Sommaire pour July 2023 de Old Glory

On Saturday 13 May at Will Woodward’s premises at Buglawton, Cheshire a steam-up was arranged for friends and it was also the spring visit of the Road Locomotive Society, held in warm sunny conditions. It also saw the debut of Brian Allison’s 1925 Davey Paxman 3hp portable No. 21693, purchased in 2022 from Old Glory editor Peter Love and last seen publicly in the 2018 GDSF Old Glory tent. This portable engine was ordered from Paxman on 19 February 1925 by the Neuchatel Asphalte Company and despatched from the factory shortly after, on 11th March. Neuchatel was a major road surfacing contractor and appears to have been in business from 1873 up to 1966 when it was absorbed into what is now the Tarmac Group. Between 1923 and 1925 the…

The success of the festival is testament to the community’s resolve to live with Covid and to celebrate the good things in life and our region, The community and businesses supported our endeavours, and the weather gave us three beautiful days which brought in a crowd estimated to be around 8,500 people. A memorial first this year was bringing a second 2ft narrow gauge steam locomotive, Wee Georgie Wood, a 1924 Fowler No. 16203 0-4-0 to the site. Wee Georgie Wood comes from Tullah (an hour from Sheffield) in its splendid black livery and the home Krauss was proud in its green livery, the pair provided rides for approximately 3,000 people. Fortunately, a passing loop had been built around the Dulverton Station and island platform to provide safe passing using…

Now in its 49th year the Stradsett Park Vintage Rally was taken into a new dimension when Gordon Carson and his team of East Anglia National Vintage Tractor & Engine Club’s members revitalised this event some ten years ago into a major event in the preservation calendar, each year the event grows bigger and bigger and that was the case again in 2023. The only downside to the 2023 event was the weather; heavy rain was experienced in the lead up to the event, but the parkland near Downham Market, Norfolk was good enough for the event to go ahead on the Sunday and the steamers could even parade. However overnight and early morning on Monday rain led to the gates being closed as people cleared up and needed four-wheel…

While looking at Steve Green’s birthday present from his wife, a 1955 Ferguson TE-F diesel tractor, typical of what you would have seen on the farms in this area 70 years ago now, it was just the time to talk to him about keeping the Centre in the black and its future. Thank you for giving up your time to talk to Old Glory, perhaps you can tell us how you became interested in transport preservation and what brought you to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre? When I left school I started an apprenticeship with R A Listers, the five year apprenticeship covered engines, gearboxes, final drives as well as agricultural machinery. This gave me a broad background in engineering. A reccession in the 80s closed the business I was part…

Things were going well for IHC in the light to medium market but when it came to the heavies they were being outsold, not helped by using outdated tractor engines in the trucks! What they did was come to an agreement to use Hall-Scott engines and distribute ACF buses from their 150-plus branches across the USA. The model numbers were changed to indicate the much more powerful state-of-the-art Hall-Scott four-cylinder overhead camshaft, OHV 5.2 litre gas engine and larger units. The Hall-Scott featured an integral oil filter, something that Ford didn’t use until after WW2! The Hall-Scott gas engined trucks were numbered HS-54 to HS-104, but hardly any of the heavyweights came to the UK. In 1929 came the start of the Great Depression and luckily IHC had a very…

During a visit to Kimberley in South Africa last October, our Technical Editor, Derek Rayner, was able to buy a South African-produced book on the history of the Kimberley tramways and was surprised to find when reading it that there was apparently a major discrepancy noted in it with regard to the origins of the steam tram which has now been on display at the Big Hole Museum there for many years. It had always been Derek’s understanding that this steam tram, manufactured by Thomas Green’s of Leeds, a company perhaps better known for its production of lawnmowers and steam rollers, and also this now unique item from the Yorkshire firm, had previously operated on the Bradford & Shelf Tramway out of Bradford. When this tramway modernised to electric power,…

Phil Barnes advises that this item should be read as an update to his article in OG 322, in which he tells the story of Napier Harbour Board (NHB) No. 5 (Fowler No. 16342 of 1925) and its sister loco NHB 6 (No. 16343 of 1926). This item will concentrate on ‘number 5’ which, in July 2015, was sold complete with a boiler certificate to Ian Welch but housed and managed by the Mainline Steam Trust at their Plimmerton depot, about 15 miles to the north of Wellington in New Zealand. It’s now owned by the Ian Welch Locomotive Trust which has an agreement of management, operation and housing with the NZ Mainline Steam Heritage Trust. Upon arrival, the loco underwent a few repairs and a repaint into red livery…

On Sunday 30 April some members of the Weald of Kent Traction Engine Society had a small gathering at The Bush, Blackbird and Thrush at East Peckham in Kent, reports Bob Moorman. The venue has been used several times before by the club as it has a small grass field at the back where all the cars and vans can park, leaving the front of the pub for the steam engines. The weather was good with no rain, which encouraged a good attendance of members with their families and friends to turn up for a chat and catch up after the winter break. Seven engines came: Andrew Pierce drove 7nhp Fowler road loco Endeavour, No. 14754 of 1920, over from near-by Hadlow, and Terry Maynard drove 5nhp Burrell No. 3777…

By the time you read this the late Adrian Shooter’s Beeches Railway would have been sold by H J Pugh, on Wednesday 21 June. We will bring you a full report in the August issue of OG. In 2019 Adrian announced the closure of the Beeches Light Railway at the end of the year’s running, having proposed a move to larger premises and more for the railway. But it was not to be as Adrian died in Switzerland on 13 December 2022 aged 74 from motor neurone disease. His widow Barbara is selling the Steeple Aston premises as she wishes to move to London to be near her children. This means that the final running of the railway took place on Sunday 14 May at a private event with approximately…

SAVE 25% Full terms and conditions can be found at shop.kelsey.co.uk/terms. Offer applies to UK subscribers only when paying by direct debit. Overseas and other offers available at shop.kelsey.co.uk/OGL23. A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Delighted to boast that this is Britain’s best-selling magazine for steam and vintage machinery enthusiasts. If you have enjoyed this issue of Old Glory and love original style or gleaming restored machinery especially road steam, or are fascinated by Britain’s rich industrial and transport heritage then why not subscribe? You will save money on the shop price and receive every issue direct to your door. Whether you’re interested in the latest news, places to visit or black and white photography of these wonderful machines in working times, featured by top writers and photographers you’ll find it…

RECORD CROWDS AT STRUMPSHAW AND CARRINGTON In better weather conditions than predicted, sunshine dominated at these two top East Anglian rallies held over the late May bank holiday weekend. The editor looks at just some of the highlights at these events which both saw record crowds. This three-day show just delivers good things! Staged at the fine Strumpshaw Museum site just outside Norwich, started by Wesley Key, it’s organised by Stuart Hines who was in command for the second year. I have nothing but good things to say about the show that featured approximately 50 engines. It did however get to the stage that the car park was overflowing and people were taking 1½ hours to get in which led to an emergency car park being used some distance from…

Dear Editor Upon opening my copy of OG 395 the photo of Nippy rang a vague bell in my distant memory bank and I had a look in my photo album. I took the attached photograph of Nippy at the Waddesdon Working Steam Rally on Saturday 8 September 1991. According to the program, a copy of which I still have, she was then owned by D Hitchman of Leafield, Oxon. As per the sign writing on the canopy, she was supplied new to Dagnall Ltd, Light Haulage Contractors of Chesham Bois, Bucks. I hope this information is of interest. Peter Arnold via e-mail Peter Love, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL Tel: 01323 833125 peterlove@madasafish.com…

The loco was designed by Henry Greenly and was the forerunner of the seven engines that Captain Howe had built for the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Greenly had close connections with Roland Martens who designed the R&ER 1929 4-6-2 Whillan Beck that runs on the line here today and was built by Krauss of Munich River Esk was designed to haul both stone and passenger trains, however soon found more use on passenger traffic. It was originally fitted with Lentz poppet valve gear, but this didn’t prove to be successful. It was painted works grey in 1924, then LMS red with black and straw lining to 1927. It was then repainted mid-green with black and yellow lining during a rebuild in 1928 by the Yorkshire Engine Co, when the…

Held over the UK’s Coronation weekend, the annual steam gathering took place at Maldegem, Belgium, on a similar scale to previous years, reports Kevin Hoggett. Organised by Stoomcentrum Maldegem, special international attractions on this occasion were visiting locos Krupp-built Hanibal Class 0-6-0T Tom from Hoogovens, Ijmuiden, on the standard gauge and Maaike, on the narrow gauge, an Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T from the Leemspoor preserved railway at Rijsen - both locations being in the Netherlands. This latter machine has a somewhat interesting history in that it was built in 1913 as a fireless loco, works No. 6900, for the Gist en Spiritusfabriek [Yeast & Spirit] factory in Delft. Maaike is fitted with Hackworth valve gear, a type which is very common on small O&K locos. She was bought for preservation…

Robert Bate has been interested in steam for all of his life. His ambition was always to own an Aveling & Porter single-cylinder roller, something that he achieved in 1984 when he purchased 1926 E type No. 11520 10 ton steam roller Crusader. Now this engine has been immortalised by Oxford Diecast who have just produced a detailed 1:76 scale model of the roller, much to Robert’s delight. The model was due to debut at the 2020 GDSF, but owing to Covid-19 that was not possible. Crusader was bought new by Acton Borough Council and used on road maintenance work, although it would be a number of years before it would actually carry that name. After working in the London area, it was bought by Robert MacKay of Westward Heath…

The early May Bank Holiday weekend in the regal resort of Llandudno, North Wales has two events taking part at the same time, the town seeing the Victorian Extravaganza where steam rules, while the Transport Festival takes place at Bodafon Fields near the Little Orme. Both events are extremely popular, with the steam engines in the town attracting large crowds. This year there were only nine large engines to enjoy owing to council cutbacks, with a few miniatures on hand for good measure. Special mention should go to Frank Lythgoe’s 1909 Burrell 8hp showman’s road locomotive No. 3093 Dreadnought, which was one of the steam engines to attend the first Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza in 1986. As for the engine’s history, it was new to Midlands showman Albert Holland and spent…

As one of the first big rallies of the season, Abbey Hill is always a good barometer of things to come. Held over four days from Friday 28 April to bank holiday Monday 1 May, there was much to show this was still true. The organisers worked hard to ensure the show ran smoothly, especially after heavy rain on the Thursday before the opening day. The official programme listed 34 full-size engines, 55 in the miniature steam, plus the working area and stationary engines. Abbey Hill continues to draw nationwide interest and this was evident in entries from Cornwall to Cheshire and we even had a glimpse of Nessie! The star was undoubtedly the Vincent family’s recent purchase, 1906 Burrell 8nhp showman’s road locomotive No. 2804, registration DH 2542, White…

Two days of pure sunshine blessed the 62nd Carrington Steam & Heritage Show on 28-29 May, held on the Crawford farm just outside Frithville, Lincolnshire. A record crowd was to be seen both days at this event, where there is always so much to see and do, with in most cases different things on show. The highlight for many was the Crawford’s Vickers-Armstrong designed Valentine MkII tank which started out as a 1938 design. It came on line in 1940 and was a reliable piece of equipment in the North Africa campaign but lacked fire power with a 2 pounder gun compared to the better equipped German tanks. It was later replaced in the British Army with the Churchill infantry tank and of course the American Sherman, of which more…

Dear Editor I enclose a photograph of a tractor the details of which are unknown to me. I purchased the original 30 years ago now as I was curious as to what it is, it has taken until now to try and find out more. Can you or one of your readers solve the question, is it one of the first or a homemade tractor. By the dress of the drive I would assume that he is a wealthy farmer with his lovely dogs? D W Hammond via e-mail Many thanks David for sending in the picture of a Steel Mule which came to the UK in approximately 1916-18. The tractors were made by the Joliet Oil Co of Joliet, Illinois and used Erd engines early on. They joined up…

Where does one begin with badge-engineering? How best to explain what we’re looking at here? It’s a 1957 Commer Express, and readers will all be aware that by the 1950s Commer belonged to the Rootes Group, which also built passenger cars under the affordable Hillman, upmarket Humber and sporty Sunbeam brands plus, from 1956, the mid-range Singer. Commer and Karrier were Rootes’ two main commercial vehicle brands, the former making vehicles for private businesses and the latter for municipal purposes. Rootes did not begin badge-engineering in earnest until it introduced the Audax range of models – the Hillman Minx, Singer Gazelle and Sunbeam Rapier – for 1956, but prior to that the practice had been ongoing between Hillman and Commer for some years. The low-priced Minx was the mainstay of…

Jim Soper’s five books, titled Leeds Transport - Volumes One to Five, were published by the Leeds Transport Historical Society and dealt with horse buses, trams, trolleybuses and many types of internal-combustion engined buses right up to the present day. The first roller noted showed tramcar No. 211 travelling north and descending Queen Hill, Harrogate Road, adjacent to its junction with King Lane and on its way to the tram terminus at Moortown. The finger posts point to Adel and Eccup along King Lane and Leeds and Harrogate along the main road. There was an Aveling & Porter overhead valve compound machine standing in King Lane together with an assortment of road making equipment. The tram was supplied in 1901 without a top cover to Leeds Tramways by the Preston…

JUNE 22 to 24 – Timed Online Machinery Sale. Clitheroe Auction Mart, www.auctionmart.co.uk 24 – Osney Lodge Collective Sale. South East Marts, tel: 01323 844874. 24 – Auction of Vintage & Classic Tractors, Farm Machinery, Equipment & Bygones. Warwickshire. Cheffins, tel: 01353 777767 24 – Dispersal Sale of Classic & Vintage Tractors, Plant, Machinery & Implements. Also to include Brian Whitlocks Ferguson Collection. Somerset. H J Pugh, tel: 01531 631122. 24 – Collective Agricultural Machinery Sale. Leylands Farm, Middlewood Green, Stowmarket, Suffolk. Lacy Scott & Knight, tel: 01284 748625. 25 – Garden Tractor Consignment Auction. Online Bidding. Nokomis, IL, USA. Aumann Auctions, www.aumannvintagepower.com 26 to 29 – Auction of the George Carbonneau Gas Engine Collection, Parts, Shop Tools, Equipment & More. ND-5 Bottineau, ND, USA. Aumann Auctions, www.aumannvintagepower.com 28 –…