures for the Barrows were 150rpm and 1251bs of pull. That's it! Now use this formula and you have the brake horse power: BHP —

3.142 xFxRxIP—p)

33000 F = dia of flywheel in feet R = rpm P = spring balance reading in lbs p = static pull from the weight in lbs The results in this case are; 3.142x3.92x 150x(125-25) 33000 = 5.6bhp

Highland Steamboat Horidays Cruise the beautiful sedochs and canals of Scotland in an original coal-fired Clyde Puffer. Good food, comfortable accommodation. •

Send large SAE for free brochure to Rachel and Nick Walker, The Change House, Crinan Ferry, Lochgdphead, Argyll PA31 8QH (Tel 054 65 232).

Elsewhere in this issue is reviewed Sentinels and Scouse, the latest video from Moonlight Productions. Sometime during the first couple of months of the new year the same combination of subjects should appear on Channel 4 TV — Uden Associates Ltd have previously made programmes for them on classic cars and classic bikes and they have now turned their attention to co FFFFFF ercial vehicles. One of the six 30 minute episodes will be devoted to steam wagons, with a portion showing Tim Clarke's Super Sentinel 5558 tractor being driven by former drivers along the Merseyside waterfront at Birkenhead Docks, and an interview with Tom Ward from Warrington. These photographs, by Jim Stevenson, show a few aspects of the filming arrangements with 5558. (The steam wagon episode should appear at 8pm, Tues 17th January).

Right — 1-ley, watch our new paintwork' — Pam Clarke looks anxious as the film crew fix lighting and cameraman's harness to the cab of the Sentinel. 20

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STEAMING

Left — View from Morpeth Dock, Birkenhead, (top) showing the famous skyline of the Liverpool waterfront across the River Mersey. The Clarke family stand with 5558, whilst a group of former Sentinel drivers — John Mycock, Eric Andrews and Frank Hemmings — reminisce about times past.

Right — Take 2. The Sentinel steams gently back and forth along the remains of Morpeth dockside, the cameraman confident in his seemingly precarious perch.

Below — The Liverpool waterfront. Cameraman, microphone man, recording engineer and Tim Clarke festoon themselves over the Super, securing film from the cab with Liverpool in the background — the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard offices and the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board headquarters.

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THE 1994 TRUST AWARDS Several of the Trust's collection of trophies were presented by the newly elected President, Eric Fillmore, at the 1994 AGM, held at the National Motoring Heritage Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire last November. This list of awards with citations, was drawn up and conducted by Dave Smith with the assistance of Andrew Semple. THE ARTHUR NAPPER TROPHY FOR TRACTIONS was awarded to the Davis Family of Astwood Bank — the earliest surviving Garrett traction 23992 LUCY has been with the Davis's for nearly three yeatsilow but this award was really made for the generous support that they provide to events local and distant by moving exhibits and plant and generally assisting wherever they can, and in setting up their own vintage stone crushing display unit. THE CURTIS BOWL — awarded to a particularly good steam roller restoration project — went to Geoff Peach of Balsall Common, Warwick. After a long and often painful experience starting in 1989, and including two new fireboxes and endless rethinks, Geoff has persevered and completed the restoration of his Aveling & Porter 12 ton compound 9347 of 1920. His workmanship is first class; a man of quiet and calm he serves as an inspiration to us all. THE EDNEY SHIELD is an award actually bought by the Club to be presented to an individual giving appreciated service to the Trust in general. John Blagg of Whitwell, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire received the Shield. A threshing contractor in his working days, he is the long time owner of the 8hp McLaren road locomotive 1421 CAPTAIN SCOTT. John has helped considerably with the NTET Driving Courses and is always at hand to give friendly advice for which the Trust is very grateful. 22

THE J.T. BEEBY TROPHY, awarded for meritorious service to the Steam Apprentices Club, was presented to Sylvia Dudley — previous chairman of the SAC and Vice-Chairman of the Trust. Sylvia is a well known, long serving and very respected member of the Trust. Her association with the Steam Apprentice Club has been a long one and the energy and enthusiasm she has poured into making it the success that it is, is gratefully recognised by the NTET through this award. THE PERCY HIRONS TROPHY is presented to the owner of an agricultural engine, on this occasion to Stuart Tomlinson of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Stuart is the young owner of Fowler A8 traction engine 12761 ELSA, which he takes by road, complete with full train, to many, many rallies spread right across the midlands and the south west. He is a very knowledgeable and responsive character to be seen anywhere there is trouble — helping out that is! THE ARTHUR NAPPER TROPHY for traction engines. This year received by Ted Freeman of Banbury, Oxfordshire. Ted is the owner of the Burrell road locomotive 3395 THE DALESMAN which he exhibits on every possible occasion in an immaculate condition. It is a great ambassador for the preservation movement. Ted is a quiet man and, like so many others, has spent years in the movement. He is always willing to lend a hand, support deserving causes and provides a warm sense of humour. The award was presented by Andrew Semple to Ted because of Andrew's long standing aquaintance with THE DAL ESIVIAN; Androvs; reflected — 'I did my steam apprenticeship on the engine'. THE JACK HOLLOWAY BOWL is awarded to someone not directly connected to the Trust, but who nevertheless maintains strong links by promoting its aims by association with other societies or groups. So, the presentation was made to Steve Arrowsmith, chairman of the Road Roller Association. Steve is a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable chairman of the RRA, a post he has held for the past three years or so. Under his stewardship the Road Roller Association continues to provide an excellent forum for those interested in the history, restoration or ownership of road rollers powered by any means. Steve became particularly well known at rallies in and around the Midlands with his Fowler roller. To demonstrate his masochistic streak he is now completely engulfed in the restoration of McLaren traction 127 of 1882.

THE CHOISY AND SIMPSON CUP is presented to someone who, having restored an engine to a particularly high standard, has continued to own it and, importantly to operate it close to its original working lifestyle. The cup was presented to Len Crane of Wolverhampton, owner of 1929 Fowler B6 crane engine 17212. What can be said about this well known Black Country figure that hasn't already been said? A real gentleman to all who meet him and a true friend to those around him. He is a member of 'Amalgamated Heavy Haulage (Midlands Divisionl', that well known entertainment organisation seen every year at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. A travelling ambassador for steam preservation he is to he found, from time to time, wandering around the continent with his crane engine. THE CONNIE HUTCHENS TROPHY — Connie was the first wife of the late Jim Hutchens and Jim wished this trophy to be awarded to a lady strongly associated with the steam preservation movement. This year the trophy was presented to Jane Crane, owner of Marshall S type 10 ton roller 79087. Being the wife of Len Crane is one thing, but being the owner and oft-time driver of this particular engine is quite another. Jane is a great example of the fellowship created by the steam preservation fraternity — a supportive wife, she can be occasionally found trying to guide the Wanderer in his endeavours. THE DACRE LACEY TROPHY — a major award made for an exceptional example of restoration work, not only for the appearance of the finished article but also for tenacity and enduiduce. The Trophy was awarded to the Prout Family of Ledbury, Hereford. A huge amount of time and a great deal of effort has been expended to effect the beautiful restoration of NANCY, the 1911 Burrell showmans road locomotive 3288. This engine was proutly exhibited for the first time at Upton on Severn last year. Despite all this work they have still found time to put so much effort into the rallies taking place around them. THE GOLDEN FILM TROPHY — another major award — is presented in recognition of long service to the Trust. It was received by Robert Oliver, a retiring member of the NTET Committee, chairman of the Steam Plough Club, and editor of Steam Plough Times. Robert has a long association with the Trust and has worked hard to ensure that the affiliated clubs arrangement has succeeded. He has been the quiet force behind many an initiative within the Winter 1994/95

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steam movement and is reckoned by some to be the driving force behind the Steam Plough Club as it is today. THE MIDDLETON TROPHY — our highest award originally donated by Eric Middleton for meritorious service to the Club. It is unusual to present an award to someone in recognition of the service of another but in this case the exception will be fully understood by all. John Wharton, past committee member of the Trust, engine owner and son of Jack Wharton our late President, was chosen to accept the trophy. John is a well known, humorous and respected member of the NTET in his own right. However, this trophy is given to John in fond remembrance of his father, Jack, a great friend and a founder member of the National Traction Engine Club — to whom we all owe an immense debt of gratitude.

OUR MAGAZINE 25 YEARS AGO

Volume 13, No 2 issue, included news of the formation of the Stoomwalsen Nederland. We were introduced to the Dutch style of rally; engines — exclusively rollers other than the odd portable — parading on streets and indulging in ring events in the cobbled squares of the chosen town. The issue marked the passing of Tom Ellis. He had joined Aveling & Porter at Rochester as a trainee draughtsman in 1926, but will be best remembered by preservation day enthusiasts for his ready and willing help in providing details from Aveling ledgers to all who enquired after the history of what they had just acquired for restoration. Shire Publications latest Discovering ... title was Harold Bonnett's offering on Traction Engines. The 56 pages cost the princely sum of 4s 6d (22% p) and the reviewer suggested at such a low cost no one should be without a copy ... 'which will last longer than a packet of cigarettes'.

'Tasker's Little Giant B2, compound steam tractor and trailer, to carry 8 tons, only been in partial use 6 months, greatly reduced price. To be seen at Cannon Street Brickworks, Hanley, Staffs.' (from Motor Traction, 24th June 1911.1 STEAMING

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WORLD'S NFAIR"' The outdoor entertainment weekly incorporating

Preservation World Place a regular order now with your newsagent for your weekly copy of the World's Fair and keep up to date with news, rally reports, club events and much more within the world of steam preservation. And if you have something to sell or an event to promote, advertise it where it will be noticed in Preservation World. For advertising and subscription details contact: The World's Fair Ltd., P.O. Box 57, Daltry Street, Oldham OL1 4BB. Telephone: 061-624 3687. Fax: 061-665 1260

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Brewers Joe Thomas When the Sentinel 6 ton steam wagon was introduced to potential purchasers in the 1905/6 period, brewers were very quick to see the advantages of its much longer body length, made possible by the vertical boiler being mounted right at the front of the chassis and the engine being placed under the body. The alternative steam wagon arrangement, with a locomotive type boiler, inevitably suffered the disadvantage of the boiler and engine taking up a large proportion of the vehicle's length, and this was especially pronounced in the earliest examples of the Foden marque. The brewing trade, needing the distribution of bulky, heavy barrels to public houses etc, were early seekers of the benefits of mechanical transport that steam wagons offered, and the Sentinel company was quick to advertise the larger carrying area that their product provided. 'The large platform and load capacity make this the best wagon for brewers.,,' the makers claimed in their catalogue of about 1912 — undoubtedly a dig at the overtype wagon manufacturers who were their sales rivals. The 13ft 6in long platform was said to be 70% of the Sentinel's length. Our knowledge of the customers of the earliest Sentinel wagons is unfortunately by no means complete, with many gaps, but it seems that no less than six out of the first nine went to brewery companies, 24

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as indeed did 24 out of the first 150 that were sold. I start my pictures with an early Standard Sentinel built in 1906 — in fact it is thought to have been the second of the first few examples off Alley & McLellan's production line at Polmadie, Glasgow, and it was registered V340 in Lanarkshire. The wagon is in use by Frank Gilman & Co of Smethwick, Birmingham, and one suspects it is on contract at the time of the picture to Mitchells & Butlers Ltd of the Cape Hill Brewery, Smethwick, though as there appears to be planking on the trailer perhaps they were off to set up at an outdoor event or the like. The image is not of the best, it having been at some time copied from a printed source, so the inscription on the front of the wagon is not fully legible — it might have been crudely added to the photographer's negative

in any case. Gilman clearly wanted someone to be aware of his venture — 'The pioneer steam haulage contractor and furniture remover ... no transhipment; road all the [way?]' reads the message. The Super model was introduced by Sentinels in 1923 after punishing trials on heavily loaded night runs with laden trailer from Shrewsbury to Glasgow and back, all against the clock — and the design was never found wanting. Three of the new engines were set up on a test bed, coupled to high loaded electric generators in the Shrewsbury works; they ran faultlessly, day and night, for three years. It was typical of the earlier Alley & McLellan habit of making sure any product worked perfectly before putting it on the market. The Super model is illustrated by an articulated version, 5219 (BC9130), new in June

AN ITALIAN CONNECTION Derek Rayner Some ten years ago, at Reggio d'Emilia in the area of central northern Italy between Milan and Bologna, an organisation known as Gruppo Amatori Macchine Agricole d'Epoca (GAMAE) was formed by a number of agricultural machinery enthusiasts. One of the founders of the group was STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

Sig. Giovanni Magnanini who is now the secretary and as a result of recent contacts with him, a number of hitherto unreported road steam engines have been 'discovered' and some have been inspected. Two of the engines are of particular interest to British enthusiasts as they represent rare or now unique

1924 to W. Everard & Co of Leicester, No 5. The trailer portion is in real brewers dray style with chains and removable stanchions, but note also the dropped frame, presumably to give the draymen a slightly easier job in loading the empty casks from pavement level. Everards brewed beer in both Leicester and Burton-on-Trent in the 1 920s, hence their claim of PRIZE BURTON ALES on the top boards of the trailer. The machine later returned to Sentinels for rebuilding, and emerged as a four wheeler on pneumatics to be sold to a new owner in Warwickshire. The DG (double geared) model from Shrewsbury is represented by a six wheel example built for Greene!! Whitley & Co Ltd of Wilderspool Brewery, Warrington, their No 18 and Sentinel's 7364 (ED5062). It was new in May 1928, being the thirtieth DG sent out. Greenalls ran a large fleet of Sentinels and we again see the traditional chains and stanchions to the body. Sentinels' final steam lorry design came in the shape of the 4-cylinder engined S models. 8838 of September 1933 (JF5024) was an S4 and left the makers with its matching trailer 8839 — both bodies again with the usual brewer's chains. It would be nice to know the colour in which Everards painted their steam wagons — I am told that in the 1950s the main colour of their drays was a rich orange, with red mudguards and red panels on which the firm's name and advertising appeared in white and gold leaf. The S4 outfit pictured (and the earlier Super) could be in such colours; can anyone comment? irdo

examples of their types. One, which is operable, is Marshall 'Gainsborough' light traction engine 57124 of 1910, owned by Sig. Franco Risi of San Giovani Persiceto near Bologna. It is of a type built only for export to the continent and the colonies. The other machine is an 1894 Clayton & Shuttleworth tandem compound traction engine (a tandem compound being one where both cylinders are in line, rather than in the conventional British style of side by side). From photographs, the engine looks untypically British since the rear wheels, which may not be the originals, are very wide and the strakes are arrow-shaped, American style, pointing towards the centre of the wheel. Further details of this interesting engine are presently awaited. In addition to these British traction engines, a collection of photographs taken locally by GAMAE 25

""eyft -meal66:_ etimitiriwi s

0 A copy picture of an Italian threshing scene, 1934. The engine is a single cylinder Marshall (not one of the light Gainsborough type), the threshing drum a Ruston. (Derek Rayner)

member Delfino Vinsani revealed three American machines are also in the area. These were made by the firm of Advance, or similar, and one was numbered 12031. During our visit, we saw Ruston Proctor portable 35190 of 1908, owned by GAMAE president, Sig. Nicolini Renzo, and also German-built Lanz portable 41201 of 1923, the latter located in a splendid agricultural museum, the Museo Macchine Agricole Anticke at San Silvestro di Curtone, near to Montoya. This museum also houses a large number of tractors and threshing machines of both Italian, English and other parentage, as well as other tarming equipment and working models. It is a lifetime's collection of the owner, Sig. Marco Zaniboni. An historic photograph which Sig. Zaniboni was pleased to show us was of a big Marshall traction engine driving a Ruston threshing machine with an Italian baler, taken in the 1930s. The engine had belonged to his father and the photo was taken on their farm. This well illustrates the inroads the Lincolnshire engine manufacturers had made into Italy — to the possible exclusion of some of the other more popular British makers. Displays of GAMAE members' equipment have been held in April for the past two years at Castelnovo di Sotto near Reggio d'Emilia. In addition to the Ruston portable and the two other somewhat remarkable English-built discoveries previously mentioned, two more portables have also been exhibited. These were a 1910 Marshall and an 1880 French 26

built machine by Anciens Ateliers Gerard of Vierzon-Cher. Enquiries made whilst in the area revealed that interest in agricultural type steam is seemingly high in this locality. This is perhaps surprising, as there were few manufacturers of traction engines in the country, Puricelli and Breda being two of them. There is apparently less interest in steam rollers. It was, nevertheless, established that one example of this type of engine, by Breda, had recently been restored in the area by its owner, GAMAE member Sig. Augusto Paluan. Further details are being sought of this machine and it is hoped that they may lead to other similar discoveries in due course. Our thanks are due to Giovanni

Ruston Proctor portable 35190 of 1908, preserved in Italy, displays the spark catcher arrangement at the base of its chimney. (Derek Rayner)

Magnanini and his family for their extensive efforts in hosting oui shot visit; to GAMAE members and the fellow enthusiasts we met whilst in Italy, and also to Alan C. Mole for the initial contact following his visit there in 1993. (Some notes on Italian manufacturers of steam engines appeared in our Summer 1991 issue.) Icy

The interesting Clayton & Shuttle worth tandem compound traction preserved in Italy. (GA MA E)

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STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

Steaming Around Compiled from members notes and reports by Derek Rayner

I was pleased to be able to act as tourist guide to Australian member Dave Mickle for part of his visit to the UK in September. Although he is no stranger to these shores, on this visit Dave managed to pack in a remarkable number of calls and took back with him a super record on video. Timing the visit to coincide with the Great Dorset Steam Fair, he also managed a couple of weeks on the Continent (and was able to see both rallies there during the last weekend in August). suite how he got from the Dampfwalzen-Club Schweiz event at Langenthal in Switzerland on the Saturday to Peter Borctol's fine chow at Bad Leer near Osnabruck in Germany on the Sunday I did not quite find out — it's clear one has to have stamina to be a steam enthusiast! Having been on the Welsh narrow gauge on the Friday after the GDSF, Dave arrived in York on Saturday morning and during the day we managed to fit in a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and a visit to John Smith's premises at Dalton where he was working on ex-New Zealand Burrell 2696 of 1904. The Harrogate area was next, where we looked at engines by Fowler, Marshall,

AVON The Bristol Docks Steam Fair, held in the summer, is an enthusiasts' delight, for not only can one see steam on the water, on rails and on the road, but entry to the event is free — a popular price! Several engines wandered out ',mound Lhe city, some venturing over the Redcliffe flyover, which apparently was not going to be there for much longer. Road run participants included Colin Wait's 28

Aveling and Wallis before heading towards Leeds for a sight of the exAustralian and very early Aveling traction engine, which made Dave feel quite at home. Sunday morning saw us in Leeds again and the Hunslet area where the Fowler Works Memorial, the site of McLaren's Airedale Works, the Hunslet Engine Company's offices and the 1858 Boyne Engine Works gateposts demanded video attention. Crossing the Pennines, a hrief call at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry to ride behind their replica Planet locomotive was a proludo to dccpcat Cheshire and the Malpas Rally, which provided Dave with considerable interest — and myself with a whole host of engines and rollers new to me. Dave told me on the way back home on the motorway, that he had enjoyed his visit to Malpas more than his longer stay at Dorset! A different style of event, a much more intimate and homely atmosphere and perhaps the most important — not too big and overwhelming. It was a steam packed weekend which we both thoroughly enjoyed. I was more than usually sorry to go back to the daily toil on Monday — I'd

1925 Foden wagon 11850 (MB9404), Keith Gamlen's 1915 Burrell showmans tractor 3631 (OR2729) and Wallis Expansion 7685 of 1919 (H05587), owned by Mike Lawrence. Rollers included Henry Collings' 1915 Aveling 8548 (AF4442), Aveling 5124 of 1902 (N0754) owned by Ford brothers and Robert Crabbe's 1927 Fowler 17501 (SY3413). The latter has more recently been offered for sale.

have much preferred to accompany Dave to Lincolnshire in pursuit of Ruston and Marshall information and thence to East Anglia for other things steam. Perhaps some other time... Sincere thanks to Dave for the opportunity of further cementing AngloAustralian relationships. I am grateful, as always, to all those who have taken the trouble to send in information for this issue. Although it is written some weeks before the festive season, when you receive the magazine that time will be past. May I therefore take this opportunity of thanking all contributors past and present and wish you all Good Steaming for 1995 — and may your engine number and date come up in the next National Lottery draw! Contributions have been received fiom the following: Ashville Vintage Club (Eire), Banbury Steam Society, Hollycornbe Steam Collection, Lancashire TEC, North Staffs & Cheshire TEC, Robey Trust, Scottish TES, Somerset TEC, Southern Counties I IVPT, Steam Apprentice Club, Steam Plough Club, Sussex Steam Engine Club, Thames Valley TEC, West of England SES and John Bainbridge, Reg Bosley, Martin Brown, Keith Bygraves, Bill Colebrook, D. Crook, David Davies, Martin Fayers, Pat Freeman, Dave Freemantle, Steph Gillett, Chris Gooch, Paul Green, Andrew Hall, Dave Hall, Robin Harding, Stuart Hart, Mrs Ann Hotherill, Peter Haywood, Richard Hemington, Margaret ('Anson, Tristan Jones, Paul Lewis. Anthony Lister, noncan Marston, Ray Matthews, Alan Porter, Chris Rhodes, Brian Rockliff, Sandy Ross, Mick Smith, Neil Smith, Alan Thomas, Barry Thirlwall, Peter Turvey, Deryk Vernon, David Wallis, Michael Watts and Kenneth Wightman — not forgetting Traction Cngine Register fur the detail references. Please note the press date for the next issue is the last day of January. Information, news and letters etc by then please to D.A. Rayner, 'Invicta', 9 Beagle Ridge Drive, Acomb, York YO2 3JH. Press dates for future issues are the last day of April and July.

BEDFORDSHIRE Over the August bank holiday weekend, a new event took place at the Shuttleworth estate at Old Warden. It was billed as 'Bedfordshire in the 1920s and 1930s' and many fE.cets of life in the county around those times were on show. Some twenty engines were at the festival, and in common with other exhibits, many were doing work they were built for in the working area. Some foreWinter 1994/95

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Off to fresh rallying pastures is Wallis & Steevens Expansion 7666 of 1919 — seen here passing the timber framed houses of Clifton, Bedfordshire on its way to the new Shefford event, held by the Bedford club in September 1994 in place of the former Roxton rally. (John Maund)

sight by the organisers meant that all modern caravans were hidden from spectators, who could see steam rolling, milling, stone crushing, threshing, chaff-cutting and a very good job of ploughing, all unencumbered by extraneous modern clutter. Surely it is time all organisers gave some thought to a higher standard of presentation of working demonstrations? Engines present at Old Warden included Betty Vickery's Aveling convertible (in tractor form) 6319 of 1907 (BP7501); Mick Maskell's 1915 Fowler agricultural 14012 (CE78181, several engines from the Saunders' collection and the Shuttleworth Trust's own engine, Clayton & Shuttleworth 5hp traction 46817 of 1914 (YA2095). Later in the season, the first Shefford Rally and Country Fayre got off to a very damp start. Paul Worbey and the Bedford club committee had assembled some very interesting exhibits for the mid September event, which replaces the long running Roxton rally. Visitors included Ted Freeman's 1912 Burrell road loco STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

3395 (FJ1536); J. Batchelor's Garrett 4CD tractor 33414 of 1919 (BJ4195), but currently carrying 'age related' registration KSU848 and in the care of Nick Le Count; the Shuttleworth Trust's Clayton and another Clayton, 47015 of 1914 (BD5483) belonging to Ted Wootton. Among the rollers present were Mark Bray's 1912 Fowler D2 13453 (EP3138), Wallis Advance roller 7963 of 1928 (OT 7939), now owned by Les Bouchier, and Aveling 12386 of 1929 (TM 4728) belonging to Chris Case.

BERKSHIRE The 1994 Knowl Hill event offered several engines in attendance for the first time. These included R. Coles' Burrell showmans GENERAL GOUGH, 3888 (NO 2379), the Saunders family's Burrell road loco 3633 of 1914 (HR7754), Sandra Marder's 1931 Fowler roller 17951 (EGP359) and Sentinel S4 wagon 9307 of 1937 (DYY134) owned by Steve Parrott, the latter doing sterling work on water cart duties.

In the expanding working area of the event, Robin Greenaway's Fowler Tiger tractor 15293 of 1919 (BN2788) was busy driving a stone crusher, Noel Greenaway's 1921 Burrell traction 3917 (TA2374) was on a rack saw bench whilst a newcomer to this area was 1920 Aveling traction 9096 (AF6001) owned by Dave Knott; this was driving another saw bench. John and May Keeley had their newly acquired Robey semi-portable 49116 (from the Penrith sale) driving a Ransomes & Pickles steam saw. Whilst on the subject of Knowl Hill, two engines at John Keeley's for major repairs this winter are Jim Sarney's 1908 Burrell road loco 3057 (3E7217), which Jim and Colin Slade are reboxing, and the other is Bob Hyett's Aveling road loco 8471 of 1914 (AF4478), dismantled for the fitting of a new back axle. At the end of September, the annual Royal Berks ploughing match took place at Littlewick Green. There were two sets of steam ploughing tackle working at the event — John and May Keeley had their three Fowlers: T1 class 14253 of 1916 (AC9589), DDS class 13910 of 1914 (AB9987) and the old 1873 single 2013 (AL8463), whilst Mick Smith 29

fielded his 1918 BB1 15164 (WR7185), ploughing with the newly acquired plough from Peter Ware. This was indeed a good day out with the engines, much like the old style rallies used to be. On the same evening, the ploughing engines were joined at the Seven Stars inn by several more engines for the local end of season drain out party. These included Bob Bicknell's Marshall traction 70321 of 1916 (UR9369) (this carries works plate 842261, Reg Dore with Bob Hyett's Aveling road loco, Malcolm Biggerstaff with 1916 Tasker tractor 1697 (SR1516) and Dave Spooner's Shay engined Aveling roller 7411 of 1912 (XP29151. Over at Mick Smith's yard, the repainting of Ruston Proctor colonial engine 44180 of 1912 has just been finished for John Paul whilst work is just starting on the pair of Fowler ploughing engines recently purchased from Peter Ware. These are BB class 14381/14382 of 1917 (NM557/558).

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Worminghall was the location of the 1994 Great Bucks Steam Working and a pleasant event it turned out to be. There were plenty of engines present including the various ploughing engines mentioned in the Berkshire notes that were operating at Littlewick Green. Also there were Phil Cherry and daughters' 1937 Aveling-Barford roller 14184 ILS39671, Steve Dean's 1917 Garrett showmans style tractor 32969 (BJ3280) and Martin Fagg's well restored 1921 Aveling roller 10048 (FX8307). Others present included Steve Parrott's 1937 Sentinel wagon 9307 (DYY134) on water tank duties and attending foi the ;list Lime, together with 1912 Wallis roller 7333 (H06341) belonging to R. Poole, which has more recently been offered for sale. Alan Frost's 1908 Ransomes traction 20760 (2891 UR), recently repainted in its original livery, was also present. A new engine to come into the area is Devon County Council owned 1929 Marshall S type roller 85106 (DV4005). A consortium of local enthusiasts including Road Roller Association committee members Paul Green, Howard Naughton and Gordon Agnew have formed the Chiltern Marshall Preservation Group, and they are now long term custodians of the roller. It has been steamed at its new home, the Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles and has had some work carried out on the brake gear and other components.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE The Haddenham rally celebrated its 30

21st anniversary in 1994 and a splendid show was put on to commemorate the occasion. Fowler ploughing engine 16053, an AA7 of 1925 1E655181, owned by the Lincolnshire Life Museum was brought to the event whilst an engine driven there was 1928 Aveling roller 12103 (SM7013) owned by Andrew and Robert Harvey. Garth Holman showed his 1929 Foster showmans style tractor 14605 (YC7165) and another interesting machine was the Sentinel owned by Sue Doncaster which is an amalgamation of parts of three Standard wagons. This goes under the works number 183 (V513). A long distance visitor from Warwickshire was Martin Shepherd with his 1931 Fowler conversion 19456 (SE3563), which had driven to the event. Examples of Burrell showmans engines were provided by the Saunders family's EX MAYOR; the Chamberlain family's DRAGON and Stan Burgess's EARL HAIG. Keith Honour's showmans style Garrett tractor 31193 of 1913 (BJ1659) was among other engines present.

CHANNEL ISLANDS Our Winter 1992/93 issue reported on an Aveling roller to be seen in Cambridge Park, St Peter Port on the island of Guernsey. 11849 of 1927 has subsequently moved on, for in spring last year it migrated to the Folk Museum in Saumarez Park. now under the care of the National Trust tut Guernsey. It is the Trust's intention to eventually restore the roller to working order but initial work, apart from removal of the scarifier, has concentrated on trying to prevent further

CHESHIRE The 23rd Annual Yesteryear Rally staged by the Malpas Vintage Machinery Association in September was another unqualified success, despite the somewhat unkind weather which restricted engine movements on the Saturday. A fine selection of equipment was assembled for visitors. Agricultural engines included Herman White's 1912 Wallis 7269 (N03343), Ransomes 26994 of 1916 (WT1271) owned by Peter Warbey, and Will Dakin's 1911 Davey Paxman 16849 (AF3373) whilst at the other end of the engine line up, rollers included Avelings of a wide variety of ages. N. Whittaker showed his 1946 built Aveling-Barford AG760 (BTL810) whilst from nearly 60 years earlier, the Anglesey Vintage Equipment Society presented their 1889 Aveling & Porter 2439 (EY1380) — a first time appearance at Malpas. This venerable roller

is fitted with a Wallis & Steevens front fork and rolls as a result of an accident a few years ago and also, somewhat curiously, carries an 1878 dated works plate. Arthur and Richard Bridge were present with their 1925 Burrell roller 4004 (Y132010), whilst Ray Matthews showed Fowler 19053 (WX7694) which started life with Yorkshire's West Riding County Council in 1931, latterly No 34 in their fleet. Wedgwood's 1934 Sentinel S4 wagon 8980 (TJ4651) was also present. An engine noted as being for sale was Aveling compound piston valve roller 10893 of 1924 (NX6283) in the Northwich area. This is owned by Mike Johnson. A roller to leave the county is 1928 8 ton Wallis Advance 7967 (01 /256) owned by Alan Painter; it has now gone to the Watford area into the ownership of Frank Dell.

CORNWALL The Cornish Tractor Club event at St Austell was the occasion for the debut of Mike James' 1926 Foden wagon 12116 (TU1215) — one of those from the King's sale. This now splendidly restored vehicle was accompanied at the event by Dave Goodwin's Burrell showmans THE GLADIATOR, Fowler road loco 11111 of 1910 (BE7988) CITY OF HULL owned by George Hawkins and John Vincent's 1912 Garrett showmans style tractor 30959 IBJ1458). Another good attendance was a feature of the West of England Society's St Agnes rally in midAugust. There was a little rain from time to time but it did not seem to deter tile visitors who came in tneir hundreds to see a very good display of engines specially assembled for the event. The engine line-up topped the 50 mark for the fifth consecutive year. A very long distance visitor was Frank Lythgoe's Burrell scenic 4030 DOLPHIN, all the way from Cheshire, whilst also there was Steve Gunn's Wallis Advance roller 8030 of 1929 (0U3787), a one time Cornwall resident when in the ownership of Steve's grandfather, the late Donald Gunn. Other visitors from Cheshire included Will Dakin with 1911 Davey Paxman traction 16849 (AF 33731 and Dave Gleave with Foden wagon 8304 of 1918 (BY7646). Clarence de la Cour brought along the Devon County Council's 1917 Green roller 1968 (TA2431I whilst also from Devon came John Woodley with 1916 Sentinel 1465 (AW33211. From closer to home, local rollers included Phyllis Pettitt's 1904 Aveling 5541 (PP581) — on its 38th appearance at a Winter 1994/95

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WESES event — and Steve Sanders 10ton 1915 Aveling compound 8585 IFH22531, which is undergoing heavy restoration and was displayed in disassembled form. Also there was Brian Wilkins' 1918 Ruston Proctor traction 52266 lCJ41781, which took away a cup for the best restored engine and, a lung way from home in Berkshire, Dave Spooner's now unique Shay engined 1912 Aveling tandem roller 7411 (XP291 51. The following weekend was August bank holiday and at the Liskeard Rally was 1920 Aveling traction 9096 (AF6001), which was returning to the area in which it spent much of its working life and preservation years. Now owned by Dave Knott from the Buckinghamshire area, the engine was new to a Liskeard owner. Peter Britchford and son Daniel have moved into the Duchy recently and are owners of Aveling roller 10718 of 1923 (NM38251. It was new to Bedfordshire County Council, being No 9 in their fleet, and will hopefully be out and about at local rallies in 1995. The Tredinnick Farm event of the Cornish Traction Preservation Club was the 34th in the series. It enjoyed some fine weather and a good turn out of engines. There was sad news that three stalwarts of previous years were unable to exhibit — Bill Lobb, Robert Hawkins and Mark Syms, a founder member of the club, had died in the past year. There were plenty of working exhibits at the show, including Dave and Judith Walker's 1922 Burrell traction 3919 (BW6030) ana Lleorge I rain's Huston Proctor traction 51737 of 1917 1E1381641. Also here was Steve Gunn's Wallis Advance 8030, Steve Buscombe's 1926 Burrell roller 4041 (U0793) and 1921 Aveling roller 10159 IN038671, now owned by Graham Viant. Clive and Marion Gibbard's 1913 Burrell showmans RAJAH drove a Noah's Ark whilst also present was Mrs Inge's 1918 Ruston Proctor tractor 52573 ITF82401 from Hampshire.

CUMBRIA The surviving Foster steam wagon 14470 of 1921 which Tom Varley repatriated from Australia in 1983 has changed hands. It has been purchased by Tom Cragg of Appleby — a partner in the recently closed Penrith Steam Museum.

DERBYSHIRE The Cromford steam rally, held again in 1994 at Brackenfield, attracted an entry of around thirty STEAMING

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engines, dominating which were the pair of former John Murphy's Fowler showmans engines RENOWN and REPULSE. Also present was Colin Brothwell's 1922 Ruston & Hornsby traction 115100 (D029531, David Eansworth's Fowler agricultural 9230 of 1902 INP30491 and Amber Valley Council's venerable Aveling roller 2957 of 1892 IMA98671. Others present included Fred Dockray's 1920 Foster showmans stye tractor 14431 IFE32171 and the two rollers — H. and

D. Palmer's 1915 Ruston Proctor 50735 (8E91431 and the Baines family's 1900 Wallis 2524 (BP85851. Engines for sale in the county have included a 5hp Fowler convertible in the Belper area — 14211 of 1914 (ELI 428) owned by J.T. Moore — and Wallis Advance roller 7943 of 1927 (0T6007) owned by Nigel Else. This latter has been sold locally and remains in north Derbyshire. A visitor to the Midland Railway Centre at Swanwick Junction near

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Butterley in October found a couple of road steam engines present. These were Amber Valley Council's Aveling roller 2957 and Marshall roller 78572 of 1925 (NR6296) belonging to Peter Wood. An Aveling-Barford motor roller was also present and it is understood that these will form part of the road vehicle section to be formed at the railway in due course.

DEVON Fowler traction 15710 of 1922 (M0780) owned by Simon Caudwell has recently been offered for sale. It was with Arthur Napper until about six years ago and is now understood to have gone up country.

DORSET The village of Chickerell near Weymouth held its annual carnival in mid August and, most unusually, the small procession featured a full size traction engine, as opposed to the miniature engine which sometimes appears. Even more surprising was the fact that the engine in question was Burrell showmans tractor 3453 of 1913 (AH0117) THE MAY owned by John Downs of Essex. It was in the area for a couple of weeks, en route to Tarrant Hinton. Speaking of the Great Dorset

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Steam Fair, it is always difficult to ascertain the total number of engines present. This year's best approximation came to 179 or 180 if one counted the Savage centre engine in the gallopers. Without doubt, the most interesting aspect of the 1994 event was the steam wagon display with no less than 39 being present, every preserved make being represented: Atkinson, Aveling, Clayton, Foster, Fowler, Garrett, Leyland, Mann's, Robey, Tasker, Thornycroft, Wallis & Steevens and Yorkshire were all displayed as well as the more numerous examples of the Foden and Sentinel marques. There were even a few parts of what is believed to be the sole surviving example of a Burrell wagon. Entries came from throughout mainland Britain — no fewer than sixteen Fodens being recorded — and 1920 Clayton & Shuttleworth tipper 48637 (MT946) and Sentinel Super 5471 of 1924 (H06314) were brought from Northern Ireland by Rory Woolf. The display of wagons was perhaps a once in a lifetime gathering — maybe never to be repeated. It may have put the majestic line up of showmans engines in the shadow for once, but at that location nothing could eclipse the first appearance of Dave Prout and son's re-creation of Burrell 3288 of 1911 (TA1118) NANCY which has been put back together using parts from another Burrell engine, 6hp crane engine 3166 JOE CHAMBERLAIN. In the roller section at Dorset there were one or two unusual machines — Mike Beale's 1925 Armstrong Whitworth 10R35 (NE2271) appeared, as well as two Babcock & Wilcox machines — Andy Selwood's 95/ 4013 of 1926 (YB5089) and 95/4014 (YB5088) of the same year owned by Michael Doherty. Both of these are normally resident in Hampshire. To complete this ABC of rolling, also there was Clayton & Shuttleworth 48751 of 1923 (YA 6182) owned by Barry Humphrys. Perhaps the furthest travelled to attend the event was Fowler showmans conversion 9177 of 1901 (AD8930) DAWN OF THE CENTURY, owned by Sandy Steele from Scotland which had a 1000 mile round trip to the event — but hard on its heels from Co Durham was John Bainbridge's Foden steam bus replica 10762 of 1922 (M6359), which was giving rides around the site. In the Friday auction were an unidentified Marshall portable (not listed in Traction Engine Register but believed to be 15011); Billy Treloar's pneumatic tyred showmans style

conversion of Aveling & Porter 14068 of 1930 (VN2092), which was not sold, and Sentinel DG 6400/8666 of 1932 (0D1572), a tar sprayer in Glossop's livery, understood to have changed hands for £24,000.

CO DURHAM Stuart Ritchie is continuing to make progress with 1912 Marshall traction 60137 and it is hoped to have it finished for the 1995 season. Likewise, B.M. Stafford's Fowler road loco 15649 of 1920 (CT3940) is expected to return to the rally fields following a major overhaul. Vince Allen is busy rebuilding 1928 Foden wagon 13156 (UR1328). Mid August saw Henry Thompson's Foden tractor 13218 of 1928 (BUP71) being roaded to Sunderland for a one day event on the seafront. Engine movements have included Foster traction 2373 of 1899 (D02050), which has gone to new engine owner, Jeff Bennison of Houghton-le-Spring. A Fowler compound from Stuart Woodbine's yard has come into the county and the ownership of P. Senall of South Shields. This is believed to be convertible 14211 of 1914 (EL1428), originally in Ireland. John Bainbridge has realised a long held ambition — to own a 3-speed Fowler road loco. He has now secured the late Jack Wakefield's Fowler showmans engine GIRLIE 13922 of 1913 (HO 5630) but in the process has had to release two other Fowlers, one of these being the magnificent Scottish crane engine, 8920 of 1901 (SG4713) , which has gone to Les Searle in Sussex. The other, A4 road loco 9279 of 1902 (SY1125), has also gone down south, into the ownership of Martin Frampton of St Albans, a new engine owner, though Martin has previously crewed on Fowler showmans CARRY ON. It is thus likely there will be another Fowler showmans on the rally rounds in 1995, for GIRLIE has apparently never been rallied. The Chester-le-Street event held in July was the last to be held on that area of Riverside Park due to redevelopment — and the event was outgrowing available space in any case. 1995 will see another area of the same park being used with potentially larger capacity to enable the event to grow more. To end on a sad note, the death has been reported of Stan Whitfield who died suddenly in August. Stan owned 1926 Marshall roller 81119 I5F5348) for a number of years before letting it go down south two years ago.

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EIRE The Aveling roller which was mentioned in the notes in the last issue and about which many things remained a mystery has now been identified. Owned by J. Wilkins of Bolermore, it has been traced to be single speed D type 11695 of 1927, which was exported to Colombo, Ceylon, when new and repatriated along with several others in 1991. A milestone was reached at the end of July when the Irish Steam Preservation Society organised their 30th annual rally at Stradbally. There were twenty-two engines present and five rollers, together with three portables, and these exhibits included one or two rarities. The oldest working engine in Ireland was there, this being 1889 Marshall 17287 (MI 19541 owned by the Rochford family, along with the Society's own 1917 Mann's tractor 1216 (U4249). Ransomes engines were popular in the Emerald Isle and no fewer than seven were at the event including Jack Doyle's 1917 6hp 27258 (IR1253). Mayo County Council's Fowler road loco 12746 of 1914 (BL8272) put in an appearance and rollers included Nicholas Tynan's 1925 Fowler 16355 (YB1226) and the recently 'discovered' Wallis Advance 8046 of 1929 (0U5346), formerly Londonderry Council and now owned by James Glynn. Tim Nagle's 1916 Marshall portable 70081 was also among those present. Mid August saw the Moynalty threshing day taking place. This very popular event drew a large crowd and engines there were John Dillon's 1904 Burrell single crank compound 2644 (IY36), J. Glynn's Ransomes traction 11412 of 1897 (F11407), H. Rowntree's 1917 McLaren agricultural 1447 (AI3164) and Clayton traction 47134 of 1915 owned by Jerry King.

ESSEX The eighth Essex Steam Rally held at Barleylands Farm Museum at the end of September was a great success with around a hundred steam engines participating, including five sets of ploughing engines. Well over a dozen entrants were making their first appearance at the event and these included Aveling tractor 7898 of 1913 (D7078), owned by Les Smith, which has been extensively repaired; A. Stiller's Fowler road loco 9456 of 1902 (KK3634); Bill Bird's 1922 Wallis Expansion traction 7690 (BJ8765) and D. Coppard's Fowler ploughing engines 15516/15517 of 1920 ICT4051/40521. Several Aveling rollers were also first time attenders — D. Bird's 1926 piston valve single 11640(TW5338) and the STEAMING

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Member Robin Cakebread kindly sends us this photograph, taken at Ashington Colliery, Northumberland in March 1952 by M.N. Bland, who worked there at the time. The roller — seemingly set up for minor boiler work or its inspection — is Rubey tandem 40690, new in May 1924 to the Ashington Coal Co Ltd. The 8 ton machine was registered FE6163 when new at Lincoln, and continued in use, by then with the nationalised NCB, until about 1959 — it was last licensed the previous year for its task of maintaining surfaces on the extensive road network around the several collieries in the group. The Ashington company had operated a wide variety of steam engines — a score or so heavy shunting engines worked a very large railway system, which featured miner's passenger trains, and a further steam roller was Clayton & Shutticworth convertible 38742 of 1906. This is nowadays preserved by Digger Lister of Warkworth, Northumberland in traction engine form. Another, somewhat unusual, 2 foot gauge railway was by steam locos and noises dttd set ved the streets of miners houses of Ashington, running down the backs to deliver coal allowances and remove nightsoil and refuse. The former task was taken over during World War 1 by the Company's three new Foden 5 ton steam wagons and these lasted until the early 1930s.

similar 11675 (RK8041) owned by N. Field, together with John Dines' 1921 former Eddison 10017 IFX83881, which also has had many years of restoration work carried out on her and just returned to the rally circuit. Another similar Aveling machine was Richard Hemington's later piston valve compound 12462 of 1929 (VB7301). Interestingly, this roller and 11675 were re-united for the first time in 30 years, having seemingly spent all their commercial lives together through three different ownerships. They in turn belonged to Stanley North & Sons, South Norwood, London (when new): then Wests (Redhill) Ltd of Croydon and finally Herbert Lewis Smith of West Thurrock, Essex. Since coming into preservation, 11675 has been widely travelled, but 12462 has remained in Essex, including a spell on school playing fields at Halstead. Also at Bei leylands was the locally kept Clayton traction 46823 of 1914 (KE4173) owned by Alan Titmarsh,

which has had a new firebox fitted recently and the Garrett Suffolk Punch tractor 33180 (BJ4483), now owned by the Long Shop Museum at Leiston which was engaged at direct traction ploughing. Two small steam ups were held close to Chelmsford with the same two engines in attendance at both, these being Alan White's 1892 Burrell traction 1606 (N025331 and Fowler roller 19546 of 1935 (SR9484), belonging to Trevor Ellis. After 13 years off the road, Dave Dale has got Garrett roller 34267 of 1924 (BJ9844) back in steam following an extensive rebuild. Only a little more work on the roller is required, such as the canopy, and then he can concentrate on a rebuild, including a new box, on his 1007 Clayton traction 39400 (CF3365). The East Anglian TES organised an end of season event at Great Chesterford and all proceeds went to the National Association of Colitis and 33

Crohn's Disease Research. Ten engines were present including Mervyn Camps' 1928 Aveling tractor 11997 (K06739); Fowler traction 10373 of 1905 (CE7922), owned by David Gowlett, and Keith Honour's 1913 Garrett showmans style tractor 31193 (BJ1659). Also in attendance was Peter Richardson's Foden timber tractor 13068 of 1928 (EU3764). Bruce Knights has been working on 1920 Aveling roller 9114 (1-1J1658) which he acquired from a Southend playground for about two years now. He expects to receive a new welded firebox shortly and then hopes to finish the main boiler work on the roller in six to nine months time. In the meantime, he has fabricated many new small parts such as control levers, gear selector forks, safety valves etc and has acquired a number of Stauffer lubricators from an old steam crane to eventually fit onto the roller. He hopes to have it in rally condition within three years.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE There were around three dozen engines at the Fairford Rally in August and these included Burrell Gold Medal showmans tractor 3497 of 1913 (H05993) owned by Jeff Shackell, 1912 Burrell road loco 3395 of 1912 (FJ1536) belonging to Ted Freeman and another of the same make, Carl Brown's 1923 roller 3956 :HT82191, which is fitted with one of the unusual Hosack scarifiers. Others present included Nigel Keene's 1904 Aveling roller 5590 (CH3282), Fowler traction 11699 of 1909 (AB9028) owned by Neville Melhuish and another traction — 1920 Foster 14418 (LVN891) which belongs to Mick Cherry. Wagons included David Last's 1928 Foden 13222 (FK3925), Sentinel 9307 of 1937 (DYY134), one of the last ones made for the home market and now owned by Steve Parrott, together with Ian Sparkes' 1933 Foden tractor 14084 (AMB300). There were torrential rains during the week prior to the 20th Stonehouse rally which meant the engines were in their restricted somewhat movements but, nevertheless, despite the poor conditions, a fair number of spectators turned up and there was lots for them to see. Traction engines there included Andrew Cox's 1929 Fowler 18539 (NM74) and Graham Cole's venerable Burrell 1426 of 1889 (AJ6705), whilst rollers included the well restored and prize winning Burrell 3956 owned by Carl Brown and Steve Birch's 1930 Aveling 14089 (YD973). Richard Hesbrook showed his now unique 1891 Gibbons & Robinson traction 959 (AY9874); also there was 34

Mike Brain's recent Fowler conversion 17077 (UW1331), built as a roller in 1927. Later in the season, in October, the Dean Forest Railway held their Autumn Transport Extravaganza at which six road engines joined a host of other exhibits for the general entertainment of the public. These included Richard Hesbrook's Gibbons & Robinson, George Train's 1917 Ruston Proctor single speed traction 51737 (EB8164) and the Jewell family's 1934 Sentinel S4 wagon 9075 (BEV467). Vic Hawkins' 1927 Marshall S type roller 82389 (U02835) was also there.

HAMPSHIRE Graham Fellows has moved from the Southampton area to Cornwall, taking with him his 1926 Marshall roller 81119 (SF5348), which came from the late Stan Whitfield of Darlington. Dicky Bird's 1926 Aveling roller 11640 (TW5338) has been to several rallies in 1994 following its long restoration. A road run from the Downs Rally to the local pub was the engine's first trip under its own steam on the road since the 1950s. Dicky also took the roller to the Barleylands event in Essex in September. This was the county in which the roller spent its working days. Colin Hancock made and fitted twelve new firebox stays and a new back axle to his 1930 Aveling roller 14035 (MW8224) during the last close season and plans to replace more stays during this winter period. The Michaelmas fair at Manor Farm Country Park, Botley was attended by three steam engines: Mike Hillary's McLaren traction 1160 of 1912 (H05570), Dave Freemantle's Aveling roller 8754 of 1916 (VN2370) and working hard driving the farm's threshing drum was Gary Olverson's 1899 Burrell traction 2250 INM94). Steam engines at 1994's Titchfield Bonfire Carnival were Stuart Maggs' Garrett showmans style tractor 32981 of 1917 (BJ3282) and three Aveling rollers — those of Colin Hancock, Dave Freemantle and Dicky Bird. Two showmans engines in the news are the Tarrant family's 1921 Burrell 3878 ISLAND CHIEF which has been advertised for sale and also another Burrell, 3651 of 1915 (HR3964) EARL KITCHENER. This latter is owned by David Fowler and it has been stripped down for major boilerwork. The work is being carried out by Bicknells. Back in the summer, the Hollycombe Collection played host to another anniversary event to celebrate the White Waltham Great Steam Fair

at John Smith's Shottesbrooke Park. This took place in 1964 and the 30th anniversary event at Hollycombe was attended by the now Sir John who declared the show open. Some of the engines and rides from Hollycombe took part in the previous event and it was good to see them present. These included David Hedgeman's Burrell showmans 3949 PRINCESS MARY; Fred Coupland's 1917 Fowler showmans 14862 EVENING STAR; Savage electric light engine 537 of 1891, belonging to the Oram family, and Peter Barker's Burrell tractor 3458 of 1913 (AB8795) DEFIANCE. The Collection's own single steam yacht, NEPTUNE, powered by 1912 Burrell 3356, was the only ride which went to the 1964 event hauled by steam. It was giving rides having, on this occasion, steam provided by Janet Rowland's 1906 Ruston Proctor portable — which also obliged in supplying steam to the gallopers and to the razzle dazzle. Whilst the crowds were not as large as at the 1964 event, the Collection's free rides after entrance policy meant that enthusiasts and public kept the rides just as busy. Another engine for sale in the county has been Bob Tarrant's 1930 Foden wagon 13716 (RP9208), well known for its earlier ownership by the late Jack Hampshire. The asking price was understood to be in the region of £70,000.

HEREFORD and WORCESTER The long awaited debut on the rally field of Burrell showmans 3288 of 1911 (TA1118) NANCY took place at the 30th Ross on Wye Steam Engine Society's rally during the summer. It was a proud moment for the Society's chairman Dave Prout, who some sixteen years ago took on the monumental job of renovating a pile of very rusty bits which others before him had baulked at. To achieve this minor miracle from the rotting hulk which had been extracted from Indian Queens, Cornwall, after some 40 years exposure to salt laden air, the remains of Burrell 6hp crane engine 3166, were located at the Swindon yard of Edwards & Sons and this provided several donor parts for NANCY. The event was held at a new location — the Ross Society's own site, which they purchased during the last close season, some 85 acres at Woodside Farm, Welland, not far from Malvern. This brave move for a traction engine club has proved so far to be extremely beneficial. Another debut, of an engine which Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

has not been seen on a rally field for nearly 30 years, was that of S.E. Davis & Son's 1918 Fowler ploughing engine 15143 (BP61271. At the Astwood Bank event it joined its one time pair, 15142 (BP6125), owned by John Collins. An engine which changed hands at the Great Dorset auction was Fowler TE2 hauling and winding engine 14950 of 1918 (VF2984). This was purchased by Gordon Williams of Hayon-Wye and this joins his 1919 Burrell traction 3794 (TA2130).

HERTFORDSHIRE Steaming has recently reported Derek Wheeler's progress with the boiler rebuild of his 1876 Shand Mason fire pump, and it has now passed the boiler test. There had previously been a setback, since by September the boiler was together again, but final expanding of the tubes was required following the initial hydraulic test unfortunately on this design of boiler this means that the firebox has to be separated from the boiler, which results in a simple job becoming difficult! A Hertfordshire engine noted a long way from home in September was Peter Williams' Aveling colonial tractor 9225 (CJ4160) CLEMENTINE, which he steamed by stages all the way from Chipperfield to the Tarrant Hinton event in Dorset. A departure from the county is Chris Lavery's 1913 Foden wagon 3510 (M4673), STEAMING Winter 1994/95

We thank Gerry Doherty for sending the above picture, given to him by the late John Harford, for use in the magazine. The Electricity Supply Board of Eire commenced construction of a Jorge new reservoir at Poulaphouca in Co Wicklow in 1937, part of a hydro-elecbic scheme, but it was eight years later in 1945 before they managed to get the turbines and other mechanical equipment shipped into Dublin, no doubt the effect of World War 2. Although the ESB had their own large American built trader la Hngers) they had nothing with which to haul it and contacted John Harford, a farmer and threshing contractor — and he got the job of moving all the machinery. There were two turbines, made up of two rotors constructed in Switzerland and four field coils made in England, and the lot was shipped in by English Electric in 1945 to the North Wall at Dublin and unloaded using the 100 ton crane that was kept there Moving the items involved a couple of runs with three engines on the front of the trailer (grossing at 85 tons) and four runs with a pair of engines. The distance was 25 miles and the three engine runs took five days. That might seem an excessive time but we do not know what the road conditions were like and the engines were all on strakes, necessitating great care. Gerry thinks he recalls Harford told him the rear engine was started first and, on the whistle signal, then the other two. The picture, taken in December 1945, shows three Burrells owned by John Harford on their way from Dublin. The leading machine is 7hp single 3765 of 1917 (A129861 NIGHTINGALE and this is followed by 8hp single 3188 of 1910 (IK8671). Third is another, but unidentified, 7hp engine (IK8670), driven by John Harford; it was a convertible engine with a heavy flange at the smokebox, but the roller parts had never been obtained. Another engine used on the Poulaphouca scheme was James Bolger's 6hp Ransomes single 23264. It was new to his father at Brannackstown, Co Kildare from the 1911 Dublin Show and in 1937/38 found itself pulling down trees, crushing stones for the new main road and then sawing timber for sleepers for the narrow gauge railway used on the site. which is well known for its long stay in the Ford Museum at Detroit, USA, resulting in the appearance of the wagon remaining in something of a time warp. The wagon has moved to Suffolk.

Bette' news is that another Wallis Advance roller has entered the county. New owner Frank Dell of Barnet has purchased 8 ton Advance 7967 of 1928 (0T7256) from the Stoke on Trent area, and steamed it locally 35

several times before the end of the year. Frank was previously a member of the steam model fraternity but will find the Wallis will not sit easily on the kitchen table! In the far north east of the county comes news that Roy Swain's little Aveling 6 ton roller 11556 of 1926 (MK6933) is now nearing the end of its boiler overhaul, and should be back in steam again in 1955. This roller was once part of the fleet of engines owned by the late Ben Taylor of Wimbish, Essex. Early October saw Ian Woollett steaming from the Chilterns over the border to the Sentinel owners' meeting at Toddington. His Sentinel 8448 (UX8724), built in 1930, was the first shaft drive wagon made by Sentinel and was the prototype for the later S types. It worked commercially for Grieve & Co of Birkenhead from 1931 until 1947, usually employed drawing a trailer. It was purchased by Ian as long ago as 1953. One of the later steam ups of the year was held at Redbournbury water mill, where ten engines met on a sunny day to enjoy the rural atmosphere of this idyllic spot. As well as the local engines, visitors included Paul Harrison of Milton Keynes with Burrell roller 4040 (TT7917), built 1926. This fine steam roller was built for the Cornish contracting firm Dingles of Stoke Climsland; the sound of the single cylinder engine climbing up out of the valley at 2001bs pressure was pure magic. Garth Holman of Cranfield arrived on his 1929 Foster showmans style tractor 14605 (YC7165). This little three speed tractor is one of the fastest steam tractors built, the journey from Redbournbury to the low loader at Friars Wash being covered at record speed. From Stanmore Ron Walker and family brought Burrell Gold Medal tractor 4072 (PH2900), built in 1927. TINKERBELL is now happily back with us again, having been off the road for over ten years while a new cylinder block was being made in addition to other major repairs. The final organised event of the year was held at The Old Chequers, Gaddesden Row, courtesy of the local Steam Owners and Drivers Club. Joining five other local engines was a surprise arrival in the shape of Ted Dyer's Burrell traction 2386 of 1901 (N0394), which had steamed from Berkhamstead crewed by Ted and Terry Pettit. For many years Gaddesden Row had been home to Bill Colebrook's Fowler AA ploughing engine 13880 (N0371), new in 1917 to Lord Rayleigh's estates in Essex. In earlier years Bill and his wife Jessie steamed 36

this engine extensively throughout Hertfordshire and further afield. After the expiry of the firebox some years ago he rebuilt the engine; now we hear that it has been sold and is moving east. Other engines noted for sale have been Burrell traction 1522 of 1891 (CF3579), owned by Colin Piggott and 1928 Wallis Advance 7963 (017939) which was priced at £12,500 including a water bowser and trailer. This latter machine belongs to Les Bouchier.

KENT Activity at the Chatham Dockyard in mid August saw David Wallis's 1914 Aveling roller 8455 (NM971) in steam. It is now laid up awaiting retubing prior to the forthcoming season.

LEICESTERSHIRE New to the engine ranks in the county is Burrell Gold Medal tractor 3786 of 1918 (PB9610), previously with Don Culley in Hampshire. The new owner is Steve Hayes who, as with his other engines, intends to road the Burrell to events. The previously straked wheels are to be fitted with rubber tyres during this winter. The engine made its local debut at the Caldecote event in early September. Still being advertised for sale is George Simpson's 1910 Burrell showmans style tractor 3220 (TB37191. The asking price for this former steam roller is in the order of £30,000 and it was to be auctioned in early November. A steam roller to be hit by the firebox bug is Aveling 7798 of 1912 (R7497). Could it be that the driver at the Market Bosworth rally, John Robins, put the fluence on the Aveling for owner David Corbett? For those who do not know, John owns Burrell traction 3126 of 1909 (BJ7155). At the Bosworth event, two rollers new to the area appeared for the first time, these being Aveling 10997 of 1924 (M03687), owned by A.H. Matthews, and R. Matthews with 1931 Fowler 19053 (WX7694), both of which loaded in from Shropshire. Despite upheaval at the Moira Welfare site, the mid-September event went ahead with all the steam engines being crammed onto the Furnace site. New to this show was 1922 Garrett roller 34084 (BJ7045) owned by John Millington from Cheshire. Jeff Goodall had Aveling traction 5065 of 1902 (5A4835) at the event; also amongst the seventeen entrants was 1930 Sentinel DG4 8381 (KF2110) owned by D.H. Stone & Co. South Croxton ploughing match

had a local engine present in the shape of Beeby Bros Fowler ploughing engine (NR1213), now believed to be 1641 of an earlier date. This was paired up with one of Michael Davies' Fowler BB1 engines from Warwickshire. At Fred Dockray's, he and the team are busily engaged on a number of projects. Two of these are nearing completion — Vaughan Wray's 1906 Ransomes agricultural 18504 (NO 6925) has its boiler work complete and everything is in red primer awaiting the final coats of paint. Another traction here is McLaren 127 of 1882 (H05618), owned by Steve and Alison Arrowsmith; this has also had its boiler work completed. Stripped down for major surgery is Arthur Henton's Burrell traction 3607 of 1914 (RT126); meanwhile Arthur's other engine is now back together again — Al!chin agricultural 1261 of 1903 (AY9878) has had a new main bearing housing cast, machined and fitted. Just arrived at Fred premises is Don Robinson's Foster showmans 14502 VICTORY. This is to have a new front half of the boiler barrel and a new smokebox.

LINCOLNSHIRE Although the organiser of the Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally, Glyn Macdonald, was perhaps somewhat disappointed not to have reached the one hundred engine mark at the event on the showground in mid August, the total number of full size engines was only two or three away from the target. It was a splendid turnout for the ninth event and bodes well for this year's tenth — where already it is understood that there will be something special for enthusiasts to see — the likes of which has never before graced an English rally field. With so many engines, Lincoln's Grand Parade took up a large amount of the afternoon's time but the spectators did not seem to mind. It was gloriously hot on both days and the event was enlivened by a large party of visitors from the Dampfwalzen-Club Schweiz (Swiss Steam Roller Club) who made a special trip just to attend the rally. Engines present included Carr brothers' Ransomes agricultural 27596 of 1919 (WR6553), D. Spearman's 1922 Burrell traction 3935 (NK4450) and Richard Parrott's venerable Burrell agricultural 748 of 1877 (CF3667). Dave Maris brought along his large Aveling roller 6340 of 1907 (E5333), whilst another Aveling was M.J. Wilson's 9102 of 1920 (N01226). Dave Ragsdale's Wallis 7740 (HO 6451) was present, now in Winter 1994/95

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tractor form; it was built as a 4 ton roller in 1925. Considerable attention was given to a late entry in the form of John Bainbridge's 1922 Foden band bus replica 10762 (M6359) which carried passengers around the rally site from time to time. Later in the year, in October, the Gainsborough Heritage Centre was opened. The centre has been formed to portray the history of the town and the Britannia Iron Works; the two are, of course, inseperable and indeed the location of the centre is at Nettleton Engineering's premises which itself occupies part of the old Britannia Works. A number of vintage tractors visited their birthplace to add to the occasion, along with three steam engines. These were P.L. Clements' agricultural 23803 (6E7795) which was last year celebrating its centenary, David Pantry's portable 35922 of 1901 from Haxey and the star of the show — the former Australian 8hp road loco 52962 of 1909 owned by Robert Coles. Local enthusiasts were very grateful to Robert for bringing this engine all the way from Dorset for this event. It is certainly many years since the walls of No 1 Yard echoed to the sound of three-speed gearing. A Marshall engine to leave the county is 7hp traction 66001 of 1914 (0S872), which moved into Lincolnshire with its owner John Hume several years ago. It had not been rallied during its residency and is now with Mr Hume's son in Sussex, who has commenced work on it. It has been in the present ownership for some 35 years. Also in October, the now annual event at Market Rasen saw thrnn engines on first time visits — 1931 Fowler road loco 19338 (RX8106) belonging to Nigel Musham; Steve Corston with Aveling convertible 15 ton roller 8679 of 1916 (BT8812) now with front wheels due to a crocked forecarriagehead, and Fowler traction 7942 of 1899 (TA626) owned by Revd Peter Green. The week before the event, in atrocious weather conditions, Richard Booty's Robey traction 42675 of 1927 (JU8198) made a fine sight as it towed Ron Vickers' threshing drum through the centre of the town to the site. Metheringham Feast had t‘-..o engines present — Jack Epton's 1939 Foster showmans tractor 14639 (BWV338) and Ruston & Hornsby traction 122160 of 1923 (EB5670), owned by Jack Quinr•.ey. The last three engines from the once large collection of Nicholson's at Faldingworth are reported to have left the premises. These were a pair of Fowler BB ploughing engines, STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Clayton & Shuttleworth 7hp traction engine 48225 of 1919 posed for the camera of John Maund at the 1991 Great Dorset Steam Fair. 13776/13777 of 1913 (BP6123/6121) and 1899 McLaren traction 682 113E74941. These are understood to have gone to P. Hanger in Dorset.

LONDON There were over a dozen engines at the 8th annual Enfield Steam and Country Show held at Trent Country Park, Cockfosters. A large contingent

from the Saunders family, including the Burrell Scenic 4000 EX MAYOR, was joined by Peter I idgett with his 1917 Aveling roller 8842 (R02590), here for the first time, Les Bouchier and son's 1928 Wallis Advance 7963 (0 T7939) and Fowler tractor 17287 of 1927 (UW1329) owned by Gordon Heeps. George Fensom presented his 1927 Burrell traction 4055 (VF12731, whilst another traction was Ray

One of the long distance visitors to the 1993 Great Dorset event was A//chin 8hp traction 1311. The 1905 built engine is presently owned in Eire but once worked with Page Bros of Chiddingly, East Sussex. (Peter Love) 37

Osborne's 1919 Wallis Expansion engine 7683 (BL795). The Retman brothers staged a sawing demonstration, with their 1920 Aveling tractor 9181 (EP1649) loading the logs and Foden traction 1294 of 1909 (110JL13) driving the sawbench.

MIDDLESEX After a season's use with 1918 Ransomes traction 27277 (DS74731, owner Peter Turvey has decided that it was a bit too large to manage single handed. In consequence he has sold the machine to John Garrod of Cambridgeshire and is now looking for a tractor or small Foden wagon to satisfy his requirements.

NORFOLK A move which will greatly enhance the scope of the Burrell museum at Thetford has been the welcome purchase by Thetford Town Council of the former Charles Burrell workshops on the opposite side of Minstergate to the existing museum. The Trustees had hoped to acquire these premises in order to expand the museum's role, but the asking price was beyond their means. With the intervention of Thetford Council, who themselves have a considerable quantity of original Burrell drawings on loan from the Road Locomotive Society, the immediate future of the historic buildings is assured. The museum was graced by another visiting engine for a period in the autumn. Stan Burgess from Cambridgeshire brought along 1924 showmans 3979 (YA9138) EARL HAIGH for a short stay and steamed the engine several times whilst it was in Thetford, much to the enjoyment of visitors who were present at the final open day at the end of October. Other engine news has included the sale by Paul Lewis of his unusual 1901 Aveling roller 4877, an R8 model which has the flywheel mounted between the hornplates. Registered YA1975, Paul sold the machine to Stuart Hart in Suffolk and has now purchased Marshall traction 69254 of 1915 (D019481 from Dick Joice. This engine was rallied for many years by the late H.J. Wyand of Kerdiston. In 1993 it had a new firebox fitted by Mervyn Mayes of Yaxham and is currently being repainted and relagged. This year will hopefully see the engine travel to and take up residence at Holkham Hall Bygones Museum to be in steam on Sundays and bank holidays during the season.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE A roller offered for sale at an asking price of £12,000 is 1912 38

The governors take the load as Wallis & Steevens Expansion engine 7683 drives the threshing drum at the 1992 Barleylands event (Roger West)

Wallis 10 ton 7333 (H06341) owned by R.G. Poole. It has only been in his ownership for a short while.

NORTHUMBERLAND A steam power display at the Stephenson Railway Museum, North Shields was held on the second weekend in September. Engines attending under their own steam were Aveling-Barford roller AH363 of 1947 (CTL225) owned by the Newcastle upon Tyne Science Museum; Michael Charlton's 1898 Burrell traction 2093 (NO68811 complete with Foster threshing machine under the watchful eye of Digger Lister, and 1922 Foden steam bus 10762 (M63591 belonging to John Bainbridge. Others present at the event were a couple more Foden wagons, B.M. Stafford's 13476 of 1929 (KX5003) and H. Wakefield's 13536 of 1930 (RY9259). Seahouses was the venue for the Northumberland Vintage Tractor Club's event in October. In attendance was George Byerley's 1913 Marshall conversion 61307 (13E7805), Derek Hubbuck's 1924 Fowler roller 16157 (DD5490) and Michael Charlton's venerable Burrell. This latter was the only engine working, driving the same owner's Foster threshing machine. Much guidance in the restoration of this engine, since it was obtained by Michael a couple of years ago, has been provided by Digger Lister who was keeping a watchful eye on it at this event. Across from Carlisle on the Sunday only came Derek Bouch's

1912 Aveling roller 7857 (SH42741. As in previous years in the county, Peter Thompson's 1934 Clayton & Shuttleworth tractor 49008 (VJ5861) has not been seen at any major steam events. Another engine not seen out for some time is Garrett traction 27341 of 1908 (BL8322), owned by Bob Arthur. One of the engines featured in last issue's In Absentia column, Aveling showmans conversion 14068 of 1930 (VN2092) HUNSLET, has recently been advertised for sale by owner Billy Treloar. The asking price was £27,000. It had, for many years, been laid up at Robert Oliver's premises since his unfortunate onset of illness. An engine to move out of the area is Fowler K7 ploughing engine 15279 of 1919 (FA1302) which was purchased from near Haltwhistle and removed to the York area by Graham Whitwell. This engine was originally owned in preservation by the late Jack Younger, a stable mate to Fowler DD class 13910 of 1914 (AB99871, until being obtained by the late Jake Johnson. Jake also owned 1907 Fowler colonial 10773, now with Billy Treloar and 1907 Foster Wellington tractor 3633 (SD527) now in the ownership of Malcolm Bell.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Earlier in the season, David Ragsdale was seen out and about with a single cylinder Wallis conversion 7740 of 1925 (H064511. This has now been sold on and replaced by Winter 1994/95

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an oil bath compound tractor from the same manufacturer, 7802 of 1924 (H06352), which was previously in the ownership of Bill Best in Kent.

SCOTLAND A roller which has recently spent some time in Scotland after coming from preservation in England is 6 tun Wallis Advance 7833 of 1925 (HO 6397). This at one time belonged to the late Robert Craig, who obtained it from Tom Varley in the late 1970s. It had not been out for some time and a few years ago underwent a major firebox re-staying exercise. The roller has now been sold to William Pringle & Sons of Carluke. Another roller on the move has been the former Perth County Council Marshall 73893 of 1921 (ES4428), which previously belonged to Mary Nichols and has now been bought back from the Aberdeen area by Mary's sone. At Summerlee Museum, Coatbridge, ten engines attended the annual steam weekend in August, with some good weather. There were three roller conversions at the event, one an Aveling-Barford, but other exhibits were Robey tandem roller 41593 of 1924 (FE6255) owned by Geoff Hayes; former Lanark County

Council Aveling tractor 9183 of 1920 (KE18) belonging to Russell Kingan — on Sunday only — and Archie Rennie's Ayr County Council 1938 Fowler roller 21636 (Cs7859). .Another Fowler roller was the immaculate 18664 of 1930 (SR7648) owned by Willie Smith, whilst Trevor Rees' 1924 Sentinel wagon 5676 (EC5927) was also present. A member passing Carrbridge noted me Landmark Visitor Centre has a Marshall portable engine on display. It is quite a large engine, in good

external condition but apparently devoid of identification such as a

worksplate. Investigations have subsequently revealed it to be Marshall 89203 of 1942, owned by Willie Smith of Kirriemuir and on loan to the Centre.

SHROPSHIRE An extremely good turn out of both visitors and engines heralded the start of a new era for the County of Salop Steam Engine Society's annual event

— now at Onslow Park, Shrewsbury. It was perhaps with some trepidation that they moved the August bank holiday rally from the Bishops Castle area but with a greater space available, fears proved groundless. There were around fifty engines and Frank Lythgoe's 'famous five' showmans engines have grown to the 'big six' with the addition of the former Penrith

STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Museum Foster ADMIRAL BEATTY. The Fowler twins were also present in the form of REPULSE and RENOWN and another engine with Cumbrian connections was the Furness family's 1934 Marshall traction 87005 (BN0519), which they bought at the Penrith auction earlier in the year. Others present included Tim Clarke's 1924 Sentinel Super tractor 5558 (PD1854) and David Goddard's Sentinel DG4 8571 of 1931 (KF 6482). This event, now even closer to Shrewsbury, would certainly not be the same without a good and representative selection of these locally made products in attendance. A visitor from further north was celebrity Fred Dibnah with 1912 Aveling roller 7632 (DM3079), whilst an agricultural engine attending the event was Herman White's 1912 Wallis traction 7269 (N03343). An engine new to the county is Fowler agricultural 15710 of 1922 (M0780). This has been purchased by Ray Matthews from Devon.

SOMERSET The theme of the Somerset TEC's rally at Langport in 1994 was taken from the summer's D-Day celebrations and featured 'Somerset in Wartime'. This seemed to draw in the crowds, a pleasant contrast to the poor attendance caused by the bad weather in 1993. Some thirty engines were present and a splendid line up noted was the reunion of three of the Foden wagons from W.J. King's of Bishops Lydeard, together again in operable condition for the first time in many years. These were Mike James' 12116 of 1926 (TU1215), Jess Walrand's 13752 of 1930 (MW8324) and 11850 of 1925 (M89404) owned by Colin Wait. Another ex-King machine also at the event was 1925 Burrell traction 4014 (TT5615) belonging to Gordon Bruce. Others present were Fred Britton's 1896 McLaren agricultural 547 IB05448); Wallis Expansion engine

7294 of 1912 (H05601) owned by Dave Dicker and Robert Crabbe's 1927 Fowler roller 17501 (5Y3413). This latter machine has subsequently been offered for sale. It was a first time visit, surprisingly, for the well travelled 1919 McLaren ploughing engine 1552 (BD5504) owned by the Daniel brothers, on this occasion with Robin in charge. News on the engine restoration front includes details of Cyril Finch's Wallis Advance 7840 of 1925 (HO 6430) which is now nearly complete, having had remedial work carried out where water seemed to have collected in the firebox corner during storage.

Cyril has been researching the engine's colour as it would appear to have been supplied by Wallis's to Fareham Council in a brown livery. In the same stable, Aveling roller 9024 of 1919 (NT20191, owned by Lew Lewis is slowly coming together after firebox work. Dave Allen's 1910 Burrell crane engine 3197 (AB8904) is now dismantled and its parts scattered (intentionally) over the Dorset/ Somerset/Avon area. Various people are helping Dave to ensure that it will not be too long before this popular Burrell is back on the road again. An engine to come into the area is Sentinel S4 wagon 9075 of 1934 (BEV467) which had been rallied in the south of England for many years by Douglas White. It is now in the ownership of Paul Jewell from near Bristol. Air event at Yeovil in October was held to raise funds for a main line steam railway servicing point at Yeovil Junction, now that the London to Exeter railway line is available for use by steam specials. Railway locomotives present included 70000 BRITANNIA and the LSWR M7 0-4-4 tank 30053 (renumbered to 30129 for the event). There was a traction engine presence in the shape of George Train's 1917 Ruston Proctor

EANS&PARTRIDGE ANN! iAl cPRINr: VINTAGE AUCTION SALE on Saturday, 13th May 1995 at Thruxton near Andover, Hampshire VINTAGE MACHINERY AND BYGONES including Steam Engines, Spares and Books Further details from

Evans & Partridge, Agriculture House, High Street, Stockbridge, I lampshire 5020 61-IF

zi• 01264 810702

The sole survivor into preservation of ten Foden showmans road locomotives that were built is 2104 PROSPECTOR. The 1910 built engine was delivered new to showman W. Shaw of Sheffield and worked with him for nearly 30 years. Picture by Eric Sawford at the 1993 Pickering event in North Yorkshire.

traction 51737 (EB8164) and two Aveling showmans style tractors — Ron Sams' 7612 of 1912 (F5218) and 8376 of 1914 (KT2828) owned by Jerry Darch. Another engine keeping railway company was Wallis Advance roller 7929 of 1927 (0T4812) which was seen by a visitor at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway at the end of October. Owned by Martin Hawkins, it was perhaps present for repairs to be carried out — or possibly just resting.

STAFFORDSHIRE Phil Jeffs has been out and about in the vicinity of the North Staffs club's Klondyke Steam Museum premises with his 1931 Fowler roller 18507 (SM8832). These trips included a visit to the Anson House Nursing Home fete where author Ken Judkins (now sadly deceased) was then resident — the visit was for his benefit. Brian Hack has suffered a setback with his recently acquired 1923 Marshall roller 76913 (PU804). What was thought to be a weepy stay turned out to indicate a thin area in the firebox. Repairs were carried out to enable the roller to carry on under reduced pressure until its current certificate expires, and quotations have been sought for a replacement firebox. Andrew Hall's 1929 Aveling roller 12081 (RF5715) returned home following its very successful northern 40

tour (without this time disturbing the Assistant Editor from labours in his office). Accompanying Andrew on this long jaunt were Tony Wilson, Richard Buck and Peter Davidson. The club's 1914 Aveling roller 8316 (E5335) went to various events in the summer under the guidance of custodian Peter Magee. It is to enter the workshops at the end of the season for firebox renewal and anything else found necessary on stripping down. The recently acquired 1917 Ruston portable engine 52074 owned by Andrew Hall has had its seized crankshaft released and the water pump freed and removed. Fortunately everything is dismantling fairly easily, a tribute to the builders who put the engine together 77 years ago. Other stripping down has been undertaken the cylinder bore looks particularly good — and the boiler is being cleaned out prior to an exploratory boiler inspection. An engine recently arrived on site at the mill is Graham Stapeley's 8 ton Aveling piston valve 10762 of 1923 (MF4008), complete with living van. Graham's work has caused him to relocate to the Derby area and depending on house hunting, the roller may become a permanent resident on site. It has recently been mentioned in the In Absentia column. Another new living van on site is a nice Eddison van of 1925 acquired by Richard Buck — all he needs now is a green thing with

a horse on the front to pull it about! In late September, Brian Hack's Marshall, Phil Jeff's Fowler and the two Avelings belonging to Andrew Hall and the Club trundled the twenty or so miles across to Shugborough for the second Harvest and Steam Fair. They were joined at the event by, among others, Ian Harvey's Fowler/ Allen 8111 of 1898 (BW4798) and the Dales' Burrell traction 2950 of 1907 (AF3532). A good time was had by all, with the different engines steaming back to Klondyke at various times over the next week or so. Klondyke's Autumn Steam Party took place in October and for the first time ever, the site's car parking space was inadequate. Visiting engines were the Dales' Burrell traction; Sentinel S4 wagon 8884 of 1933 (TJ3319), owned by Alan Williamson and crewed on this occasion by Dave Barlow and Peter Massey, and Mike Priestner's 1918 Fowler BB1 ploughing engine 15148 (CT4663).

SUFFOLK One of those friendly events worth going a long way to find is that held at Buxhall near Stowmarket. An historic fair has been held there for the last ten years or so to raise money for local charities and in 1994 there were eight engines at the event including Alan Hines' 1914 Ruston Proctor traction 49804 1E63554); a pair of Fodens, 1926 tractor 1 2300/1 3484 1LG8784), owned by Doug Williamson, and John Crawley's 1926 wagon 12364 (TW4207) crewed by Albert Fensom, together with Natal Taylor's Wallis Expansion traction 7497 of 1916 (N047101. The Ruston Proctor also attended the Cotton village open day in early October, where a host of fair organs were in play. Alan Hines was joined on this occasion by Burrell Gold Medal showmans tractor 3453 of 1913 (AH0117) THE MAY, owned by John Downs. The big event at this time of year in Suffolk is the rally held at Henham which in 1994 moved to Sibton Park, a few miles to the south of the original site and close to the village of Yoxford. Engines on display included a first time attender in the shape of the unusual 1901 Aveling roller 4877 IYA1975) which Stuart Hart had recently obtained from Paul Lewis in Norfolk. This single cylinder single speed design has the flywheel inside the hornplate with the cylinder and motion very noticeably inclined downwards to the front end. A long distance visitor was Jim Atkinson, all the way from Yorkshire, with 1918 Garrett showmans style tractor 33284 (DX3099) whilst also present, from the London Winter 1994/95

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direction, were the Retman brothers with 1909 Foden traction 1294 (110JLB), providing power for their racksaw bench. Another first time visitor was 1924 Fowler roller 16144 (ES6534), owned by Colin Timson, which was in its first season's rallying with its new owner. The Long Shop Museum at Leiston, but 10 miles from the new site, was specially opened for rally entrants on the Saturday evening. They had provided the late Billy Jeanes' 1916 Garrett 4CD tractor 32944 (BJ3206) and a 1913 Garrett living van (which came from the Biggleswade areal for display at the rally. The Leiston Museum had an end of season steam up in October where the Garrett 4CD tractor was in steam alongside the Suffolk Punch tractor 33180 of 1919 and the former Spanish roller 34265 of 1923. Stuart Hart's ui 'usual Aveling was also at the event, having found a home at Leiston, hut had suffered a minor problem on the way there from Henham when the big end bearing overheated. The last three miles were completed with the Garrett 4CD tractor pushing from behind. (/ suppose its an excuse to save coal! —

DAR). Another engine to come into the county is the remarkable Foden wagon 3510 of 1913 (M4673). This has been owned for a number of years by Chris Lavery and its external condition is very close to that of the original, for it spent many years in the Henry Ford Museum at Dearborn, USA. It is now with Duncan Marston and joins his Davey Paxman agricultural 13073 of 1907 (NK967) and his very first engine, 4hp Ransomes portable 27268 of 1917 which he has owned for almost thirty years. Duncan is a flour miller by trade and, interestingly, he used the portable at the 1994 Weeting event to drive Richard Parrott's barrel mill — a busman's holiday! Finally, a further addition to the county's engines is 1917 Fowler AA ploughing engine 13880 (N0371) which has been sold by Bill Colebrook of Luton to M. Armstrong near Bury St Edmunds.

SURREY The rally at Runnymede became almost that overnight, caused by a nearby burst water main, from which thousands of gallons of water flooded onto the site. A similar situation occurred a few years ago but with less disastrous consequences. In this instance, to prevent further loss of water, the main was turned off — which deprived the rally of any running STEAMING

Winter 1.994/95

water for toilets, engines etc. Nevertheless there were several engines standing in water up to their tenders in the middle of a flooded field. Entries at the event included Doug Wiliiamson's 1926 Foden tractor 12300/13484 (LG8784); Martin Fagg's Aveling roller 10048 (FX8307) and Anthony Heal's McLaren road loco 1652 of 1919 (WF1864). This latter engine, together with Jim Sarney's 1908 Burrell road loco 3057 (BE7217), Burrell traction 4055 of 1927 (VF1273) owned by George Fensom and Sandra Rogan's 1905 Marshall traction 43560 (BD5414) provided spectators who braved the lake with a fine display of winching, when they were called upon to rescue the Foden tractor and its sunken low loader from the sodden ground. In early August, the Redhill Steam and Country show took place with around two dozen engines listed in the programme. Those which attended included 1925 Armstrong Whitworth roller 10835 (NE2271 I owned by Mike Beales; 1923 Aveling conversion 10563 (DD2068) belonging to Richard Perkins; Richard Piarce's 1920 Fowler road loco 14754 (N0459) and John Wheeler's 1937 Aveling-Barford roller AC 606 (DTM 538). Also present was Charlie Russell's 1926 Foden tractor 12370 (TT8650) and his Allchin traction 3251 of 1925 (NU7483) ROYAL CHESTER — an engine well known in the past as prototype for many miniatures but missing from the rally fields for some years — and David

Wallis's 1914 Aveling roller 8455 (NM971). David had another Aveling roller until recently — 10269 of 1922 (PC9203) — but sold it to the Hertfordshire area in late 1993. When it left Chatham Dockyard in the spring of 1994, it was the first time the machine had ever been north of the Thames! An engine to come into the area, and the joint ownership of G. Jones and R.J. Bishop, is the Penrith Auction Foden wagon 13042 of 1927 (TP9530).

SUSSEX In mid August, the Rudgwick Rally took place and the following engines were amongst those included in the display: Fowler ploughing engine 15332 of 1919 (AL9854) owned by Terry Hand; Aveling rollers 14113 of 1931 (TM8871) belonging to Andy Caldow and 7771 of 1912 (PC90141 of Martin Howe, together with Charlie Russell's two engines, Allchin traction 3251 ROYAL CHESTER and Foden timber tractor 12370 of 1926 (TT8659). Nigel Redgrove's Marshall portable 58486 of 1912 was also present. Trevor Crabb who has been an active member of the Amherley Museum Steam Group for a number of years married in mid-August. His bride, Mary Harlierhill, was born into a 'steam' family and has been a working member of the same group for the past three years. After the service at West Chiltington they travelled to the reception in the Pepper's wagon, suit-

II could be a corner of a contractors yard in days gone by. Its Henham rally, Suffolk. at its new site at gihr nn Ha ll anrd the e.,v#1.. qu ietly raising, steprr

on the Saturday morning are Burrell 7hp single traction 4088; Garrett 6hp traction 34045 of 1922 (an unusual piston valve single) and in the background Fowler ON1 compound roller 16144. (Dave Bagley)

ably decorated and drawn by 1920 Marshall tractor 73900 (AH0823) belonging to Derek Kilburn and crewed on this occasion by Derek and Tim Beaven. Many of the guests followed in Michael Plunkett's recently restored Tilling-Stevens Thames Valley bus. After the reception, the couple, suitably attired land with Mary's Laura Ashley going away dress underneath her overalls), drove away on the Marshall with their ears echoing to the shouted good wishes of their friends and the engine's furious whistling. The Horsham Town Centre Festival at the end of October was attended by just one engine last year, this being David and Jane Hedgeman's Burrell showmans 3949 PRINCESS MARY. This was deputising for the Searle family's engines which were all under repair.

WALES The former Robert Wynn's of Newport Fowler road loco 15463 of 1920 (DW2121), which has languished for some years at Tredegar House Country Park, has been sold. The new owner is John Griffiths of Mid Glamorgan and the engine has been moved to a workshop in the Cardiff area to be put into running order. A Fowler roller which has been in Wales for some time has now had its location confirmed. For further details, please see the In Absentia column.

YORKSHIRE Some thirty engines graced the East Riding Engine Club's rally at Driffield in August. Perhaps the most interesting were a trio of road locomotives on a northern tour. These, along with Steve Corston's 1916 Aveling convertible 8679 (BT8812) and the Revd Peter Green's 1899 Fowler traction 7942 ITA6261,headed south after the rally and crossed the Humber Bridge under their own steam. Other engines at the event included locally owned Burrell single crank compound traction 3218 of 1910 (TB3959) belonging to Eric Wood; from Co Durham came John and Margaret l'Anson's 1926 Aveling roller 11558 (RM2950) and also from further north, Digger Lister's Clayton traction 38742 of 1906 (NL1216). Another Clayton was 43187 of 1911 (AH5473), owned by Stan Houseman (and recently sold), whilst an unusual sight was 1920 Aveling tractor 9354 (KE17481 owned by J. Atkinson. This tractor previously sported showmans fittings but these are now no more and the engine was displayed as a conventional tractor. Atkinson's other engine, recently acquired, was also 42

present — Garrett showmans tractor 33284 of 1918 (DX3099). At the end of the month, Harewood rally was blessed with some good weather and a move back to the old field, on the right hand side just inside the gate, heralded a far more enjoyable event both for the exhibitors and the spectators. More room, a different layout and some proper engine events organised in a competitive manner with a big cash prize at the end, gave many a sense of purpose in being there and there were one or two fresh faces present in the engine line up. These included E. Lipski's 1893 Burrell traction 1694 (MS3089) down from Scotland; Peter Clare's 1924 Sentinel Super 5665 (R55540) and Billy Treloar's Fowler Anglo-Australian traction 10773 of 1907. From over the Pennines came Delia and Richard Metcalfe with Clayton & Shuttleworth traction 48232 of 1919 (D57537). Spectators and exhibitors alike were intrigued by the interesting exhibit displayed in part completed but operational form by Irvin Barraclough.The vehicle is an ERF twin steer lorry chassis with a 100hp Sentinel locomotive boiler and engine. Although not yet wholly proven it was capable of quite a turn of speed on the field when given its head. Rollers were by five different manufacturers, with Avelings predominating. Andrew Biglands had roaded his 1908 tandem 6530 (NM291) to the event from the south whilst another Aveling, in this instance approaching from the opposite direction, was Andrew Hall's 1929 piston valve 12081 (RF5715) at the conclusion of its 200 mile northern road tour. A very much smaller event took place in North Yorkshire at the little village of Hunton in September. In 1994 it was held in a new field but the weather was rather unkind. Harry Lyon appeared with his Robinson & Auden traction 1376 of 1900 (AD 88891, suitably belted up to a threshing machine, whilst organiser David Robinson's 1902 Marshall agricultural 38024 (TA629) powered a saw bench in the capable hands of octogenarian Percy Dabbs. Others included Mick Gains-Burrill with his 1928 Aveling roller 12088 (WK5769) and Burrell tractor 4062 of 1927 (YB9360) owned by Tom Colledge. Another event was organised at the Squinting Cat, Lund House Green, Harrogate by local enthusiasts in September. The weekend brought a good selection of engines onto the pub car park including Steve Denton's 1933 6 ton Fowler roller 19190 (MVS854), Robin Knox's splendid

blue Fowler showmans 11108 DREADNOUGHT and Ian Fearnley's 1914 Mann's steam wagon 881 (TF2598). Also there was the Cambage family's Marshall traction 48341 of 1907 (TA1488). We apologise for having mispelt the family name incorrectly in the last issue. A run out to the Smiths Arms at Beckwithshaw gave the engines adequate exercise and overflying by a Tiger Moth and then a helicopter which landed on the pub car park gave everyone plenty to talk about. There was a great deal to see in the east of the county in early October when the Welwick Relics were on view at the little village just the other side of Hull. A free show this, in aid of local church charities, it brought in crowds to see the items gathered at Bernard Blashill's yard for the occasion. Bernard's 1924 Aveling roller 10991 (BC9483) was in steam as well as Hugh Gordon's 1929 similar slide valve 12502 (MW5825), but Steve Tracey's rather older 1915 6 ton single 8688 (AT1218) is still in the throes of an extensive rebuild. Hugh Gordon's machine had recently been earning its keep with some rolling. Everyone wanted to see OLD GLORY, the 1904 Clayton & Shuttleworth traction 36731 (AJ5890) owned by Vic Makey which was in steam and is coming towards the end of a thorough overhaul, whilst Fred Dockray brought along his Foster tractor 14431 of 1920 (FE3217) to join the proceedings. Threshing was demonstrated by Eric Wood's 1910 Burrell and a considerable number of motor rollers enlivened the proceedings. A couple of well restored Fowler living vans, one ex-West Riding County Council and still bearing its Fowler plate 114733), were also on display. Participants in a National Autocycle and Cyclemotor Club's event at Killamarsh in October were quite surprised when a steam engine chuffed up to the pub during their lunch stop. This turned out to be Burrell 4010 of 1925 (DD6888), a former showmans engine now in road loco form and in the ownership of Martin Burr. Martin lives locally and, coincidentally, has an interest in autocycles. It is perhaps engine changes which have been the biggest talking point recently among enthusiasts in the vicinity. Harry Denton bought Wallis traction 7155 of 1910 (M02015) from John Taylor in Sussex and brought it along to Harewood Rally where he powered a threshing machine. Ron Baker has advertised what was once a pretty little 6 ton Aveling roller 10662 of 1924 Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

I eisuswater trigIneering Ltd. ciforgirtrem !II; Al EM L.

CORNWALL

Another of the former long term derelicts from W.J. King's yard at Bishops Lydeard in Somerset took to the rally fields towards the end of the 1994 season. Mike James and friends hove completed a particularly fine job on Foden 3 way tipper 12116 of 1.926 and the wagon appeared in mint condition and dark blue and red livery at the Great Dorset event in September, where Dave Bagley took this picture.

Also, an update on Robey portables has been received, taken from notes made on engine hunting trips some time ago. In September 1987 in the centre of Stockerston village on the 8664 out of Uppingham, Leicestershire, in a farm in the centre of the village, a Robey without any identification plates was noted. Also here were a Ruston Proctor portable and a Ransomes portable. The Robey portable boiler noted in Traction Engine Register at Rushden (Northants) was observed at the 1987 Transport Cavalcade at Rushden's Hall Park. A Robey portable boiler not listed in TER was to be found in July 1988 at Derek Marder's yard at Andover, this being 51732 , which was al the very top of the yard, well away from the workshops. Any updates on the above Robeys from eagle-eyed enthusiasts would be much appreciated — the more so by The Robey Trust for whom such items hold especial interest.

ROAD ROLLER ASSOCIATION R.R.A.

(PR2045) but now sadly converted to a tractor. The asking price is now considerably lower than previously required. An engine seen on a lowloader on the outskirts of York turned out to be Burrell showmans 3878 of 1921 ISLAND CHIEF, ex Tarrants of Sussex, and heading towards a hotel in Scarborough. Another engine to come into the north Yorkshire area is from Ireland (via Scotland) and Willie Smith of Kirriemuir — howler traction 11114 of 1913 (GZ2065) is now with Wayne Ellis who has subsequently advertised for sale his 1924 Aveling roller 10905 (NX6366), formerly parked up in a Leamington Spa playground. A visitor to Graham Whitwell's yard at Stillington in mid October found the restoration of 1919 Fowler K7 ploughing engine 15279 (FA1302) well on the way to completion. This came from the Northumberland area and has since been advertised for sale. Also in the yard was the family's 1909 McLaren traction 1038 (CT4212). Curiosity about a pair of steel tyrod rear wheels which looked as though they belonged to a huge steam roller brought forth the reply that they were from Fowler B6 road loco 14115 of 1914 (XC9653) owned by John Corcoran. l he wheels were in a transition state, having been replated before being rubbered. Finally, Keith Bygraves in the south of the county has been looking for a STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

traction engine for some time now. The hawk-eyed among us spotted him on the footplate of John Machin's not often seen 1910 Fowler agricultural 12170 (WY5321) at Pickering and also, in the absence of his own Fowler roller 19353 of 1932 (YG914) at Harewood, Keith was seen around David Webster's Fowler conversion 16289 of 1924 (NL8292). He has now realised his ambition with the purchase of 1911 Clayton traction 43187 from Stan Houseman and the Fowler roller has passed to John Smith of Gowdall. The Clayton was once owned in Yorkshire by Horace Clayton of Castleford before passing in turn to Joe Duckett and then Stan.

In Absentia It is pleasing to have received further details of lost engines and I am grateful for this further information which has enabled the queries of some of our readers to be answered. Details have been received about a long lost Fowler roller which Jack Hampshire of Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury obtained from the West Riding County Council in the 1950s (their fleet number 38). It is now with 0. and M. Morgan & Sons in Dyfed. This is 16485 of 1925 (WU 2071) — it was previously in the Hertfordshire area and has been in Wales now for around ten years. It has been steamed at home recently but has not been seen in public for a number of years.

Plans are well advanced for the Association's Annual General Meeting and Weekend Convention to be held in the Sheffield area during the second weekend in March. The departure from the usual first weekend is fm good reason — one of the venues to be visited during the weekend, Abbeydale Hamlet on the Abbeydale Road in the south of the city, is staging a Steam Weekend then and it is intended to join in. There is a promise of rollers in steam. The meeting will be held in the Grosvenor House Hotel on Saturday 11th March and it is also intended to visit the Kelham Island Industrial Museum on Sunday. A roller of a different nature will be on show here: one of 12,000hp, steam powered of course, but in this instance a steel rolling mill engine which will also be in steam for demonstration. Further details can be obtained from the RRA address to be found in the Small Adverts section at the back of this magazine.

THE ROBEY TRUST The Trust have recently acquired another steam roller of the conventional 'three point' variety. This is Robey 32387 (DE2592) a 10 ton compound. It was new in 1913 and is believed to be the first steam roller built by the firm (unless anyone else 43

knows differently). Having been displayed at the 1913 Lincoln Show, it was then sold to Stevens & Son Ltd of Pembroke, South Wales and it has remained in that area until now. The roller is temporarily housed at Richard Sandercock's Milford Steam Centre in Devon. A suitable site in Tavistock has

been secured at a favourable rent for the erection of a purpose made building for the Trust's Restoration and Maintenance Centre. Planning applications etc have been submitted to the local authorities. (David Davies — chairman, 9 Churchill Road, Whitchurch, Tavistock — r 01822 615 960.)

Letters A Special Traffic Wagon Further to the above titled article on page 196 of the last issue, I now note that Aveling & Porter's List of Parts for Steam Road Rollers (1923) instructs customers sending machinery by rail to the Strood works 'to despatch them per Goods train ... Aveling & Porter Ltd, Their siding, Strood, SE&CRy'. This is the railway siding laid into the works area from the old South Eastern Railway, but, of course, the instruction adds nothing to our knowledge of the railway wagons used. Incidentally, Avelings also offered a list of convenient ports (London, Dover, Folkestone, Queenborough,

Harwich, Southampton, Newhaven) via which parts could be sent by steamer; one wonders how often it was that components from exported engines were returned to the works for attention.

Bill Briggs Roger West

Market Harborough, Leicestershire

The article in the last issue of Steaming on the LC&D Railway special wagon for heavy steam rollers was most interesting. I cannot add anything on that example but members may like to follow on the general subject in that the London &

Foden wagon 6872 sits on the LNWR trolley ready for its journey north to the customer. (collection W.A. Briggs) 44

North Western Railway had special wagons for the other end of the scale, that is, a 'steam wagon trolley'. The photograph from my collection — a copy of a Foden works print — shows number 6872, which was new on 27th December 1916 to G. & J. Weir Ltd, engineers of Glasgow. The picture was taken at the loading dock at Sandbach station, located on the 'up' side of the line, that is the west side. Points of interest are the numbered packing case (no doubt containing the wagon's tools), and the painted legend on the railway vehicle's side member, STEAM WAGON TROLLEY. I have another view which shows Foden 5314 on which one can read the wording LNWR STEAM WAGON TROLLEY TO BE RETURNED TO SANDBACH.In view of the large wagon output at Elworth at this time there no doubt was quite a fleet of these 'trolleys'. Turning to the book review of McLaren Catalogue No 32 I am afraid the reviewer's memory is in error. The Road Locomotive Society Reprint No 9, produced in 1974, was of this very same catalogue! Knutsford, Cheshire

(Yes, I plead forgetfulness — the RLS reprint sits there on the bookshelf mocking me. — Hon Editor)

The Seaford Mystery engine Can I put forward the following suggestions for the identity of the engine pictured on page 177 of the last issue. I have discussed the puzzle with Bill Love and we feel: • the fore-carriage jaw etc looks Wallis-ish, • the engine is left hand steer and 3 shaft, which suggests Wallis, • it has five rivets in each spoke palm (which I gather are in one line and not two) — this fits with Wallis practice, • the general appearance of the cylinder block follows Wallis style. We have concluded, therefore, that the engine might well be the 10hp Wallis & Steevens owned by French of Seaford, for which no works number is known. The governor looks a late addition and the flywheel brake seems, perhaps, a little home-made or at least home-modified. The smokebox too seems not quite right but it could be a replacement — or, perish the thought, mis-remembrance on our part. On balance however we favour it being French's 10hp Wallis. I might add that at first I thought it a picture of a Burrell with unofficial Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

Three company histories by Michael Lane The Story of St Nicholas Works (Burrells of Thetford)

£29

The Story of the Britannia Iron Works (Marshal's of Gainsborough) £28

The Story of the Steam Plough Works (Fowlers of Leeds)

£30

All can be autographed by the author. Please add 52.00 per book part post/parkinp, Michael R. Lane, Street House, Boxted, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (P29 4JY (Ts 01284 830264)

Past and Present showing what I consider to be the same engine. It is shown at threshing work near Lewes, Sussex when owned by A. French of Seaford. Both these illustrations show the substantial flywheel brake, the Pickering governors but the one in Beaumont's book is not good enough to allow counting of the rivets to the spoke palms. Mr Beaumont puts the engine down as 8hp but I doubt this, as there is a strap running from the hornplates around the bunker. Wallis only fitted such straps to some of their road locos and not at all to their tractions. However the forecarriage of our mystery picture engine looks pure Wallis & Steevens, though the extended smokebox is almost certainly a replacement one. Bill Martin

Buxted, East Sussex

Burrell 6 horsepowers mods. That, too, would have 3 shaft, left-hand steered and five rivets to the palms but these would have been arranged 3 and 2. Bob Whitehead

Tonbridge, Kent

With reference to the mystery picture in the Autumn issue I cannot solve the puzzle but can point out that very few single cylinder agricultural traction engines had disc flywheels with crankshaft extensions — which was presumably to take a pulley. There is a picture in Anthony Beaumont's book Traction Engines

To complete the notes commenced in the caption to Dick Blenkinsop's picture on page 7 of the Winter 1993/94 issue and continued on page 133 of the Summer 1994 magazine, I thought readers might be interested in an illustration of the only 6hp Burrell with a showland pedigree that is still as converted to a road locomotive. The picture, taken quite a few years ago before the engine was moved to undercover storage, is 3413 THE PHILADELPHIA. It was supplied new in 1912 to Joseph Smith of Shirley, Southampton and travelled with his set of gallopers until passing to Bartletts of Fordingbridge in 1933.

During the latter part of World War 2 the machine was stripped of many of the showmans fittings and put to use on general haulage and farm work with Robert Thorne Ltd, contractors at Verwood, Dorset. Pete Parrish

Salisbury, Wiltshire

Avelings' greens I am indebted to the many contributors on the subject of the correct colour of paint and lining details for certain Aveling & Porter engines. The timing of the debate, as far as my own engine is concerned, could not have been better, for I was just at the stage of decision in choosing the livery for my 1920 built BT type single cylinder. As a result of the discussions in the pages of our magazine I placed an order for both undercoat and gloss with T. & R. Williamson and to date I have been very impressed with the product and also the service received from their technical department. The contributions made by Mike Thompson were very objective and I can add that I have found traces of Deep India Red within the crankpit; I have accordingly repainted it thus, to very pleasing effect. I consider the coverage in Steaming has been an important debate on a subject that affects many owners. I hope we see more such discussions, whatever the precise subject. However I do feel that the efforts all contributors have made are in danger of being diluted by the somewhat negative comments of Miss Carney in the Letters section of the last issue. Rather than advocating a policy of 'paint your Aveling the colour you think it should be', would it not be more sensible, given her knowledge of the industry, to be promoting the shade of green produced by Williamsons (for pre 1920 engines) as a standard and thereafter work from that point. This would at least begin to reduce the many different shades of green that are being used to repaint what are, of course, very important historical engineering products. Paul Wood

Kettering, Northants

Marshall 56555

Burrell 3413 of 1912, THE PHILADELPHIA. (collection P. Parrish) STEAMING Winter 1994/95

I wonder if any readers can help me with the history of my large Marshall 14hp compound portable — I am in the final stages of restoring it, and all being well it will be rallied next year. The machine, 56555, was built in 1914, new to Southend Water Works on 7th July and one of a pair. From whatever duties it performed there it 45

went on to supply steam to greenhouses north of London. It was then laid up for several years before being bought for preservation in 1979. I purchased the engine in 1982, starting work in 1985 on what has been a long and arduous job. Many new parts have been made — new piston and valve rods, oil cups, piston rings, smokebox, chimney and base, forecarriage, ashpan, lubricator, tubes, exhaust pipe and boiler lagging and bands. If any members have knowledge of my engine's history I would be grateful if they could contact me.

above the turntable and with this number it is thought to date from the early 1920s. Does anyone have any historical records from the Eddison company (or know their whereabouts) which may reveal the actual place and date of manufacture? I would appreciate any other information relating to Eddison living vans to help me complete the careful restoration started by the previous owner. My van has at sometime lost its original makers/owners plate. I will be most grateful to hear from anyone who is prepared to loan one as a pattern for casting.

Tony Ye'land Headway Farm, Dawlish Road, Alphington, Exeter EX2 8XW (v01392 73386)

Richard Brook

Aveling railway locos In the Northamptonshire notes in the Autumn issue the whereabouts of Aveling tram locomotive 6158 is queried — the former Garrett works shunter at Leiston named SIPAPITE. The engine is, alas, entombed in a private collection of industrial railway locos near Wellington in Shropshire. I cannot say as to its present condition or how well it is stored but I fear it will not be seen in public for many a year, more is the pity. Alan Porter

Altrincham, Cheshire

Eddison living vans I have recently purchased an Eddison roller living van. It has the Roman number LXXI (71 I believe) carved onto the chassis cross member

3 Radcliffe Drive, Derby DE22 3LB

Burrell 3786 We have recently acquired Burrell Gold Medal tractor 3786 of 1918 (PB96101 and are continuing its restoration. The history so far obtained may be of interest to other members: it was new on 1st June 1918 to E. Longhurst & Sons Ltd of Epsom, Surrey, named TIGER. The colour specified on the original Burrell specification pages for the engine is 'leather' — does anyone know just what colour this was? In 1935 the tractor was converted to full showmans specification by John Beach of Sunbury-on-Thames, and he at some point named it SUNNY SOUTH (he later had another Burrell 6hp 3542 — that carried the same name). By 1939 John Beach junior was the owner of 3786; in 1942 Joseph Mayne of Hounslow, Middlesex; in 1944 Mrs Ellen Pelham of Dachet, Buckinghamshire, the engine

then being last licensed in 1946. By 1950 the tractor was with Jesse Vines of Hardwicke, Gloucestershire, still carrying the show fittings. If any reader can add anything further, however small, we would be most grateful to hear. Also if there are any photographs available for loan, especially when the machine was in the ownership of Longhursts. Steve and Linda Hayes

22 Francis Lane, Newton Burgoland, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 2SD

Sentinels on the fairground In his letter in the last issue, Peter Wells refers to several Sentinels, some by number, some not. We here at the Sentinel Register have records of those he mentions except the following: • The one said to be owned by Bartletts of Fordingbridge. There was a firm of Bartlett Bros, hauliers of Teignmouth and Exeter, but no record of Fordingbridge. • Chipperfields Circus DG6 on pneumatics which Mr Wells quotes registration MW9709 for. The highest MW Alan Duke had in his lists was MW4637 of May 1929. • John Patrick Collins, said to he running a Sentinel in Manchester. Can I ask readers to think if they can make any comments on the above. We, and I'm sure Mr Wells too, would be pleased to hear more details to aid proper identification. Joe and Anthony Thomas The Sentinel Register

Rush wick, Worcester

Published November 1994 A limited edition of 1000 copies Available only from The Road Locomotive Society Price £26 plus £2 p&p

BURRELL STYLE 1900-1932 by G.F.A. GILBERT 46

From K.S. Brothwell Foxgrove, Burnt Common Lane, Ripley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6HD

Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

Books BURRELL STYLE 1900-1932, by G.F.A. Gilbert, 266 pages casebound, 12in x8 'A in, 74 illustrations or drawings plus many other diagrams. Published October 1994 by The Road Locomotive Society, price £26.00, and available only from them — see advertisement elsewhere in this issue. There are already so many books on the subject of Burrells that before I read this book I was expecting a duplication of previous works. Burrell Style 1900-1932 is in the author's own words a 'detailed study of Burrell practice'. So called Burrell men will learn a lot from this book, but any traction engine enthusiast will be surprised at some of the revelations that Mr Gilbert has unearthed. I first met Geoff Gilbert at an early Woburn Park rally when I was a young lad; I have learnt to know him through his good work as the recently retired editor of the Road Locomotive Society Journal. His writing is honest; he gives his opinions freely, colouring other wise mundane facts. Occasionally his comments have in the past been contentious, boosting the Letters to the Editor. The man's writing style is maintained in Burrell Style 1900-1932. Geoff is the long term owner of Burrell traction 3984, which is featured in the book. He has developed a strong liking of the Thetford products. Because of this affection, I was surprised at his honesty; whilst praising all things good, he openly criticises all things wrong with Burrells. There are some classic howlers listed in Errors and Defects, which I will not describe for fear of ruining your read of this volume. From my own experience Burrell manufacture tended to revolve around the IldeksniillI shop. SiandardisatIon did not seem to be a strength. Perhaps they built engines so closely to the customers requests, that each example became individual. My father once said "Charlie Burrell would put the chimney in the tender if asked to do so". From the fundamental glossary of terms (even a detailed description of split pins) the author expands the development of the design of the STEAMING Winter 1994/95

Burrell engines. Individual parts are analysed; some being founded in the Burrell drawing office, some using patents from other manufacturers, others plainly cribbed from other engine makers. Comparisons of Burrell design to other manufacturers' design is particularly enlightening. Although in preservation we unwittingly put Burrells in the top three manufacturers, the St Nicholas Works was a tiny factory in comparison with many others. They built a full range of traction engine types and sizes, but this seems to have been achieved by contracting out a lot of

the manufacture. The list of bought out items appears in the book. The profit per engine was consequently lower at Burrells, but so too were the overheads. I have to comment that in the ever changing business market from boom to recession and depression throughout this century, I would lean towards the same business decisions in preference of large capital outlay. Marketing was a Burrell strength. The Burrell Hiring Company was no doubt a great aid to selling. It was the formation of The Agricultural & General Engineers Ltd that is frequently blamed for the downfall of Burrells. I now believe that it just brought the fateful day a little sooner. I commend this book to all members. (John Wharton)

THE PORTABLE STEAM ENGINE, Its Construction and Management, by W.D. Wansbrough. Facsimile reprint, 168 pages, card cover, 8 1A, in x 6in, 118 illustrations or diagrams. Published 1994 by TEE

Burrell Gold Medal tractor 3786 of 1918 TIGER, pictured by John Maund at The Great Dorset Steam Fair in 1992. The engine changed hands towards the end of the 19.94 rally season and is now owned in north Leicestershire.

Publishing, The Fosse, Fosse Way, Radford Semele, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 1XN, price £10.95 plus 95p postage. This facsmile reprint is a pleasing publication on a much neglected subject, for few of the now numerous books on road steam engines — those that have appeared in preservation years — have treated the humble portable in a proper manner. The title page subtitle of the volume is 'A Practical Manual for Owners and Users of Steam Engines Generally' and that sentence holds as good today as when the book was first printed in 1911, for the practical hints and details of slide valve action and indicator diagrams that comprise the latter third of the pages are applicable to many preserved machines, not just portables. Opening chapters give a history of how steam engines come to be developed into movable machines — the now familiar name of Ransomes first comes to be mentioned in 1841, but it is another ten years before the designs settle to the locomotive type boiler with cylinder over the firebox and crankshaft at the smokebox end. Following a section on contemporary practice — largely confined to boilers and fireboxes — two chapters cover-

ing single and compound machines go through the various makers' offerings. Ten firms had provided the author with information of current products, including, surprisingly, Turners of Ipswich. Fosters jibbed at giving details of their single cylinder product, claiming they were about to produce 'an entirely new type ... extremely novel'. Surviving later examples, however, don't seem so very unusual! A sign of the times was the statement of R. Hornsby (noted for the excellence of their nineteenth century portables) that they now only produced oil engines. Wansbrough first wrote his book, I understand, in the 1890s and the 1911 edition is a completely revised update. It was written as a textbook, printed on the coarse heavy paper of

the time. The inclusion of many photographic half tone illustrations would have been somewhat of a novelty but they lacked quality, and, as the present publisher acknowledges, have not taken well to further reproduction. However, many of the engine illustrations are engravings, and with these there is no problem, or with the numerous line diagrams. Copies of the original work are nowadays scarce — your reviewer recalls being told in the early 1960s by the late Tom Burton that the book could still be purchased, but the Leicester bookseller shook his head; he had had a 1930s printing on his shelves until recently but not now! I welcome this reprint and recommend it to all engine owners and enthusiasts. (Roger West)

A well equipped and finished twin-cylinder portable by Ruston Proctor & Co. The works photograph, kindly loaned by Dave Davies, was probably prepared for catalogue illustration purposes, as the engine is finished in top coat gloss paint and lining out but with copper pipe work, brass boiler bands and other brightwork coated up with whitening or similar to stifle reflection. The works plate number seems to read 1745x, the final figure indistinct. A feed water heater mounted on the far side of the firebox is not a surprising feature, but why is the machine provided with springs to front and rear axles (which necessitated a rear axle cranked under the firebox and the ashpan!) and the oddly offset chimney base casting? Comments would be welcome.

traditional fairground rides, giving a brief outline history of each. The centre section covers life on the fair where the author draws on the memories of some of those involved with fairs from the early days. Those covered include Harry Lee, Maggie Bird (nee Shufflebottom), Anna Carter, the Harris Brothers and finally Tony Spurrett, who still travels a .22 live shooter. A photographic section concludes this book. Here many of the vintage rides that are still seen on today's fairgrounds are photographed and appear with informative captions alongside. This book will be well received by those new to the fairground scene, whilst others will gain much pleasure from the excellent photographs throughout the book. (John Cook) Member K. Thomas kindly arranged with the Croydon Advertiser for us to repeat this picture, which recently appeared in their pages. It shows a Frnien 5 tonner owned by Croydon Corporation, engaged in a novel bit of tree felling sometime in 1.935. Chains and ropes are run from the rear of the chassis to the tops of the tree trunks. The wagon is works number 4304 (M5944); it went new to the lsleworth Brewery Co in February 1914 but was requisitioned by the War Department, probably when quite new. Later, its duty done, the wagon was acquired by Croydon and re-registered BY4598, serving the Borough for some fifteen years.

CATALOGUE OF LITTLE GIANT STEAM TRACTORS .... Facsimile reprint, 28 pages plus card cover, Tin x 9% n, 25 illustrations. Published 1994 by Camden Miniature Steam Services, Rode, near Bath, Somerset. Price £5.40 inc postage. This is the second reproduction catalogue to become available recently — from different publishers. The designs of Tasker's engines were often different from the norm and by the time this catalogue was originally published, probably in 1919, the B2 steam tractor in its chain drive form was a particularly distinctive machine. The engine, the subject of Hoare's Patent, had a peculiar appearance when viewed head on, for the boiler was offset from the longitudinal centre line to account for the width of the chain drive; examples to be seen on our rally fields make interesting study. The catalogue illustrates the design by drawings and photographs and also covers the more traditional gear driven B2 tractors, traction engines and steam wagons. Odd variations of the tractor design are shown by illustrations of one fitted with an under-boiler winding drum for ploughing and another fitted with a surprising amount of additional water tanks to equip it for long distance work. The steam wagons STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

pictured also exhibit several quite different mechanical layouts — perhaps an indication that Tasker's couldn't quite manage to perfect that particular product to the point of being a ready seller. The facsimile is reproduced to a high standard on quality paper and offers good value for money. The otherwise blank inside front cover has been printed by the publisher with a useful potted history of Tasker's and their place in the road steam vehicle scene. (Roger West)

JUMP ON, JUMP ON, by Brian Steptoe. 142 pages, softback cover, 10in x 8in, 73 colour illustrations. Published 19.94 by Navigator Books, Kingston, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3BJ, price £19.95. This book will be welcomed by the fairground enthusiast both new and old. It is well illustrated with over 70 colour plates, most of which have not been published before. These depict surviving examples of traditional fairground rides, shows and transport whir•.h are still being travelled around the fairs today. The first section of the book covers the origins of the pleasure fairs, and their development from the early days. It covers the makers of all types of

FAIRS AND CIRCUSES IN THE BLACK COUNTRY, by Ned Williams. 96 pages, card cover, 11 %in x 8%in, 112 illustrations. Published 1994 by the author, price £9.99. Ned Williams' latest book not only paints a picture of a vanished world, when fairs and circuses provided a welcome break for the working man from his daily routine, but through the showmen's families involved, gives a continuity to the present day and illustrates the contribution these events have made to the lives of ordinary folk. Excellent use is made of local archive material with many nostalgic illustrations. The writings of Joe Bate of Tipton, a reporter for World's Fair and a showman himself, are used to set the background. The first section deals with the fairs and its personalities, not only the legendary Pat Collins but also other well known showmen of his era. The second section is devoted to travelling shows, the bioscopes and travelling menageries, the forerunners of today's permanent zoos and modern tenting circuses. There are many stories and pictures of well known families, Bostock & Wombwell, Sangers, Chipperfields plus the American entertainers, Barnum and Bailey. (VMB)

THE AGE OF THE TRACTION ENGINE, by R.A. Whitehead. Facsimile reprint, 142 pages casebound, 9% in x 7 % in, 150 illustrations. Published 1994 by Promotional Reprint Co Ltd, price £5.00. This is a facsimile reappearance (printed in India!) of Bob Whitehead's book which was originally published in 49

the Marlborough district, perhaps typical of the activities around the grain growing areas of the South Island. The book is written as a family and social history rather than specifically on the individual engines but most of the twenty or so illustrations include road engines. They were taken in the first quarter of this century and many will be scenes of great interest to members. The book is available in

the UK from Classic Tractor Books, Low Green Farm, Hutton, Driffield, East Yorkshire Y025 9PX, price f14.45 including postage.

Just received GARRETT WAGONS, by R.A. Whitehead. As this issue was being put to the printers we received a review copy of this important new work on steam wagons from the Leiston works — being the first of a two-part work it covers Pioneers and Overtypes, The book's well illustrated 142 pages merit proper study before a review appears in our next issue, but in the meantime Garrett and steam wagon devotees can obtain copies

from the Trust's Sales Office.

After the passing of a number of years, a traction engine rally was again held at Bressingham Museum in July 1992; one of the entrants was Ruston Proctor 7hp single cylinder 34987 of 1908. (Roger West)

1970 — and remains one of the better non-technical accounts of the traction engine and its place in everyday life. In

four sections the book covers the development of agricultural and road engines; the various types of work done by them; a record of the lives of enginemen and finally engines in trouble. Although many of the illustrations have suffered in the copying (some of the too-small illustrations in the

original were not of the best reproduction), this is an excellent chance to acquire a long out of print traction engine classic at an economical price. (CB)

Also noted: THE BIG WHEELS — Old Steam Traction Days, by Ken Fairweather. This 96 page softback book is published in New Zealand and in thirteen chapters covers the history of the Fairweather family's traction engine repair business at Blenheim in 50

days. During part of its journey it can be seen towing the former Criddle tractor 168421. This particular engine now resides in a Liverpool museum,

Videos SENTINELS AND SCOUSE VHS, 55 mins running time. Produced by Moonlight Productions, 14 Arran Avenue, Sale, Cheshire, M33 3NQ. Price £18 (inc postage and packing). This video covers the 1994 Diamond Jubilee Road Run through Liverpool's Queensway Tunnel under the River Mersey. The road run comprised over 400 vehicles, ranging from motor cycles to commercials. The

video concentrates on the movement of eight Sentinel steam wagons, seven of which spent their working lives in the area. The first part of the video studies several of the Sentinels involved in the event. It then follows two of the wagons on their journey to Liverpool. The first is the Clark family's Super

tractor (5558), now carrying the green livery of Criddle & Co of Liverpool, to whom it belonged in its latter working

often unseen by the enthusiast. The second wagon covered on the open road is the ex United Africa Super 5256, owned by Barry Weatherhead, complete with trailer. The video follows its route across the Peak District from Elvaston Castle to Liverpool. The camera work throughout this journey is brilliant, showing

the wagon hard at work as it passes through some delightful scenery. The second part of the video covers the actual run from Queens Dock and through the tunnel to Birkenhead. This sequence covers all the different types of vehicles which undertook the two mile journey beneath the Mersey, including the

somewhat smokey view whilst riding on board the S4 of Andrew Wareing. The final sequence shows some of the wagons taking part in the Bishops Castle road run with, once again, excellent camera work out on the open road. The video is well produced and the commentary by Jim Stevenson gives

an excellent insight into the origins and history of the Queensway Tunnel, and the way in which Merseyside benefitted from it. (John Cook) Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

Terris F3 Culverwell (INSURANCE BROKERS) LTD

36 ST. JOHN'S STREET DEVIZES WILTSHIRE SN10 1BL TEL. 0380 729369 FAX 0380 729379 Established 1882

If we can help, please telephone

New Members A sincere weli..ume is extended to the following new members who have jofned the Truat during the last three months. We hope they will all gaM much friendship, information and enjoyment from their membership over a period of many years.

T. Youngs (family member — Janet), Devout], Church Road, Elmstead Market, Essex R.J. Feakes, Hesselyn, Hopton Road, Garboldham, Diss, Norfolk R.W.E. Taylor, Farthingale, Pockthorpe Lane. Thompson, Thetford, Norfolk D.B. Phillips, 94 Tower Road, Ware, Hertfordshire

Jurg Huber, c/o Bamaco SA, Calvaire 1, CH-1005 Lausanne,

Switzerland M. Hayes, 22 Hazelwood Meadow, Sandwich, Kent M.J. Small, 30 Pathfields, Shere, Guildford, Surrey J.W. Jeffery (family members — Betty and Timothy), Bere Farm, Winsham, Chard, Somerset R. Williams-Jones (family member — Richard), Pant Ruthin Fach

Farm, St Mary Hill, Bridgend, South Wales

J.A.H. Porteus, 59 Barrington Drive, Glebe Village, Washington, Tyne and Wear G.C. Howell, (family member — Helen), Pant-y-Ilys, Llandygwydd, Cardigan, Dyfed M.J. Needham, 3 Yew Close, Armitage, Staffordshire W. Kemball, Staverton House, Wantisden, Woodbridge, Suffolk

W.H. Bennett, 9 Montana Avenue, Perry Barr, Birmingham J. Fairall (family members — John, Iris and Paul), 36 New Road,

Southbourne, Emsworth, Hampshire M. Robertson, Flatholm Farm, Penylan, Besseleg, Newport,

Gwent

J. King, 60 North Street, Nazeing, Essex C.M. Eves, 10 Coastal Road, Burniston, Scarborough, Yorkshire R. Cronin, 12 Duncannon Crescent, Windsor, Berkshire S. Cambage, Willowgarth, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge, Yorkshire Hayes Plant Hire, Hollis Farm, Holmegate Road, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, Derbyshire P.D. Pickering, 52 Lockyers Way, Lytchett Matravers, Poole, Dorset

STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

We are registered insurance brokers who pride ourselves on giving personal service to all our clients. We arrange insurance for motor vehicles, houses, life, medical cover, liability, etc. Traction Engine insurance inspection and/or comprehensive insurance

Small Adverts Small advertisements for Ovate SALES, WANTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS, and appertaining to road steam engines and their associated equipment (inc. items suitable for their

maintenance and support), are free of charge to National TratrInn Fngine Trust members, Subject to a maximum of 75 words. excluding name, address and telephone number. Advertisements should be written clearly and concisely, and to ensure publication must be accompanied by the advertiser's NTET membership number. Non-members rates for small adverts are 20p per word, with a minimum charge of £3.00, payable in advance. Members wishing to use these columns for trade purposes may do so at 10p per word, minimum charge [3.00, payable in

advance. All cheques to be made payable to National Traction Engine Trust. 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 OF EACH ISSUE FOR PRESS DATE. For sale — rubber strakes for traction engines. The best solution yet for the rubbering of rear wheels. Details and photographs from Dave Davies, 9 Churchill Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 9BU (mr 0822 615960).

Fusible plugs, as new and unused, NBAC 1in bsp, cat. ref. Fig 5, Size 0, £25 each posted (half normal price). — Dave Davies, address as above advert. Quantity of Robey catalogues surplus to requirements: Drop valve steam and electric winders; parts books for tandem rollers, portables etc — Dave Davies, address as above advert. For sale — original Marshall Britannia; ditto round plate; original Burrell smokebox door AGE plate; original traction spring mounted rear lamp; Fowler roller headstock brass plate (oblong); Garrett tractor brass plate for front of dynamo platform; Garrett panther; Sentinel 5 ton wagon brass plate; unusual Fowier•type bell whistle, 12in high, original; Manze( lubricator; Y2in injector; traction, steam and water valves; Foster drive pin. — is 021 501 3190. 51

Aveling & Porter single cylinder 10 ton roller 6847 of 1909 at the Heath field, Sussex event in September 1992. (John Mound)

Road Roller Association — for all who are interested in steam or motor rollers, road making machines, practices and history. Quarterly journal ROLLING. Subscription £10.00 per year. — Membership Secretary, Dave Crampton, 6 Norwood Close, Mackworth, Derby DE3 4GA.

For sale — flat belting; Alligator belt fasteners; vee belts; chain sprockets; ball and roller bearings. — A.C. Belting, 58 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester (Tr. 01452 410968).

Wanted — Fowler winching eye to fit on front axle of A8 engine. Or one to use as pattern for copy. If you can help please Tr 0203 349724. Wanted — Steam Traction Engineering (Eighinger & Hutton); Frick Century of Engineering Service; Canadian Steam Engine Album; Dampfromler & Lokomobiler i Danmark; The Portable Steam Engine Cinderella; Fighting Fire with Fire (Peckham). — M.A. Poole, 89 Glebelands, Pulborough, West Sussex RH2O 2JH.

For sale — aluminium hydrant stand pipe, £25. Blank cast iron pistons, 8in od, 2%in thick, also oversized, unmachined, all £10 each. — Brian Allison (Tr 0948 710657 north Shropshire). For sale — Wallis & Steevens 10 ton single roller 7333, built 1912 STAR. Restored 1992, full boiler report, ready to rally in 1995. New set of fire bars and other spares etc, also four iron wheeled watercart. Transport available. Very nice looking engine, guide price £10000. Enquiries to R.G. Poole, tr 0327 77326, Northants, For sale — original 35mm colour slides of t.e. subjects from my own collection. Over 360 good quality slides featuring all engine types and some railway books. Price 25p per slide plus postage, reduction for quantity purchase. SAE for list; slides sent on approval to members. Would consider exchange or p.e. for my required back numbers of Steaming, RLS Journals, t.e. books, or model t.e. kits. — B. Thirlwall, 21 Ringstead Crescent, Overcombe, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 6PT (17 0305 832001 evenings). For sale — 1905 Aveling & Porter 10 ton compound roller with current boiler certificate. Ready to rally condition. £11500 ono — a 0726 812060. Books — road and stationary steam — rare/out of print list, 8 pages, £2.00. — Ray Roberts (Booksellers), Whiston Hall, Penkridge, Staffs ST19 50H (Tr/Fax 0785 712232). For sale — autographed copies of The Story of St Nicholas Works (Burrells), £29.00; The Story of the Britannia Iron Works (MarshaIls), £28.00; The Story of the Steam Plough Works (Fowlers), £30.00. Please add £2.00 per book part packing/postage. — Michael R. Lane, Street House, Boxted, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP29 4JY la 0284 830264). 52

Wanted — four traction engine wagon springs, 3in wide, approx 44in long. — 27 0209 713169. Wanted — 3%in pulley for Pickering governor. — M. Watts, IT 0462 813543. To sell — 12 ton steam roller, the last engine built by John Fowler of Leeds in 1937, number 22596, in original condition. Hydraulic test 1993 and new tubes, operating to full 200Ibs. — (Tr 0752 690221 after 7pm). Wanted — pre-1904 steam car, any make, any condition. — (a 0752 690221 after 7pm). Wanted — steam siren suitable for steam wagon, also copies of Sentinel Transport News, especially 1927 or anything Sentinel. — W. Goacher, Lodge Farm Cottage, Padsbrook Lane, Elmstone, Wingham, Canterbury CT3 1HF (Tr 0227 722569). Wanted — Burrell water pump for the North Staffs club's 6hp s.c.c, Devonshire traction engine. — Richard Buck, Tr 0332 347986. For sale — Clayton & Shuttleworth, Steam Traction Engines Catalogue No 94, 44pp, £85; Marshall Steam Road Rollers No 1503, 1925, 24pp, £60; Marshall Duplicate Wearing Parts of Road Rollers, Class S, £50; Savages Traction and Portable Engines, 1905, 74pp, £75. All in good order but some signs of wear. — A.C. Mole, Spa Farm Cottage, Dorton, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 9NE la 0844 238305). Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

For sale - purpose built single axle coal/water cart, £300; set of twisted brass columns from Burrell 3497, £250; 24 no 1%in boiler tubes approx 4ft 4in long, £100; Fowler T3 roller headstock, £50; set of steel spuds for engine, £25. - •zr 0993 703375 or 773088 evenings (Witney). For sale - one set heavy brass water gauge fittings '/ in bsp tapping, £75; '/ in Penberthy injectors; Aveling 10ton roller axle boxes; 2nd shaft sliding pinions; Aveling & Porter spares honk issued with 10905 when new; two steering wheels, 21in diameter, believed Fnden; Merryweather firehose branch fitted Vein nozzles, new; Fowler Duplicate spares book for traction engines, rollers and trailers; boiler tube extracting tools; various sizes Klinger watergange glasses; Penherthy spares; Record 6in machine vice; steel tube brushes; tube brush and rod. L.J. Lambe, 84 Redditch Road, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove B60 4JR (v 0527 831398). Wanted - Kirkstall double drive real axles to fit shaft drive Sentinel S model, single spring type, 40 inch chassis width with 48in wheel centres with lever brakes. - v 0977 518905. For sale - gauge glass protectors, 14in long, 3'/ein wide, good condition: (v0977 518905). Buy A Traction Engine Called Susie, a book to delight steam minded children. Twelve full page colour pictures opposite true stories of jobs and outings undertaken by the engine. Price £5.20 including postage from Judith Walker, Staindale, Michaelstow, St Tudy, Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 3PD. Steam car engine - Simplex-Radial, 4 cylinder, made by ML Engineering, Slough, c1950, £600. - D. Mills, Tr 0625 584275 (Cheshire). Wanted - for Garrett roller 34185, 8 ton built 1922: a water pump if possible complete with rod and eccentric ring. - W. van't Hof, Olivier van Noortstraat 6, 1212 AS Hilversum, Netherlands (Tr 31-35-854018). Wanted - for S model Sentinel: steering box; rear springs; spring hangers; inlet camshaft and any other parts to build up a wagon. - Hugh Winterbottom, 484 Ripponden Road, Moorside, Oldham OL4 2LL Iv 061 678 0446). For sale - Ploughing by Steam (Raining & Tyler), good copy with dust wrapper, £35; The Age of the Traction Engine (Whitehead), mint copy, £13, Both prices include post and packing. - Peter Smart (v/Fax 0420 472018). Books for sale - The Comp/eat Traction Engine Man (Kimbell), £14; Traction Fngines (Wright), f14; Steam Power in Agriculture (Williams), £14; Apprenticeship in Steam (Hampshire), £12.50. All in good condition, post extra. Tr 0844 238305. Wanted - crankshaft for single cylinder 6/7hp Wallis & Steevens traction engine. Copious amounts of rocking horse manure or hens teeth available in exchange, or some money if preferred. - IT Barry on 0483 63930 (Guildford, Surrey). For sale - Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies single cylinder 8hp agricultural engine, built 1915. Complete but unrestored a 0227 722502. For sale - steam engine spares inc. Penberthy, Whites and Gresham injectors; injector cones and parts; globe, gate and check valves; plug cocks; level and pressure gauges. Boiler fittings; mechanical and displacement lubricators; oilers; governors; whistles; sirens; lamps, packings and joints, hoses etc. Please ask for full list. - Tr 0227 722502. The following items are required for the restoration of a 1916 6hp Burrell traction - one pair boiler clacks; one simpling valve; one water lifter; a cast iron smokebox plate THE BURRELL TRACTION ENGINE; a brass plate CHARLES BURRELL & SONS LTD THETFORD, circular, for smokebox door centre; a brass plate WASH OUT THE BOILER EVERY 100 HOURS, Originals of the plates are preferred but would consider good reproductions. Please v 0252 516451. For sale - Fowler compound steam tractor 1925, fully restored, new rubber tyres. - v0782 517792 or 751034. For sale - Wallis & Steevens oil bath tractor, good boiler, fully insured. - IT 0782 517792 or 751034. For sale - firebars, cast to your requirements. Any number or size. Free patternmaking; we may have yours already in stock. - Richard or Andrew, Tr 0694 723139 after 6pm.

STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

National Traction Engine Trust

Mail Order ki Many books, videos and other items of interest to traction engine enthusiasts are available from the Sales section. Readers are urged to take advantage of this service (which also benefits Trust funds) for troublefree and economical postal shopping. Just tick the box for items you require and fill in the address slip.

TRACTION ENGINE READING New Garrett Wagons, Part 1 Pioneers and Ovei Lypes (Whitehead) New Fairs and Circuses in the Black Country (Williams), reviewed this issue New The Portable Steam Engine (Wansbrough reprint), reviewed this issue New Taskers catalogue c1919 reviewed this issue

C10.00

£9.99

£10.95 0 £4.75 0

New Age of the Traction Engine (Whitehead reprint), reviewer! this issue New Steam Wagon Manual 1918 New Steam EngLne in Industry (Watkins)

£5.00 £6.95 ❑ F5.99 pi

New Jump On, Jump On (Steptoe), traditional £19.95 0 fairs and showmen, reviewed this issue Scarce Pat Collins, King of Showmen 5.00 0 (Allen and Williams) £12.99 The Story of Fred Dibnah (BBC) Special Sentinel Works Photos No 1 (Thomas) was £15.95, this issue C12.95 0

Scarce The Story of the Stearn Plough Works £30.00

(lane), appreciating rapidly! J.& H. McLaren catalogue, 1914. facsimile, reviewed 37/4 Fowler Locos in the Kingdom of Hawaii (Conde), reviewed 37/3 With English transtation Angplogarj Sverige (Blom), reviewed 37/4 John Ling's Memories of a Travelling Life (FAGB) Lincolnshire Steam in Camera (Bonnett) Historic Fairground Scenes (Ware) The Old Guard (East Anglian TEC) Steam on the Road (Gladwin)

£9.95 0 £4.50

£7,95

E5.99 ❑ £9.25 0 £5.99 ❑ £6.00 ❑ £9.95

D 0

Instructions, Traction Engines, Rollers (Marshall) £2,00 Fowler Steam Cultivating Machinery 1900-1930 £12,95 0 (Gilbert) Vintage Steam. Owners & Operators in the Colne Valley (Harding) The Story of the St Nicholas Works (Lane)

£2,75

£29.00 0

Steam Power Farm and Highway (Sawford) was £12.95, now £10.00 El Steam Traction in the Royal Engineers (Preston) £4.50 0 £6.00 ❑ Bricks and Rollers (Essam and Freeman) Made by Garretts (Whitehead) Thresher's Yard (Compton)

£2,25 0 £2.75

continued overleaf

Steam is the Essence (Whitehead) Fairfield Folk: History of the British Fairground People (Brown) Charles Burrell 1911 Catalogue reprint Britannia Iron Works (Lane) Wm. Allchin Ltd (Middlemiss) Steam in my Family (Newton) Jesse Ellis and the Maidstone Wagons (Whitehead) Men, Mud and Machines (Sanders) Steam Engine Builders of Norfolk (Clark) Steam in my Veins (Boughton) •

£16.50 ❑ £15.95 ❑ £2.95 ❑ £28.00 ❑ £13.95 ❑ £4.95 ❑ £11.50 ❑ £13.95 ❑ £17.95 ❑ hard £12.95 ❑ soft £8.95 ❑

refer to recent issues for other available books and videos

VIDEOS Farming with Steam (VHS 48 mins) £14.95 ❑ Harnessed to the Plough (VHS 65 mins) £14.95 ❑ Traction Engines: A technical insight (VHS 37 mins) £14.95 ❑ All Steamed Up - Fred Dibnah (VHS 55 mins) £12.99 ❑ The Ups and Downs of Chimneys Fred Dibnah (VHS 76 mins) £12.99 ❑ CLUB ITEMS NTET Sweatshirts £16.30 embroidered logo, choice of colours NTET Ties £7.95 embroidered logo, choice of colours Steam Apprentice Club T-Shirts seniors £6.25 screen printed logo juniors f4.50 for full description of above items, see display advert in Trust News 37/4 NTFT Memhers Radge - members only £1.50 NTCT traction engine lapel badge (boxed) £2.25 Steam Apprentice Club Badge - members only £1.25 Fowler cop badge C1.50 Car Badge - members only £15.50

To claim post free for UK members please enclose current membership card. Non-members please enclose £2.50 postage per order. Overseas members please enclose £5.00 postage per order (European); £7.50 (rest of world). PO/Cheques (in sterling please) to be made payable to: National Traction Engine Trust. Visa, Access and Mastercard accepted; please state card number, expiry date and name on card, or phone 0582 33971 (evenings only). Orders to be sent to: NTET Sales, 90 Devon Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 ORL. Please allow 28 days for delivery. Name Address

Membership No

Amount Enclosed List 31, Winter 1994/95

The Burrell Museum - Anyone who is interested in the Burrell company and would like to become a friend of the Museum, to receive a quarterly newsletter, help restore and eventually to assist in running a Burrell roller and maintain the Museum, please write and enclose SAE to - Membership Secretary, John Palmer, 17 Birch Close, Broom, near Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9NR. Steam Plough Club - for all interested in steam cultivation, offering regular newsletter, events, visits, history and technical advice. Subscription £8.00 per year, OAP's £2.00 - John Billard, Old Station House, Twyford, Berkshire RG10 9NA. National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club - caters for all enthusiasts (3500 members nationwide). 28 local groups organise meetings with illustrated talks and help for members. Club magazine Vaporising with articles of interest and free ads to members. Basic membership £10. Details from Mrs P.E. Sims, 1 Hall Farm Cottages, Church Lane, Swarkestone, Derby DE7 1JB (sae please, sample magazine £1.00 stamps). Gauge glasses - many sizes available. Send for list - Ray Hooley, 16 Alexandre Avenue, North Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8NR (237 01522 682406). Ruston & Hornsby transfers - full range of designs and sizes; send for list. Engines dated gratis. Full sets of publications available for most models. - Ray Hooley, 16 Alexandre Avenue, North Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8NR (a 01522 682406). Wanted - Burrell nameplate as fitted to their cast iron toolboxes. Also small inner smokebox door nameplate. Also Chronicles of a Country Works - 72 091 217 0402. For sale - 100 copies of Steaming from Vol 7 No 2 to Vol 31 No 4, some repeats, some missing, including binders, £200; A Century of Traction Engines (Hughes), £10; Traction Engines, Wagons and Rollers (Johnson), £5; Life in Steam (Judkins), £5; Garretts of Leiston (Whitehead), £10; Age of the Traction Engine (Whitehead), £10; Steam on the Road (Beaumont), £10; Traction Engines in Review (Finch), £10; Steam Scene Vol 2 (Blenkinsop), £10. All plus postage. - Anthony Cowell, a 0772 653569. For sale - 1887 Ruston Proctor original catalogue, 72 pages, £35; Marshall compound traction engine spare parts book, 30 pages, £35. - Anthony Cowell, Tr 0772 653569. Steaming back numbers, Vol 17 No 4 and many from Vol 14 onwards - £2 each, special issues £2.50. - G.R. Hawthorne, 69 West Chiltern, Woodcote, Reading RG8 OSG Oa 01491 680484) Fowler Duplicate Parts for Tractions Rollers etc, 1910, llin x 141/2 in, £75; Fowler Drivers Instructions for working Tractions etc, 1898 (signed by Alf Pepper), £50; colour print of Fuwler showmans MAID OF CEFYN EDFA; Fowler Catalogue c1892, many fine engravings of engines, cover missing, £75; catalogue c1900, cover and some pages missing but contains some excellent works photos, £25; 1973 reprint of above £6. G.R. Hawthorne, address etc as above advert. Wanted - original items for 1920 Aveling type BT roller: cast iron chimney top, 111/2 in id, also chimney base 9in id; cast lion'ear step; offside rear mud scraper with integral step; saddle casting No BT226 (10 bolt fixing); smokebox door handle. Wood, w 0536 204760. Wanted - any photographs of Aveling roller 9155 of 1920 (N02045) during its working life. Costs will be met. - Wood, rr 0536 204760. Wanted for Burrell showmans tractor 3786: dynamo 80-100 amps. Must be in working order. - Steve Hayes, 22 Francis Lane, Newton Burgoland, Coalville, Leics LE67 2SD (Tr 0530 271863). Wanted - roller type living van, must be in good condition and on rubbers, preferably pneumatics. - Steve Hayes, address as above advert. Water Lifter Hose - through the good offices of a member we are pleased to announce that we are again able to offer authentic suction hose for water lifters. Please see display advert elsewhere in this issue. - Dorothea Restorations Ltd. The Iron-Men Album - the American equivalent of Steaming. Subscriptions available at £15.00 per year for six post paid copies. 103/4 in x 81/2 in format, about 40 pages. For further details or subscriptions contact NTET Membership Secretary, John Cook, sample copies available from NTET Sales, £2.50 each. Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE NEEDING ECONOMICAL REPAIRS ON THEIR TRACTION ENGINES

B. & C. Reconditioning (Gears) Ltd PINIONS

SPURS

BEVELS

All types and makes of bevel gears, spur pinions, spur wheels, helical gears etc rebuilt to standard

Our address is:

B & C Reconditioning (Gears) Ltd, off London Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7EQ Telephone Amesbury (0980) 623210

STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

LT-

e GREAT CHALLENGE

Robert Oliver Photographs by Dick Blenkinsop

The magnificent south midlands countryside formed a perfect setting for The Great Challenge, with the fields being made available by David Adkins. This is the scene on the practice day with Richard Pierce driving the venerable Fowler single 2861 and Peter Stanier steering the 4 furrow plough.

The Steam Plough Club's Great Challenge took place at Upper Boddington, near Daventry, Northants on 11th September 1994. Five sets of ploughing tackle took part in what was certainly a first in preservation and probably a first in the long history of steam cultivation in England — a competition ploughing match. It all started at the Steam Plough Club AGM in March 1993, when Michael Davies issued an open challenge to a steam ploughing match. The idea behind the challenge was to raise the standard of steam ploughing and renew interest in restoring or repairing existing ploughs. The challenge was immediately taken up

Passing at speed on the Fowler plough are Michael Davies (right) and Jeremy Davies. It was Michael who issued The Great Challenge. 56

Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

by Richard Pierce and planning of the event began. The match should have taken place in May 1994 at Edward Wootton's farm near Bedford, but it rained every day in May and the event had to be called off. This was a great shame for eight sets were entered. The Steam Plough Club wanted to hold the event sometime this year and were delighted when the Boddington Vintage Association, who were having an event called 'Ploughing Through the Ages' invited the club to hold the Great Challenge as part of this event. By the day of the competition, five sets of engines had entered and their details and owners were as follows: • Fowler Z7 15670 22hp compound (owned by D. Adkins) with Fowler Z7 15673 22hp compound (M.O. Davies); plough Fowler 6 furrow semi-digger 13869 (M.O. Davies). • Fowler 2861 8hp single (owned by R. Pierce) with Fowler 3195 8hp single, (P. Stanier); plough, Fowler 4 furrow balance 1514 (Pierce/ Stanier). ■ Fowler BB1 15170 16hp compound, (owned by R. Vernon) with STEAMING

Winter 1994/95

An idle moment in fine surroundings for Fowler Z7 15673, as some adjustments are made to the plough.

Michael Beeby engrossed in attending to 14hp Fowler single 1641. 57

Michael Beeby, on the footplate of Fowler single 1641, and Robert Pelly. Robert, great grandson of John Fowler, is president of the Steam Plough Club and was one of the judges at the event.

Fowler BB1 15345 16hp compound, (R. Chapman); plough, Fowler 7 furrow shallow 12932 (E. Wootton). • Fowler BB1 15183 16hp compound (owned by P. Wilson) with Fowler BB1 15333 16hp compound, (J. Garman); plough, Fowler 5 furrow shallow 4832 (C. Wait). • Fowler 1641 14hp single, (owned by Beeby Bros) with McLaren 1541 12hp compound (K. Hicks); plough, Fowler 4 furrow Zig Zag frame 15130 (D. Adkins). The judges of the contest were Robert Pelly, President of the Steam Plough Club; Doug Reed, from the Society of Ploughmen and Joe Challis, steam ploughman. They were looking for the team who adapted their equipment to the conditions to produce the best practical work at an acceptable work rate in a given time. The judges would concentrate on the ploughing although good handling would naturally be important.

The site was an excellent one: gently sloping on a hill top with wonderful views all round. The crews arrived on the Saturday morning and after a briefing, paired off together for some practice. Because of one or two late alterations to crews, some people ended up working with people they had not worked with before or with implements they were not used to.

Peter Wilson (left), who has just completed firebox replacement on Fowler BB 15183, stands with previous owner Bob Griffin, whose farming family were steam ploughing in the Cotswolds for many years. Note the JOSEPH GRIFFIN nameplate on the Fowler's footboard, taken from an early engine owned by Bob's father.

Fowler BB1 15170 with owner Richard Vernon on the footplate. 58

Winter 1994/95

STEAMING

Driver Paul Rensley about to start a pull with Fowler Z7 15673, watched by owner Michael Davies (extreme right).

The efforts of Ken Hicks to bring his McLaren along for his first attempt at steam ploughing was espectally brave! The contest ran for four hours on the Sunday and the standard of work done was very high. The crews obviously benefitted from the Saturday when they were able to adjust their implements. The judges had a hard job to pick the winner, but the team of Richard Pierce, Peter Stanier, Peter Denham, Ian Stewart and Peter Venn were declared the winners. They also won the Paul Stratford Trophy for the most appropriately dressed team. A barbeque was held on the Saturday night, and both days saw plenty of Steam Plough Club members in attendance. Credit must be given to the owners and crews who brought engines and tackle to the event at their own expense, the Steam Plough Club providing the coal. The cup competed for at Boddington was originally presented to Robert Fowler, who became senior partner of the Steam Plough Works upon his brother John's untimely death in 1864, by Colonel John North. North had started his working life as an apprentice at Fowlers and became a self made and wealthy businessman. A friend of W.G. Grace the cricketer, he gave the cup to Robert Fowler for an unknown shooting exploit. The cup was given to the Steam Plough Club by Robert. Polly. It is to be hoped that the winning team will be challenged at some time in the future to defend the trophy they won at this unique event.

With the plough smoothly going away over the brow of the slope, judge Doug Reed of the Society of Ploughmen takes careful notes on the quality of work.

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