Table of contents for April 2024 in Old Glory

You are ALL welcome to join in, please do! If you have a story or pictures no matter what, do get in touch peterlove@madasafish.com Tel: 01323 833125. David Reed Editor-at-large - Former York school teacher who has worked with the editor since 1995 and has a wealth of knowledge on steam, commercials and tractors. Derek Rayner Technical and Vintage World Editor - Derek’s knowledge is extensive, a steam roller owner since the 1960s and a world traveller in search of nothing but the best. Bob Moorman Rally Archive Editor-This former engineering inspector is a fount of knowledge and has been rallying since the 70s. His own restos are award winners, as his ex-Kings 1927 Foden will be now that it’s finished! Mike Neale Diecast Models Editor – It’s a great…

Great news that 1920 Aveling & Porter GND No. 9183 5 ton tractor The Pirate is all completed and is heading back to East Sussex. It needed major boiler work when purchased by the Yeoman family and the engine was sent to Allison Engineering who have replaced the boiler barrel, throat plate, backhead section and so much more. It looks very good indeed and the Yeomans are hoping to have it touring around Ticehurst by the late summer.…

Although running late, the Science Museum’s progress at its Wroughton Reserve Collection at Wroughton Airfield is coming on well and it’s set for some open days in the autumn of 2024, yes we did originally say 2023! Building One is now being filled and looks very impressive indeed, says Anthony Coulls, with thousands of objects coming together some familiar and others not, including things we have all forgotten about including the 1871 Hornsby 6hp portable No. 1851 and such like. Old Glory readers, many of whom have been in touch with the editor, look forward I am sure to supporting this new vision and visiting the premises, hopefully in 2024.…

If you’ve always dreamt of driving a train you’ll want to head straight to the Severn Valley Railway this year to turn your wishes into reality. The popular heritage line has launched a new, enhanced programme of steam and diesel footplate experiences, running from June to October. Four different packages will be available, and each one includes tickets for up to 10 friends and family to travel on the train you’ll be driving! Starting from just £400, including travel tickets for your 10 guests, the steam experiences will see you driving and firing one of the SVR’s locomotives, and include a safety briefing and detailed instructions and guidance from the experienced crew on the footplate. There are three levels of steam footplate experience - bronze, silver and gold - and…

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 all in the pages of Old Glory. EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE 1. GO TO SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/OGLAD 2. CALL US 01959 543747 QUOTE OGLAD 3. USE THIS QR CODE TO GO…

NEWS LATEST… DAVID SMITH It is so sad to report the death of David Smith, who was based in the West Midlands. He did so much for the National Traction Engine Trust - he was their vice-chairman and for many years managed the Technical Services Unit, organising many of the systems used by the Trust. He was the 'go to man' and was meticulous in all his work. He ran the various breakdown recovery schemes for the Trust and if you hadn’t got the paperwork quite right he would ring you and, in a pleasant way, go through it with you to get the facts straight. He was also an engine owner for many years and came from a family steeped in steam. David owned the 1925 Aveling & Porter…

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Well sadly the big news this month is not good news, as on Saturday 17 February it was announced by Glyn Macdonald, chairman of the Lincolnshire Steam & Vintage Rally, that the event held at the Lincoln Showground on the third weekend in August is finished, after making a loss over the last two years. This was the third largest rally in the UK and is now to be no more. I went to the first rally here some 38 years ago and the weather was not good, it was windy and very cloudy, and rained later in the day. From this dismal start the event went on to have many highs over the years and was organised with such great enthusiasm. In the letter sent out by Glyn he…

From Malcolm Robinson comes the latest update from the Leyland Society: following the success of the 2023 Gathering, we will return to Leyland this year and the British Commercial Vehicle Museum have kindly agreed to host our event on Sunday 7 July 2024. This year will celebrate the 60 anniversary of two major Leyland products, the Ergomatic cab and Leyland Panther bus chassis. The Ergomatic cab was introduced on Leyland, AEC and Albion trucks in 1964 and significantly improved driver comfort on the Leyland Group models. Similarly, the Panther was one of the first rear underfloor-engine models introduced to the British market and was supplied to many operators throughout the country. Attendance of these vehicle types at our event would be especially appreciated to help celebrate these milestones. Vehicle entry…

An engine that has been doing the rounds in the north-west in 2023 is 1913 Aveling & Porter GND No. 8030 KT125 English Princess. The engine has been shown in ‘dust included’ patina'd condition having said to have been stored in a barn since 1977. English Princess carries a full-length canopy that gives a certain style. It had formerly been with J D Woodward of Papplewick, Nottinghamshire and is now with the Baines and Jacobs families. We wish them every success and look forward to hearing more about the engine which is great to see back on the scene. Got a story? Contact Old Glory Email: peterlove@madasafish.com Tel: 01323 833125…

A recent presentation of £1300 was made to Dorothy House Hospice Care at Winsley, Wiltshire by the Chairman and Secretary of The Wessex Stationary Engine Club Ltd. This amount was raised at our Vintage Gathering that was staged at Bradford Leigh, Bradford on Avon in late September 2023. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all those lovely people that came along and supported us over the weekend and gave generously to our chosen charity. Through its success the club will be staging the event once again this year in September. We have also supported The Alzheimer’s Society in the past and our main charity is The Children’s Hospice South West. We will be holding a two-day Vintage Steam & Vehicle Rally on 15 & 16 June 2024…

CORGI Corgi have released a set of three 1/43 scale Wallace and Gromit vans from the Aardman Animations films, the Austin A35 Van Collection of Cheese Please!, Top Bun (from ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’), and Spick & Spanmobile van (from ‘The Big Fix Up’), selling for £67.99 [1]. The Cheese Please! van can also be bought on its own for £31.99. The van body is modified from the standard flat roof to a high-roof shape for added storage capacity. Whether anyone ever modified a real A35 van to this form I rather doubt, but it is the sort of thing that Wallace might have done. AUTOCULT AND TRACTORISM New from Autocult in 1/43 scale is a resin model of a 1926 Renault Type LO Camion Pompier (fire truck)…

The Maskinrummet Museum at Skagen in Denmark has a most unusual exhibit in the form of a Crossley SE220 engine mounted in a container on wheels; this was done to make it transportable and therefore capable of being exhibited at shows etc, elsewhere, reports Phil Barnes. The benefit of this container-based location is that this large and very heavy exhibit is not taking up floor space in the main museum! Not only is there the two-cylinder engine ‘in the box’ but also a belt-driven generator and a small Crossley engine that is now used to charge the air receiver for air-starting the SE220. Turning the clock back, this machine was procured under ‘Order No. 6256’ which is dated 29 September 1924. For delivery, the engine was taken directly by ship…

The OBR (Ocean Beach Railway) at Dunedin is New Zealand’s oldest heritage railway and these days only has two steam locos in its potentially operational fleet, writes Phil Barnes. There are seven ‘steamers’ on the railway’s stock list; these being Neilson-built D6 (transferred to Lumsden), Dübs A66 (at the Waimea Plains Railway); F111 and Fowler PWD 540 - together with F150 - out on lease to the Southern Steam Train Trust. When the railway is operational these days, it uses diesels, one being Drewry 0-4-0 Tr 81 (another British product). Turning back to the ‘potentially’ operational steamers; these are Kerr Stuart No. 4185 of 1929 (see OG343) and Dübs A67 of 1873. All these locos have’sisters’ which have been covered in previous Old Glory magazines. 4185 arrived in New Zealand…

FOWLER Born in 1826 into a prominent Wiltshire family of farmers and industrialists, John Fowler was apprenticed to Edgar Gilkes, a fellow Quaker from Nailsworth who had started a business making locomotives for the Stephensons as well as bridges and colliery winding gear in Middlesborough. Also working there was Quaker Edgar Fry of the prominent Bristol confectionery dynasty. Gilkes and Fowler soon formed a business partnership which, after Fowler’s time, became the well-known Bristol Wagon Works (which see). Fowler had meanwhile become intrigued by the possibility of mechanical ploughing and, after a visit to witness the Irish potato famine, determined to improve drainage and cultivation techniques. His enormous strides in this field are described in detail in the Story of the Steam Plough Works by Michael R Lane. Fowler patented…

To the 2024 OLD GLORY EVENTS GUIDE! It’s that time of year, we all need to leave behind the cold winter and start looking forward to the upcoming preservation events, which will be taking place all over the UK. These Old Glory Events Guide books are essential to plan your season ahead, when we can take to the roads and fields of our green and pleasant lands. At the same time, we will be enjoying the skills of the restorers which are hopefully being passed on to the younger generation as we want them to continue this rich preservation heritage. We in the UK and Ireland are the world leaders in such work, which contributes immensely to our economy in so many positive ways. However, our public events are under…

As we reported last month, 1926 Aveling & Porter 10hp No. 9449 tramway locomotive with an 8hp road locomotive boiler is having boiler repairs as we speak under Jamie Allen’s careful hands in Cambridgeshire. These include the replacement of the necked crown stays, tubeplace and front boiler barrel repairs. When looking at the engine she has been well looked after over the years and had a firebox by Maskells in the 1980s. All being well the engine should be back on the rails in the autumn. Got a story? Contact Old Glory Email: peterlove@madasafish.com Tel: 01323 833125…

I t’s no wonder that Waverley Excursions general manager Paul Semple is smiling. Not only has he completed five years at the helm of company that runs PS Waverley, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, but for the first time since he took over in 2019, there’s been no need for an appeal to keep the famous paddler paddling. “We had our best season for years in 2023 and we carried a record 157,000 passengers on the Clyde, the Bristol Channel, from south coast of England piers and on the Thames. That means we raised enough to cover this winter’s repairs and dry docking for the first time since I took the hot seat and we’re absolutely delighted,” said Paul. Winter maintenance is currently underway with desk planking being replaced…

The Nantmel Tractor Run will be held on Sunday 7 July, 2024. This popular run around the scenic lanes of Radnorshire is organised by the Tractor Enthusiasts of Nantmel, who have taken the decision to move the event a fortnight earlier due to the organisers being heavily involved in organising the world championship motorcycle enduro round being held in Rhayader at the beginning of August. For more information about the event please contact the secretary, Anne Bates, Little Gigrin, Rhayader. Powys LD6 5NU or phone John on 07721 910405 or by email anne.trials@btinternet.com or T.E.N facebook page.…

After last year’s Welsh National Tractor Road Run ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ organised by Ian Davies and his team from the Neath Steam and Vintage Show committee in the Neath and Dulas valleys, the 2024 Run will move back to Mid-Wales. The WNTRR 2024 will take place at Llanwrtyd Wells, famed as the smallest town in Britain, and will take place on 16 June, 2024, just a week after the famous man verses horse marathon. The Run will take in the scenic beauty of the former Victorian Spa town, one of four in the Heart of Wales to which thousands of visitors come to take the waters. The event will be organised on behalf of the WNTRR by the Llanwrtyd Tractor Enthusiasts who are well known participants around the tractor run…

120-YEAR-OLD MIETZ & WEISS ENGINE RELOCATED IN SWEDEN Dear Editor Although pictured and mentioned in Dustin M. Erikson’s book about the firm Mietz & Weiss in 2002, the engine was not tracked and rediscovered until earlier in 2023. When the book was re-read earlier in the year we took notice and begun to investigate whereabouts it might be, as it had never come to light officially. After some research, both geographically and genealogically, the engine was rediscovered and eventually relocated to the RUBENS collection. This neat little hot-bulb engine, No. 2688, is rated at just 1hp and estimated to be a 1903 engine based on the info provided by Dustin M. Erikson’s book. Virtually complete and with just some minor damage it immediately became a target for restoration and hopefully…

During a cruise ship stop at La Coruña in North-west Spain, Phil Barnes visited the ‘free to enter’ Museum of Science & Technology (MUNCYT) there where he found a Clayton & Shuttleworth single-cylinder portable engine on display within its unusual glass building. Taking advantage of the good light inside the museum, as a result of its potentially unique method of construction, the engine was photographed from all angles in the hope of recording a worksplate or serial number somewhere on it; both of which were extremely elusive! The brief description provided, indicated that it was a Clayton & Shuttleworth engine built in Lincolnshire circa 1890. On returning home, Phil tried somewhat unsuccessfully to find out more about the engine, but only basic information came up about it. He therefore contacted…

Old Glory’s German correspondent, Busso Hennecke, advises that Rudolf Wolf founded his firm, R. Wolf, in Magdeburg-Buckau in 1862, the year it produced its first portable engine which is now on display in the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Consequent upon World War One and the closure of John Fowler’s Magdeburg works, the firm moved into the vacated premises. It’s known that Wolf engines were sold through the Australian agency, Haes & Eggers Ltd. in Sydney; it’s believed from around 1910 onwards. Recent research by Alexander Müller - the great-great grandson of the founder - has resulted in the discovery of a Wolf stationary engine in far-away Australia. This engine, works number 7332, was manufactured in 1899. Alex spotted it on the internet being exhibited at Wauchope in New South Wales…

Our sales listing features agricultural, commercial, steam and bygones old and new, which are being offered at auction. If you have something coming up and it’s not currently listed, please contact us jaynelove@btinternet.com – 01323 833125. MARCH 22 – Reserved for Sale of Deutz Tractor, Bobcat Skidsteer, Machinery, Livestock Equipment. Staffordshire/Cheshire Border. Bagshaws, tel: 01889 562811. 22 - Kidderminster Machinery Sale. The Gallops, Stanklyn Lane, Stone, Kidderminster DY10 4AR. Halls, tel: 01562 820880. 22 - Online Plant & Machinery Sundry Items Auction. Brightwells, www.brightwells.com 22 to 27 - Online Machinery Sale. York Machinery Sales, www.ylc.co.uk 23 – Spring Collective Sale of Tractors, Machinery, Livestock & Farm Equipment, Household & Agricultural Sundries. Honiton Showground, Stockers Farm, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3AW. Stags, tel: 07968 122198. 23 – Farmers’ Spring Machinery Sale. Adjacent…

21st-24th March THE STEAM GALA Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, The Railway Station, Haworth, West Yorkshire BD22 8NJ Tel: 01535 645214 Email: admin@kwvr.co.uk Admission: See website for details www.kwvr.co.uk 23rd March ROUTE 62 & 145 HERITAGE DAY London Bus Museum at Brooklands, Cobham Hall, Brooklands Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0QS Tel: 01932 837994 Email: londonbusmuseum@btinternet.com www.londonbusmuseum.com Opens: 10am-5pm Free bus rides. 23rd March STEAM WITH THE TEAM Abbey Pumping Station Museum, Corporation Road, Leicester LE4 5PX Tel: 01162 995111 Email: enquiries@abbeypumpingstation.org www.abbeypumpingstation.org Admission: Adult £7, Concs £6, Child £3, U5’s Free (Advance discounts available) Opens: 11am-4.30pm 23rd March CO ARMAGH VINTAGE VEHICLE CLUB TRACTOR & ROAD RUN Masonic Hall Car Park, Main Street, Market Hill, County Armagh, N Ireland Entry Fee: £15 Registration: 10am. Leaving 11am Tractors, 11.20am Cars wwwcountyarmaghvintagevehicleclub.co.uk…

28th April THE CHESHIRE RUN 90-mile circular tour of Cheshire and North Shropshire Email: thecheshirerun@hotmail.com 28th April SPRING BUS SHOW Amberley Museum, New Barn Road, Amberley, Near Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9LT Tel: 01798 831370 Email: office@amberleymuseum.co.uk www.amberleymuseum.co.uk Admission: Adults (18+) £17, Concs £15, Child (5-16) £8.50, Family (2+3) £49.50, Family (1+3) £35 Opens: 10am-4.30pm 28th April TOY & RAIL COLLECTORS FAIR Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, Sheffield Park TN22 3QL Tel: 07752 867427 Email: info@bluebell-railway.co.uk www.bluebell-railway.com Opens: 10am-4pm 28th April EARLY SPRING STEAM UP Westonzoyland, Pumping Station, Hoopers Lane, Westonzoyland, Bridgwater TA7 0LS Tel: 01278 691595 Email: steamteam@wzlet.org www.wzlet.org Admission: See website for details Opens: 11am-4pm 28th April STEAMING DAY Bancroft Mill Engine Museum, Gillians Lane, Barnoldswick BB18 5QR Tel: 07830 027081 Email: info@bancroftmill.org.uk www.bancroftmill.org.uk Admission: Adult £7, Concs…