Table of contents for May 2021 in Old Glory

David Vaughan reports on a rare Sentinel timber tractor that has returned to steam after a winter refi Sentinel timber tractor No 9097 Jupiter was first registered in October 1934 and supplied to A Wooton & Sons of Cannock, Staffs. It was acquired by the Claude Jessett Trust in 2006. The engine is classed by Sentinels as a TGP-4hp and weighs in at 8 tons 15 cwt. It is an unusual example of such a tractor in preservation as it has a separate winching engine mounted on the rear. There is a 300-gallon water tank mounted behind the cab, which is usually good for about 50 miles on the road. Goolds of Bristol fitted a new outer box to an existing boiler and also fitted two new cast iron cylinders…

Got a story? Contact Old Glory • Email: peterlove@madasafish.com • Tel: 01323 833125 From Hugh Dougherty comes news that Destined, the charity for children and adults with learning difficulties, which took over the Foyle Valley Railway Museum from Derry & Strabane District Council in 2016, has published details of how it will develop the narrow gauge railway museum over the coming year. The charity’s plan, backed by a £242,100 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland, which was announced in March 2020, says that Destined will reopen the museum as soon as restrictions are eased and that it hopes to welcome 5,000 visitors annually. Repairs are to be carried out to the building and to the railway exhibits which include former County Donegal Railways 2-6-4t, number 6, Columbkille,…

The oscillating-cylinder engine was the most simple type of engine and predominated in the British toy engine market with Mamod, S.E.L., Bowman and others all making good working models using these basic engines, historically with methylated spirit firing. Almost all the very many late 19th and early 20th century German makers such as Bing, Ernst Plank, Joseph Falk, Carette and so on featured oscillating-cylinder engines at the less expensive end of their range of model stationary engines. The English scientific instrument and model makers also used oscillating-cylinder engines to very good effect in their ranges of demonstration models. This group of British engines are usually of great quality and elegance of design, making them beautiful and inspiring sculptures to enjoy in the home. Whilst oscillating-cylinder engines were popular for models…

The editor has recently released a bookazine called Steam Rollers Then and Now P1. In its 100 pages there is a raft of Aveling & Porter genuine convertibles and we look at a selection of them that pop up in its pages here. I have to say the convertible roller were not much good really, they were a compromise and didn’t always fit the right criteria, particularly over their gearing, and really needed a skilled driver to get the best out of them. Early on many Aveling & Porter traction engines were sold as convertibles. However as time went on lighter rollers were needed, particularly from the late 20s. With petrol lorries taking over from steam haulage tractors these engines were saved from scrap in a good number of cases…

In light of the Government’s recent announcements, organisers of the Evesham Vale Light Railway’s Summer Gala & Historic Vehicle Weekend are hoping to run the event on Saturday and Sunday July 10 and 11. The plan is to host a wide variety of vehicles at the 15in line based at Evesham Country Park, Worcestershire, including classic cars, Land Rovers, military vehicles, buses, traction engines and miniature traction engines to compliment an intensive service on the railway. Refreshments will available on site and the event runs from 10.30 until 4.30 each day. All plans are subject to the Government’s guidelines not changing. Contact details for anyone wishing to bring a vehicle are Matt Lambert at 07867 804776, email ml31271@gmail.com or visit www.evlr.co.uk. Postal address: EVLR, The Valley, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4DS.…

A historic railway needs to raise £100,000 in four months in order to ensure its survival. The Kent & East Sussex Railway, which runs between Tenterden, Kent and Bodiam in East Sussex, is set to mark its 60th anniversary this year. However the pandemic saw it closed for much of the last year, with the steam railway saying it desperately needs £100,000 by July to recuperate the losses. Railway commercial manager Andre Freeman, said: “It’s amazing to think that the K&ESR has been a preserved line for as many years as it was originally in operation, having opened in 1901 and closed in 1961. “The fight by volunteers to reopen the line took 13 years to achieve so we are determined it will continue to operate for another 60 years…

This firm, which also had a works at Deptford, Kent, had three steam wagons over time. Allchin No. 415 was new in June 1917 and registered NH 1914. Then came a second-hand Foden at an un-recorded date but which had been new to J & H Robinson of Deptford. This was No. 2368, registered M 2888; subsequently being sold in 1918. The firm subsequently purchased a new Sentinel waggon, No. 8213, a six-wheel DG in April 1930 which was registered GF 8655. This was supplied as one of the very earliest mobile cement mixers and is now in preservation - but not in its original form. Information from the Road Locomotive Society’s records. In the mid-1980s, following the demise of Wallis & Steevens at Basingstoke, BSP International took over the…

When he visited the Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch on one of his visits to New Zealand, Old Glory correspondent Phil Barnes found three British-built railway cranes there. Starting with the oldest first; No. 277 is a 5-ton, 6-wheel hand crane built in Ipswich by Ransomes & Rapier in 1879 and was first used on the 3ft 6in gauge New Zealand Government Railways back then and is now just one of five remaining examples from a group of seventeen cranes ordered through the mid-1870s. It was taken off the NZR stock list in 1964 but fortunately survived scrapping and was acquired by the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society (Canterbury Branch) and moved to Ferrymead in 1970, seeing use on various projects around the site. Moving on to the rarest…

Got a story? Contact Old Glory • Email: peterlove@madasafish.com • Tel: 01323 833125 With a thinning out of the collection and stock following the loss of Bill Best in April 2020, 0-4-0 Bronhilde has been sold. This was the first narrow gauge locomotive Bill purchased (in 1979) for the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway, 2ft gauge 1927 Schwartzkopf 0-4-0 No. 9124 that came from the Bressingham Steam Museum & Gardens which Alan Bloom had acquired in 1974. Unfortunately the engine had not been a success at Bressingham and had a number of issues. The engine ran in an area of restricted height at a copper smelting plant in Hamburg, Germany and featured a much shorter chimney in working times. It was known as Bill’s favourite engine and had worked successfully on…

The County of Salop Steam Engine Society have donated £800 to Shrewsbury’s local NHS following the launch and sale of a special commemorative mug they produced. In the absence of a rally this year, committee member Steve Whitefoot had the idea to produce a special limited edition mug to commemorate ‘The Rally Season That Wasn’t’ and to subsequently raise funds in aid of the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Urgent Appeal. Edward Goddard, Chairman of the Society said: “We really appreciate our NHS and the great service that they provide for us all - more than ever during 2020. We also appreciate that people who have previously purchased one of our yearly rally commemorative mugs wouldn’t want to see a gap in their collection. Our designer Steve Whitefoot created an attractive…

As reported in the March issue of Old Glory Fowler A4 No. 9691 compound is now with Simon Nuttall, not Nuthall! We do apologise about the spelling of his name. The engine moved to its new premises in August 2020, Simon having first negotiated the purchase of the engine in the spring. Simon and Melanie Fisher and Roger Luck, the previous owners, had hoped to do a few final rallies, but alas the pandemic got in their way. However the new owner has promised them an annual steam fix with the engine in the future! The new owner says: “I have spent my adult life in and around steam, firstly on steam narrowboat President and then as fireman on the Talyllyn Railway. It was though seeing miniatures around the rally…

SOLIDO A new livery has been released on Solido’s 1/18 scale diecast 1969 Citroen HY Van [1], that of Spar convenience stores, in cream and green with a grey roof. It sells for £49.99. For that you get opening doors, separate windscreen wipers and mirrors. They’ve captured the shape pretty well, and somehow the grey wheels and tyres look more convincing than on the Vespa version previously issued. BOS MODELS From BoS (Best of Show) Models in 1/18 scale comes a 1952 Packard Henney hearse resin model [2]. Coachbuilders the Henney Motor Company, once the world’s largest producer of ambulances and hearses, entered into a semi-exclusive arrangement with Packard in 1937. This ‘Nu-3-Way’ side-servicing hearse was proclaimed as being ‘For those that want the finest.’ The model is limited to…

On the Australian holiday long weekend over 6-8 March, the Sheffield Steam & Heritage Centre ran its 27th Annual SteamFest Tasmania, Australia says Chris Martin. With the uncertainties of this Covid-19 world, it was touch and go right up to the event with the Covid-19 Event Plan receiving Department of Public Health approval only three weeks before the event. Numerous disagreeable conditions of approval were worked through and ultimately camping for volunteers was allowed on site along with ticket sales outside the gate. Even with marketing ‘no gate ticket sales’ 30 percent of the patrons turned up without a pre-sold ticket and bought at the stop gap gate sales arrangement approved four days before the event as a variation to the Covid-19 plan. Our Covid-19 plan approval covered us for…

Herbert Epton has always been involved in transport, firstly with steam traction engines, and later with diesel lorries. Now 94 years old, Herbert retired from the family firm many years ago, but still remembers the days when transport was ruled by steam. One of his treasured possessions is a 1929 photograph of him with his grandfather, Herbert Snr, in front of a Foster steam tractor. “It was my grandfather who founded the business,” Herbert said, “He was a bricklayer by trade, but in 1914 he started his own business here at New Bolingbroke.” As well as being involved in taking farmer’s produce to the local railway station, H Epton & Son (the ‘son’ referring to Herbert Jnr’s father Charles) were basically agricultural contractors, which included steam threshing that utilised Foster…

Celebrating its 90th year, the Scarborough North Bay Railway will enter the 2021 season with new owners. John Kerr and Peter Bryant took over the company that runs the historic attraction on March 1. Scarborough’s North Bay Railway opened on May 23 1931 and has become a landmark in the town. For many years, the trains were run by Scarborough Borough Council until privatisation in 2006. Its then owner David Humphreys and his team made a raft of upgrades including the addition of new rolling stock, station buildings and lakeside attractions. John and Peter have run the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway in northeast Lincolnshire since 2014, and look to bring their enthusiasm and expertise to North Bay, including additional attractions. Director John Kerr commented “The railway in Scarborough is an…

If you have something for this column please send it to: colin.tyson@kelsey.co.uk The Middleton Railway has announced its intention to reopen to the public from Sunday May 23. The railway’s shop and cafe will reopen for indoor trading at the same time. Steam trains will operate every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday every hour between 10.30am and 3.30pm until the end of June, when it is hoped to re-introduce Saturday services, assuming that the distance and additional cleaning rules could then be suspended. An extra day, Wednesday June 2, diesel service will operate for the school half term, again hourly from 10.30am. Current distancing rules remain in place until relaxed by the Government and the Trust will take all practical measures to make the railway a Covidsecure environment. It is…

In 1987, from his home in Essex, a very young engineer by the name of Duncan Sanders constructed a 1 inch scale Henry Greenly miniature traction engine, it proved a great success. But his passion for steam, and in particular Fowler engines, stems from a very early age when he was helped up into the cab of that superb Fowler Showman’s engine Carry On owned by the Saunders family. Barrie C Woods tells the story. Matters have moved on just a little since then with progression into a 3 inch A7 Fowler built in the ensuing years, next a 4 inch BB ploughing engine. All this was a tremendous learning curve for Duncan, who was then joined by his dedicated wife Patricia, who is an established artist and not only…

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW, OUT: June issue out 28 May! Tel: 01959 541444 – shop.kelsey.co.uk SENTINELS IN THE WOODS Tony Thomas reveals the range the company made over the years. LORD ROBERTS STORY P2 Stephen Cotton tells us more of this fascinating story and his family connection. FODEN TIMBER TRACTOR Derek Rayner tells us about a Foden sixwheeler that has survived the passage of time. UNIPOWER Nick Baldwin delves into the history of this famous company. TIMBER TRANSPORT IN PRESERVATION Bob Moorman shares some archive photos of steam timber tractors. PAUL BROWN’S PRESERVATION BEAUTIES The editor takes a look. • Letters • News • Models • Sales Scene • Vintage World and much more!! NEWS EXTRA Ex-BBC 1972 TROTTERS INDEPENDENT TRADING VAN MAKES £36,000! “This time next year Rodney, we’ll…

Got a story? Contact Old Glory • Email: peterlove@madasafish.com • Tel: 01323 833125 Following our announcement that 1909 Burrell 5hp No.3090 Fermoy had been sold in October 2020 to Stuart Phillips in Cheshire, he has been making great strides with the engine and now has it fully stripped down. This famous engine was new in 1904 to Pool & Bosco, fairground people from Birmingham. It was later with Thomas Cunliffe, a well-known showman also from Birmingham, and then with Therese Shepard, yet another Birmingham-based operator. Into preservation times Fermoy was with W A Bishop of Burley and then Dick Woolley of Bucknall, Salop who in fact owned the engine twice! Later on Kenneth Miles of Charminster in Dorset owned this 5hp engine and it was one of the GDSF stars…

Founder member Dave Preuhs tells Old Glory all about the Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association and how it started in Minnesota, USA. “I had always been interested in old stuff, even at an early age and being raised on the family’s ‘Century Farm’ it was easy to find some old artefacts tucked away in the old buildings. With my dad and grandfather still living at that time, they could fill me in on some of the past history of the farm.” When Dave was in his early 20s he got interested in having an ‘good old reliable’ John Deere D like his dad had in earlier times. He can remember going to the local JD dealer in Le Sueur with dad when he bought a ‘new’ 1958 JD 620.…

PART 5 EXCAVATOR RANGE EXPANDED With the clear success of the Ruston 12-Ton fully-revolving excavator, several sizes of these machines were added to the company’s roster over the next decade or so. First was the 8-Ton Crane Navvy introduced in 1909 with 1½-yard bucket and tipping the scales at 30 tons. Built on similar design to the 12-Ton, over 60 of this model were produced. Other models of various sizes were designed and built: 2½-yard 15-Ton in 1910, followed by the 16-Ton (1911), 18-Ton (1912), and 20-Ton (1913). About this time the models began being referred to as model numbers instead of tons capacity, e.g. the 8-Ton became the No.8, 20-Ton became the No.20, etc. The 3½-yard No.30 followed in 1918, but only five of this model were built. If…

Orenstein & Koppel steam locomotive No. 7529 of 1914 had a hard life working in a sand quarry in France for over 50 years prior to waiting patiently for rebuilding in the UK for another 50 years and is now fully restored to operational condition at the Golden Valley Light Railway. It is expected to be hauling passenger trains on advertised dates when Covid restrictions are lifted, following a very heavy overhaul that took over 20 years. The GVLR is a 2ft gauge line based at the Swanwick Junction complex of the Midland Railway – Butterley at Ripley, Derbyshire. The locomotive, an 0-4-0 Well Tank loco, is privately owned by GVLR members Eddie and Pat Draper, and arrived at Swanwick on January 28, 1995. The locomotive was built in July…

Crich Tramway Village, home to the National Tramway Museum, re-opened its outside areas from mid-April, subject to Covid-19 guidelines. The Derbyshire attraction will be open Saturdays through to Thursdays from 10am to 4.30pm (last admissions 3pm) under Government guidance for Step 2. Outside areas including the outdoor playground and woodland walk are accessible and there will be limited trams running. General Manager Dr Mike Galer said: “The same Covid-19 measures will be in place as we operated last season, including social distancing, hand sanitising, PPE for staff, screens at information points and tills and take-away catering service, with some outside seating.” The trams, crewed by volunteers, will be limited, and face coverings should be worn as per the national guidance for public transport. Visitors will need to book a timed…

PART 2 With the growth in road traffic and construction of new roads plus the improvement of old roads, there was a need for a more efficient way of breaking-up the old roads. BSP found that hand-held air-driven hammers were impractical for large-scale road-breaking duties as a result of the noise - plus the fatigue of the operator. Initially BSP used a McKiernan-Terry No. 5 hammer suspended from shear legs and operated on steam to break-up a large engine foundation. It then applied the hammer to road work with a considerable degree of success in breaking-up an old tram track. For one project, they mounted a hammer on a tramway car using compressed air and, for another, mounted a hammer on the back of a steam wagon. The hammer arrangement…

Got a story?: Contributions welcomed by Derek Rayner, email: derekinvicta1915@gmail.com Renowned steam preservationist, the late John Crawley, took a family holiday to the Mediterranean in 1967, via Belgium and Germany and when he was driving across Lake Lugano’s causeway in Switzerland, which was in the process of being widened for a new highway, he spotted a steam roller at the side of the road. This surprised him somewhat and since he was towing a speedboat at the time, it was not very easy to stop just there. However, he drove into the works area, much to the consternation of lorries waiting to unload aggregate. Luckily the foreman spoke perfect English and told him to be quick in getting his required photo. It was then explained in German to the waiting…

Following the item about the tea processing machinery in OG 372, Keith Grimsay has very kindly provided some information about this and sent an interesting photo of a tea machine worksplate. He bought this at a sale at Diss, Norfolk, a few years ago. Researches by Keith have revealed that Marshall’s were doing very good business in India and the Far East from 1927 until 1929 when there was a considerable downturn as a result of local problems. However, the design of a new machine restored their fortunes and sales rose accordingly. The introduction of the ‘Briton’ teapacker, from which the plate comes, continued the upward trend and a new rice huller was designed and produced at Marshall’s Agarpara factory in the north of Calcutta. However, satisfactory sales of this…