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Great Chesterford Steam Up
The annual
Great Chesterford Steam Up took place on October 3rd. The village was filled
with vintage tractors and vehicles of all types, and Ann Perrett presented
her fair on the Village Green. A wide selection of Stationary Engines was on
display on Coronation Green. The full size steam engines were split between
the two pubs. At the Plough, Ruston “Success”, owned by the Pumfrey Family
and Fowler “Tillie”, owned by Adrian Culpin were in the company of two
fairground organs, being owned by Keith Honour and Andrew Waling. At the
Crown and Thistle were two Ransomes engines, “Garioch Queen” and “Chieftain”
owned by Barry Peacock and Stephen Haylock respectively. No event in this
area is complete without “Ada”, the Fowler Traction Engine owned by David
Gowlett, which has been in preservation around here since 1947. These
engines were joined by Kevin Swann’s Garrett Showman’s Tractor “Lord
George”, making its first appearance after an extensive rebuild. There were
also a number of miniature engines splitting their time between the two
pubs, and another organ, the very pleasant Pleur street organ owned by Ian
Crisp. This event is always well supported by the locals and used by a
number of village organisations as a fundraising opportunity. It’s nice to
see community spirit is alive and well in Great Chesterford! |
Photo by Clive
Flack |
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Steam at Audley End
The day after
the Steam Up at Chesterford saw a number of members drop into Audley End
Miniature Railway for the afternoon. Three full size engines attended, being
the Ransomes “Chieftain”, Ruston “Success” and Fowler “Tillie”. These were
supported by the fair organ of Keith Honour, and a number of miniatures,
cars and tractors. It was a lovely relaxed gathering, and we hope to go back
again next year.
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DINNER
The Society’s
Annual Dinner was held at Whittlesford on October 24th. 93 guests sat down
to an excellent meal, as always provided by Poppies Catering of Steeple
Bumpstead.
This year’s
Guest Speaker was Glyn MacDonald, a man with a lifetime’s involvement in
steam. Along with his father they were heavily involved in working on and
running the engines owned by Darby’s of Sutton, Cambs., as well as their own
engines. In earlier days the family firm were Fowler dealers, and they own
one of the engines originally sold through MacDonalds. Glyn is now organiser
of the Lincoln Steam and Vintage Rally, and has been for a number of years
ably assisted by his wife, Sharon.
After the
dinner a number of Society trophies were awarded. The Ben Taylor Trophy was
presented to Will Childs, a long time supporter of Club activities and
events. The Challenge Cup went to Thomas Baines from Bardney in Lincs., for
the effort he makes in attending our events and for his ongoing restoration
of a Marshall “Britannia” type Portable Engine. Trevor Salter received the
Mick Charles rose bowl for his work with the Stationary Engine section at
the Chesterford Steam Up, and the Mick and Jackie Charles Shield went to
Terry Fowler, for the excellent job he did with the Trade Stands at this
year’s Thurlow Rally. It was an appropriate presentation, as Mick and Jackie
organised the trade at Thurlow for many years.
When the
official business was out of the way, live music was provided by the band
“All Of A Sudden”. A good time was had by all, and we look forward to next
year’s Dinner, on October 23rd 2010.
A vote of
thanks must go to Maureen Pumfrey for the tremendous amount of effort she
puts every year into making sure the Dinner is a success.
On the
Sunday a number of the dinner guests decided to steam Ruston Proctor
Traction Engine “Success” and trundle to the Ickleton Lion for a very
pleasant pub lunch. “Success” then stayed in Ickleton for a week, courtesy
of Mr. Rule, ready for the AGM.
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AGM
The Annual
General Meeting of the Society and Club took place on Saturday, 31st October
at Ickleton Village Hall, Cambs. Some of the members may remember the steam
rallies held at Ickleton in the early 1960s. Outside the hall were two
Ruston engines, the 7nhp Traction Engine Success owned by the Pumfrey
family, and the model Steam Tractor just purchased by Committee member John
Hunt. Business was concluded at a good speed with no major controversy.
Changes to the Committee line-up are as follows:
Andrew Grass and Jonathan Wheeler have stood down due to work
commitments and we thank them for their efforts. We are pleased to welcome
David Pick as our new Treasurer. Our esteemed President Robert Pumfrey had
reached the end of his term of office and stood down, being presented with
an engraved commemorative shovel in recognition of his work, not just as
President but over his 39 years on the Committee. Keith Honour has been
elected to the post of President, he will be known to many of you as owner
of a fine Burrell Showman’s Engine, and we look forward to working with him
in future.
The committee conveyed its thanks to Ann Jackson, for acting
as treasurer in the absence of a replacement since she stood down last year,
and also sent its best wishes to Pat Freeman, our Publicity Officer, who is
convalescing after a spell in hospital.
After the AGM we were treated to an excellent buffet, with
thanks to Jan Taberer, and then an auction of steam books. A pleasant
afternoon was rounded off by a film and video show.
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Success and
wagon in Ickleton. Photo by J West |
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A LINE UP OF ROLLERS AT THE ESSEX COUNTRY SHOW,
BARLEYLANDS ON SEPT. 12 AND 13TH.
Pictures and notes by Alex Bareham
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A Fairground scene with Terry Maynard’s Burrell
showman’s engine No. 3865 being belted up to drive the gallopers behind..
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This is an
unusual "Nuffrush"
A Ruston roller converted in 1962 by the Nuffield Tractor Co. for
commercial work. No. 52694 and owned by Allen Eaton of Northampton.
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In the fore ground is Wallis
and Stevens advanced roller No. 0907 owned by Alan Brice of Sellinge, Kent. |
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Of eight known Ruston rollers in preservation, six were at
the show |
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ROUGHAM 27th -
28th JUNE
Pictures by
Alex Bareham
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Burrell
Showman's engine No. 3865
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Engine line
up. Clayton and Shuttleworth works No 48224 is in the foreground.
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Simon Wyeld
with the Ruston Proctor T.E. No. 34987. Driving Jonathan Wheeler's saw
bench.
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Kevin
Higgins's Fowler Road Roller is in the
foreground.
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Aveling and Porter
Steam Roller
"The Old Girl’s
History" by Matthew Garwood
9th March 2009 |
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The Aveling and Porter
steam roller,works number 2941, was sold new to the Weston
Highway's department in December 1891. This later became Bath
RDC. The engine build sheet describes her as an R10 (10 ton
steam roller), fitted to boiler number 1473 and erected by
Walters. She was fitted with a water lifter and 217ft of 1 ¾” 2
ply Indian rubber suction hose with union and nozzle. A name
plate with “WESTON HIGHWAY BOARD” was also fitted. It is also
believed she may have been fitted with cotton reel steering,
although Avelings are thought to have stopped using this system
the year before. It is known that she had a form of deadweight
scraper fitted. There is a gap in her history as little is known
of Weston Highways Board or Bath RDC.
In October 1906 2941 returned to Aveling works for extensive
boiler repairs. An entry in the hydraulic test book shows that
she had a new boiler barrel with man-hole fitted, tube plate,
inner steel fire box, tubes and rings. The boiler was then
stamped with boiler number 5190 and marked with boiler maker
Ablington.
She moved onto Barnes Brothers, Southwick and was No 19 in their
fleet. This was possibly around 1906 when they are known to have
expanded their business. It is possible 2941 was sold back to
Aveling's by Bath RDC, hence the boiler work and Barnes bought
her from them. Barnes were a well know contracting company and
owned several engines. The company was started in the 1880’s by
Thomas Barnes as a threshing contractor. By 1890 he is recorded
has also offering road rolling services from his yard in
Southwick, Wiltshire. By 1900’s he was regularly working on
County Council contracts. Thomas Barnes died around 1903/1905,
and the business was taken on by his sons Henry & Sydney and
expanded further. The company also changed its name to Barnes
Brothers. In 1915 the company advertised as Steam haulage,
removals, steam rollers & general engineers. They also
established an automobile engineers in Castle Street,
Trowbridge. The company continued to expand and in 1918 bought
some new steam rollers from Aveling & Porter. It is possibly
around this time that 2491 was sold to make way for the new
rollers.
By 1921 she had moved to British Tar Spraying Company of Newark,
Notts, where she was registered AL9463. Again little is know of
this company.
From the British Tar spraying Co she moved to Lockwood of
Westgate on Sea in Kent. Lockwood was a large building company
at Westgate on Sea, owned by Arthur Reed. 2941 was kept in
an open fronted shed at Westgate just off the dual carriageway
on the Margate - Birchington road next to the Ursuline Convent.
The engine shed still stands. Tax discs for 2941 show that she
was used in Kent from 1927.
She was sold into preservation in June 1963 when she was bought
by the Fred Pegden. The Pegden brothers owned several engines in
the early days of preservation. They had an interest in 2941
since their brother had driven this roller for a living before
he went off to fight in the First World War, from which he never
returned. Whilst with Pedgens 2941 was always known as “the Ol’
Gal”. (They actually referred to all their engines by this
name). The pictures below show her in 1963 when she was just
bought by Pegdens.
Fred then sold 2941 to Trevor Lewis Evans of Herne Bay, Kent
in August 1972. Around this time she was painted chocolate
brown, and named Sanboo. Trevor attended a number of the old
Kent Rallies on 2941, regularly driving her there under her own
steam, along with many eventful stories.
She was sold at the Canterbury Auction to TG Philpott of Hawley
Kent in 1975, and in 1989 sold on to Bill Hedges of Faversham,
Kent. I believe that she was based at the Chatham Docklands
Museum whilst under this ownership but rarely rallied. In 1990
she was sold on to Jim Bates of Ewell Minnis in Kent. Here she
was fitted with a new tender and several other parts were
replaced, including a new front axle.
In March 2003 she was bought by the present owners Matt Garwood
& family and moved to Sudbury, Suffolk. From the first meeting
with 2941 she was known as “The Old Girl” and the name has
stuck. The Old Girl was rallied for 2 years, covering around 350
miles, to local shows, all at 2.75mph. In 2005 the firebox
became too thin and she was fitted with a new firebox and
overhauled in 2006 to 2008. This work was completed in March
2008 and the Old Girl once again has a healthy boiler. Full
restoration is ongoing since she exhibits over a century of wear
and tear.
Over the years the Old Girl has had many repairs and
alterations. There is evidence that she was involved in a front
- end accident at some point in her life since both chain guides
show heavy repairs. There is also damage to her original smoke
box (recently replaced) and brackets for the steering drum.
Other anomalies include the deadweight scraper, which are shown
in pictures of her whilst with the Pegden Brother in 1963. These
appear to be a mixed design between the earlier deadweight
scraper which located off the cotton reel steering shaft and the
latter sprung loaded scraper mounting which fixed onto a bar
bolted onto the steering drum brackets. Unfortunately these
brackets are no longer on the engine but the photos show a
unique system not seen on other rollers.
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| Aveling & Porter AL9463
in Fred Pegdens Yard – Elham Kent – 1963 |
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Aveling & Porter AL9463 when
first owned by Fred Pegden at an early Kent Steam Rally in 1963
- 1964
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Aveling & Porter AL9463
undergoing major boiler work in 2006 |
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Aveling & Porter AL9463
undergoing major boiler work in 2007 - 2008 |
| Aveling & Porter AL9463
at Aldham rally 2008 |
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AL 9463 with
Aveling NO1224 |
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