Inhaltsverzeichnis für December 2021 in Old Glory

It was good to visit the excellent rescheduled Weald of Kent Traction Engine Rally at Woodchurch on 14-15 August which thanks to Bill Giles’ promotion had an excellent crowd in attendance. Considering the ground conditions, there were several steam rollers on site, all Aveling & Porters. One of those was 10 ton E type that is owned by Robbie Jardine and was making its debut here. No.12103 was purchased just before the pandemic and had been advertised by Legacy for some time. The 1928 roller was bought for his children to learn on; it was new to Dumfriesshire County Council and has had a number of names over the years such as Dimples and latterly Janet. It looked in very clean condition and was a credit to the family. The…

London & North Eastern Railway-built PS Waverley steamed successfully throughout her 2021 season to return a modest profit after 50,000 passengers enjoyed a range of traditional Clyde railway-steamer cruises to destinations as far apart as Campbeltown, Tarbert and Glasgow. Waverley Excursions general manager Paul Semple said: “Thanks to a great public response, good weather and staycations, we have been able to break even, although the rising cost of fuel was a concern. At one point, before it fell back again, it was costing us £9 per minute to sail. Our best single day was Sunday 22 August, when we grossed £32,000 on ticket sales, catering and the shop when cruising round Bute, and I’d like to praise the support given to us by smaller communities up and down the Clyde,…

Published by the RLS, 22cm x 31cm, hardback. 176 pages, 60 illustrations, price £30 + £6 postage. Available from: RLS website https://roadlocomotive.org.uk or RLS Sales Officer John Dickinson, 54 Moorlands Rise, Meltham, West Yorkshire HD9 5NA. For overseas shipment costs please contact: iserone@yahoo.co.uk This long-awaited book by Michael Thexton will not disappoint fans of this make. In fact it might convert more to this Lincoln company based at the Sheaf Iron Works at the time, who produced quality products and nothing else. Ruston products were always priced at something of a premium, and here we see that in 1907 the Ruston-Proctor 7hp TE would cost you £519 where as a Clayton and Shuttleworth from around the corner was £485 and a similar price for a Fowler, surprisingly a Garrett was…

The much-anticipated reappearance of November 1913 Fowler A8 No. 13922 Girlie was certainly worth the wait after the completion of a mammoth restoration by Steve Casey Engineering in east Kent, when on 9-10 October the engine stared at Stotfold Mill, Bedfordshire, writes Simon Colbeck. Built as an A8 class road locomotive that was said to be new to Mark Loader of Bournemouth, it was originally called King of The Road and later Girlie, although at some stage it carried the name Rocket as well. The engine was converted to showman’s specification by the renowned Charles Openshaw of Reading after only two years as a general haulage engine. The 7hp engine worked for Hoadley’s of Gateshead and Slater’s of Carlisle and was preserved by the mid 1950s with contractor/engine dealer/collector Jack…

BROWNHOIST Brown Hoisting Machinery Company was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, by Alexander E Brown in 1880. It designed and built a variety of material handling machinery including railway wagon dumpers, special cranes for shipyards and docks, and grab and dragline buckets. In the mid-1890s it began designing and building locomotive cranes and by1919, a sales catalogue shows several models of steam shovels based on its range of locomotive cranes. At this time it was also manufacturing the patented Schnable dragline bucket which it fitted to its rail-mounted cranes. In 1921 the company fitted crawler tracks to some of its crane models which operated with dragline or grab attachments. Petrol-driven versions of these machines were known as ‘Gas Creepers’ and all models were sold under the company’s brand name ‘Brownhoist’. In…

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Berrybrook Steam & Classics have just put up for sale the 1895 Peerless 6hp R class traction engine called Princess Tammy. Made by the Geiser Manufacturing Co of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, the engine is in full working order. Based in Dorset, the Peerless has been a regular at The Great Dorset Steam Fair over the years. The asking price is £35,000; for further details, tel: 01392 833301.…

It’s been an interesting year one way or another hasn’t it, but at least it looks as though we are making some headway on the Covid front as things stand and perhaps our 2022 season will not be so fragmented. At least the crowds did not desert us on the events front. If you are out on the road over Christmas and the New Year, please do send in your pictures of whatever you’ve been doing with your machinery, we at Old Glory are always pleased to hear from you. Since speaking to you last issue, I have been road testing a number of steam engines, including Marcus Kenning’s 1923 Armstrong Whitworth 10R19 steam roller. I have great affection for these rare rollers and we will bring the full story…

Making its debut after a major refresh at the Marston Steam & Vintage Restorations event in Northampton on 21-22 August was 1920 Marshall No. 73901 7hp GP traction engine Princess Mary. The engine is sprung front and rear and also features a geared-down water pump. The Marshall is owned by the Dave Wothers and family from Evesham, Worcestershire, yes the famous boiler inspection family. The engine was new to the Smithfield Show where she was sold to J F Ketley, Saffron, Waldon, Essex before being with F C and later C R Pumfrey and further owners in Cambridgeshire. The famous industrialist Hamish Orr-Ewing went on to enjoy the engine for 57 years and the editor first saw the engine at the 1962 Appleford Rally when he stood on the footplate.…

Dundee Transport Museum is making climate change history as the only transport museum in the world to be represented at the international COP-26 climate change conference, being held in Glasgow in November. The museum’s plans to be the first carbon-neutral transport museum in the country have been chosen for display at the Glasgow Science Centre, one of the conference’s venues, alongside information on seven other carbon neutral projects, after the museum beat off international competition from 48 other projects to win the right to be part of the prestigious conference which will bring world leaders to the city. The Dundee museum, currently housed in temporary premises at Market Mews, will be moving in 2024 to the city’s former Maryfield Tram Depot, built in 1901, which will be powered by solar…

Joseph Finucane is a contractor near Kilflynn, County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland and was bought up on this machine way back in the early 1980s. It was at a time when cutting turf was something every household did, says Morgan O’ Flaherty. They would go to the local bog, cut the turf and the peat and then light the fire to boil the kettle so you could have a cup of tea! As the peat creates so much smoke and sulphur placement of the fire was very important. After discarding the top sod, which was thrown away back into last year’s trench you would start cutting with your specially shaped implement. It was all very labour intensive; after cutting two people would be laying it out and others…

The gloriously sunny first weekend in September this year saw the Shuttleworth Collection stage their first vintage-themed weekend, combining the delights of the Collection’s own exhibits of vintage aircraft and vehicles with an excellent selection of visiting transport delights. Billed very much as a family-friendly working weekend with demonstrations and displays of all aspects of heritage transport, the team at Shuttleworth certainly put on a superb show for the public, reports Simon Colbeck. The world-renowned Shuttleworth Collection of vintage aircraft is located at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire, within the grounds of the Shuttleworth Estate. For many years of course the estate was the venue for the Bedfordshire Steam Engine Preservation Society’s annual three-day traction engine rally which I’m sure is fondly remembered by many readers. With such a vast…

DUMPERS Motor Rail were in the right place at the right time when they decided to produce a dumper design in 1936. They had major customers in the construction industry and preparations for a war with Germany was about to come to fruition, even if they may not have been fully aware of it at the time. Certainly when the first production units came along in 1938, re-armament was a reality. Also the decline of the use of temporary light railways for the movement of material was beginning to bite into locomotive sales. They must have foreseen big things for the product to order an initial batch of 25 from the works. This confidence was indeed borne out by subsequent sales, which by the war’s end envisaged a production rate…

This being like many other fellow steamers throughout the country, with both full size and miniatures looking forward too, eagerly completing entry forms, having the engines tested, tinkering and cleaning. It’s a great time of year, full of excitement, looking forward to meeting up with steam friends, sitting by the beer tent in the balmy summer evenings listening to the fairground, steam engines running, the showman’s lights and, perhaps the fan favourite, the evocative smell of steam and hot steam oil mixed with beer and merriment, surrounded by family and friends!! Sadly, this time last year our exhibits were all dressed and had nowhere to go, all thanks to Covid 19. Mary Rose was built by Ray Ward and first rallied in April 2017. Ray chose to build the STW…

The weekend of 18-19 September saw plenty of activity at the Museum of Mining at Threlkeld quarry in the heart of the Lake District, writes David Vaughan. This was the first time the Vintage Excavator Trust has been able to hold an event at the site since 2019 owing to Covid lock-down restrictions, and a good crowd of visitors turned up to see the action. The Threlkeld museum houses probably the biggest working collection of vintage excavators in the world with examples from all of the major British excavator manufacturers such as Ruston Bucyrus, Priestman, Smiths, Jones and NCK. The VET was started by Ian Hartland and Philip Peacock around 1995 following the publication of Peter Grimshaw’s book Excavators that drew attention to the interest in these machines which, owing…

Many of you know of Gerald Whittaker I’m sure, through his superb restoration of his 1890 Wallis & Steevens No. 2149 The Mistress, the second-oldest Wallis known to exist. Or perhaps for his sign writing, coach lining, and restoration jobs on so many of the UK’s top steam and vintage vehicles over the past four decades. Through this wonderful picture collection of Gerald and Julia Whittaker, we take a pictorial look at the fabulous restoration of their showman’s living wagon, made by Charles D Phillips Ltd, Newport, Monmouth and dating from 23 March 1923. Owned for 36 years by the Whittakers, the complete restoration has taken seven years in total and the living wagon made its debut at Carters Vintage Steam Fair at Pinkneys Green over the bank holiday weekend…

IN 1958, Wilsons (NZ) Portland Cement Ltd purchased two 0-6-0DM locos from W.G. Bagnall Ltd of Stafford for use as shunters at their Portland works near Whangarei, writes Phil Barnes. These two 3ft 6in gauge locos were identical to the problematical NZR DSa class and were shipped out a few months apart. They were numbered 10 (3132) and 11 (3144), weighed in at 30 tons (making them Wilsons heaviest locos) and wore the company livery of blue uppers with black underside and red detailing. It’s not known why Wilsons ordered a loco with a known problematical engine, only to suffer the same reliability problems as New Zealand Railways themselves with it. The Achilles heel was the 240hp National M4AA6 engine, albeit that the Vulcan-Sinclair fluid coupling and Wilson 5-speed epicyclic…

It was reported in OG 379 that Fowler showman’s engine Bertha had been sold to Martin Horath in Switzerland. Martin is one of the very long-standing steam enthusiasts in the country and has owned 1900-built Fowler roller No. 8890 since February 1990. He was featured in a major article in OG 288 and has a large collection of other types of steam engine, including a Swiss-built portable engine by Escher-Wyss dating from 1876. There was a welcoming party to greet Bertha on August 4th when she arrived at Martin’s premises - in the rain - but she was soon unloaded and put away in the big shed. It was not long before she was in steam and a month or so later, she was a welcome visitor and on display…

Cheffins offered just on 232 tractors, commercial vehicles, steamers and cars at their 1650-lot sale which was finally concluded on Wednesday 27 October when Sale One, the on-line literature and models section, finished during the afternoon when the last lots were fought over. The sale saw the largest crowd here, on Saturday 23 October, since Covid-19 has started, which was good news, but many weren’t wearing masks. The sale saw a raft of commercials entered which sometimes are hard to sell, but happily this wasn’t the case this time. Bill King kicked off the vehicles at 10am with the sale of the lovely 1919 Belsize three-litre 20hp15/20 open tourer SV9204 in grade 5 condition. This Manchester-based manufacturer is remembered for its taxis more than other things and this was a…

If you ever want a reliable traction engine, well 12 August 1905 Allchin 8hp No, 1311 HO5059 Lena is just that and has always been the case, say the three former owners of No. 1311 that the editor has known over the years. HISTORY The engine started life in Allington near Chippenham, Wiltshire with William Jennings before moving to Oakbridge near Stroud, Gloucestershire. Later it was with AC Canton of Sheepscombe, Gloucestershire, before being bought up by dealer Jessie Vines of Hardwick, Gloucestershire in 1952, 69 years ago now. It then moved to Edwards of Swindon and from there in 1958 to Valentine Dunnett (died 1986) who at the time was based at Hadlow, Kent. He sold it in possibly 1968 to Peter Page, one of Roland Page’s three sons.…

The 70th British National Ploughing Championships were celebrated over 9-10 October and were a great success according to the organisers, when thousands of people visited the event held on land at Mindrum Mill, Northumberland, says Sarah Chambers. The site covered almost 300 acres in 14 different fields and was kindly loaned by D Harvey & Son. Visitors and competitors travelled from all over the country, as the event had been postponed for a year due to coronavirus and was one of the few shows to be held in the area this year. With the two previous championships ending in a good few inches of mud, the same fear came to mind earlier in the week when torrential rain stopped all organisations on the site for a day. However, it dried…

James Hamilton reports that after two years of cancellations it was third time lucky for the Kentish Sail Association’s 48th Swale Match for Sailing Barges, Smacks, Bawleys & Gaffers. Despite adverse winds on the previous days, those skippers that did get their boats and barges to the Swale enjoyed good conditions on Match day. The Match started from Sands End Buoy with different classes starting at intervals from 8am onwards. Those competing course 1, the full course, sailed out from The Swale, passing the shores of the Isle of Sheppey, into the Thames Estuary. They then navigated a course through the offshore wind farm towards Whitstable and Herne Bay, before returning to The Swale and the finish line at Harty Hard. The winning boats and barges finishing in times a…

It’s a long story, says Morgan O’Flaherty, well-known in County Limerick for his machinery radio programme in County Limerick that is hugely popular - our editor even had a programme dedicated to him earlier in the year! We see Shane Lyons testing out his ‘new’ rig with the mobile Baxter of Leeds stone crusher driven by a 1954 Fordson Diesel Major. There was a quarry that was opened in 1878 for the building of Limerick to Tralee railway line that was commonly known as the GSR ‘North Kerry line’. After the completion of the line the quarry was closed and sat idle until the 1940s. The Lyons family took over the quarry and started to use it on a commercial basis supplying stone to the surrounding town lands of Lixnaw,…

County Donegal Railway Heritage Centre boss Niall McCaughan wants to hear from a wide variety of people who remember the County Donegal Railways in action. That includes anyone who worked on, travelled on the line, or has heard stories of the railway passed down through their family, says Hugh Dougherty. “Although the railway closed in 1959, we know that there are still many people alive who travelled on, worked on or knew the railway. We’re planning an audio resource and display at the centre for later this year and we need to capture these memories before it’s too late so that they can be included.” Niall says that he’s very keen to hear from enthusiasts as well. “We always imagine that we’ve heard all there is to know from the…

THE GREAT DAYS OF THE PLEASURE FAIR 1890–1960 Published by the Fairground Heritage Trust Price £10 with five postcards and post & packing This new book is a photographic record of the great days of the leisure fair from two outstanding periods – the Edwardian days prior to the Great War and the post-war period running through to the 1950s. This book has a total of 52 pages with black and white photographs of shows rides and transport from the Fairground Heritage Trust’s extensive archives together with captions says Mike Dyson. In recent years there has been a steady flow of some excellent, in-depth studies of the fairground and the showmen who operated the fairs. However, this inexpensive book of archive photos is for anyone with an interest in fairgrounds.…

Tthe main attraction was the steam engines on display, with around 40 full-sized engines in attendance, reports David Reed. And what a selection there was, with the earliest dating from 1883 and many makes being represented. The highlight of the day had to be the parade around the ring that saw miniatures rubbing shoulders with their larger contemporaries, and large crowds enjoyed the procession. As already mentioned, there was one engine that was getting on for 140 years old. That was BS 8161, 1883 Wallis & Steevens 7hp general purpose engine No.1169 Maymagh which spent all its working life on the Isle of Man. It was restored from total dereliction over a 17-year period by Bill Briggs between 1982 and 1999. It wasn’t the only Wallis & Steevens engine on…

RMPCS chairman Ben Ashdown welcomed everyone to the Romney Marsh ploughing match at Charles and Ollie Furnival’s Ham Mill Farm, Ham Street on Sunday 5 September in glorious bright weather on the hottest day for two months and more. However there was a slight breeze from the nearby sea which kept everyone cool. One has to congratulate the society on the excellent programme provided, which others should take note of, and there was a very good number of local farm machinery dealers here. There was a full commentary on the proceedings, besides the sheep shearing and extensive dog show for all the family to enjoy - even a juvenile ride that was very popular. Bill Giles was here with his 1901 Burrell SCC no. 2386 7hp traction engine Titaness -…

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AEC and Leyland fought an increasingly desperate battle for market share and export achievements in the 1950s and vied with each other to take over businesses that might otherwise be added their own or rival empires. Leyland with its acquisitions of Albion and Scammell had gained slightly the upper hand but AEC had snapped up Crossley and Maudslay and was willing to explore completely new fields of endeavour - as we showed way back in 2006 with its mighty 17-75 litre 18cu. yd. Dumptruk (made incidentally in Alcester and not, as the heading implied, Coventry). Like Leyland, AEC was opening up marketing agreements and engineering collaborations wherever it could in the world and was enjoying success with its ACLOs in South America and Spain, where it came to a manufacturing…

Bring back the sights and sounds of yesteryear Old Glory delivers a spectacle of immaculately restored, magnificent steam engines that once powered the nation. This perfect Christmas gift includes a 12 issue subscription to Old Glory magazine, the 2022 Old Glory calendar plus a bonus Old Glory Collection Special Edition. Visit Shop.kelsey.co.uk/OLGIFT The perfect gift for all seafarers The definitive guide to the world of ships and shipping; ferries, cruise ships, warships, tugs, tankers and cargo, Ships Monthly covers it all. Our Christmas gift pack includes 12 issues of Ships Monthly, plus the 2022 Ships Monthly calendar and our Ocean Liners to Cruise ships Special Edition. Visit Shop.kelsey.co.uk/SMGIFT Give a trip down memory lane this Christmas Packed full of stories of beautifully restored vehicles of a bygone age, Heritage Commercials…

The Apedale Valley Light Railway is a 2FT gauge line that is operated by Moseley Railway Trust whose aim is to ‘preserve, conserve and interpret artefacts from industrial narrow gauge railways, including locomotives and other vehicles.’ The railway is situated at Apedale Community Country Park near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, an area rich in industrial history with an iron works and several coal mines operating in the locality during the Industrial Revolution. These were deep mines; indeed Sladderhill Colliery was the deepest mine in Britain at one time, with coal being extracted from 2,145 feet below the surface. John E Heathcote and Richard E Heathcote sank such deep shafts in the 1820s. Of course, narrow gauge railways ruled in such industrial settings for many years, so it is fitting that the…

The item in OG 380 about the third replica Cedes Stoll-type Czechbuilt trolleybus has prompted Dave Chick of the British Trolleybus Society (britishtrollley.org.uk) - and editor of its magazine Trolleybus - to provide more information about its original route back in 1909. In 1909 this was not Bratislava; it was usually known by the German name of Pressburg or, in Hungarian - Pozsony - and was part of Austria-Hungary. The people in the photographs probably spoke either German or Hungarian. In another five years they would be caught up in a major conflict which started with the assassination of the heir to their throne. Within ten years the city had been renamed and had become part of the newly-created Czechoslovakia. These scenes are quite unlike many early UK trolleybus photographs,…