Raising Steam 1997 Vol.11 No.4

RAISING STEAM

STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB MAGAZINE

EDITOR

Barry Sumsion, 1 Leicester Road, Newport, South Wales NP9 7ER Tel: 01633 262197 Fax: 01633 259089

CHAIRMAN, STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB

John Durling, Hawthorn Cottage, Stubwood, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5HX

Tel: 01889 591188 (between 08.00 and 21.00 hours only please)

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

John Cook, Dolfarni, Church Lane, Kirby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU. Correspondence only. Membership fee £3.00 per annum.

The Editor welcomes any contributions of articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issues. All material submitted is voluntary and payment cannot be made for any material published. The opinions expressed in the magazine, with the exception of Club announcements, are those of the contributors and do not indicate the views of the Club as a whole. All items are held copyright by the contributor and the NTET.

Please send your contributions to the Editor at least five weeks before publication. Typed articles are preferred but not essential. If handwritten put any names of PEOPLE, PLACES or ENGINES in BLOCK CAPITALS. If you require any part of your article (eg photos) returning please say so and enclose a stamped addressed envelope. Enclose your name, address and (if Apprentice) age with any contribution.

The Editor reserves the right to amend or refuse contributions, and will attempt to correct spelling and grammar!

The Magazine is normally published during the early part of January, April, July and October. The Club accepts no liability for failure to meet intended publication dates.

The Steam Apprentice Club is a section of the National 'l'raction F,,ngineTrust. NTET is a Registered Charity, No. 291578. Registered in l1ln1(land No. rn02197. Registered Office: Forum House, 1-6 Millmead, Middlmielx~rWJ.8 '1UQ.

Typesetting and Artwork by Kearline Graphic lmagoti, J Leicester Roau, Newport, South Wales NP9 7ER Tel: 01633 262197 Fax: 01633 2C>9080

Printed by The Whitehouse Press Ltd, High Rtroot, I ~dnoy, <Tio/!!GL 15 5DP

The main rally season for this year is now over, and thoughts turn to winter months' activities. What will you be doing to fill the dark evenings in the pursuit of your favourite pastime? Well, you could, of course, write up your experiences and steam visits over the past year and send in your stories and photographs to your magazine! You should be catching up on your modelling or maintaining your steam engines - a good clean and a polish, with any broken or worn parts repaired or replaced, is as good for a Mamod as it is for the full size engine. Of course, if you are really lucky, there may even be a small steam event near you. Keep your ears and eyes open - scan the pages of Old Glory, or your local steam club's newsletter. There are also model engineering events just after Christmas in the London area, which are almost bound to have something of interest to you. Whatever you do, keep your interest alive by doing something, and above all, keep it coming into your magazine. If you are lucky enough to be involved with an engine on a regular bm:,is, write and tell us all what you or the crew are doing to their engine and why it may be necessary. I mention this because recently at the Great Dorset, I was approached by an apprentice, complaining that this was the last rally he would be visiting this year, and he didn't know what he would do with himself until next year's rally season. I am sure that there will be something to do for almost any apprentice, ifhe or she is prepared to think a little about just what they could do given their particular age and circumstances. If all else fails, there are many good books and magazines available -from the NTET Sales, on the shelves of your local newsagent or probably available through your local library.

CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN

It is now the end of another season, and the first that I have spent as Chairman of your club. This has been a learning exercise for me and Fiona, and has also given us the opportunity to meet many new faces. I have been very pleased by the reaction most people have when I say that I am from the Steam Apprentice Club. There is a large number of people out there who want to help us do things which will teach you about steam in general and traction engines

in particular. We must now make the best use of these offers or they will stop coming!

David Main's picture of the Burrell Clinker, which helped to gain him second place in the 1997 Photographic Competition.

As a direct result of invitations received we are now arranging visits to various places next spring. At the moment we are planning a visit to the Hollycombe Steam Collection in Liphook in Hampshire on the 19 April 1998. Another visit is planned to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. We have not yet set a date for this but it will be just before or just after Easter next year, as will a visit to a steam centre in the north of the country (well England), possibly Frank Lythgoe's collection at Lymm or one of the big steam powered mills in Leeds. I will give you all the details in the next issue. If these visits work, and are well supported, then more will happen. We have also received invitations to visit the Burrell Museum, Westonzoyland Pumping Station, Cambridge Museum of Technology, Dingles Steam Village as well as several yards and boiler works.

Back to this season, Fiona and I spent the whole woek at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. This time we made sure that the SAC was properly represented in

the NTET marquee and, as a result, met many of you. We held and judged the colouring and photographic competitions -see elsewhere in this issue for the results. I love to see all the entries for these but hate the judging as I always think that all of you should win! Don't forget your cameras when you are out and about and then send us a few of the best pictures for next year's competition.

I shall be going to the Autumn Conference at the beginning of October where I will again be pressing people to help us out at the rallies next year so that you can all have more opportunities to experience working on engines.

As the cold weather approaches engine activity slows down, but you should keep your eyes and ears open for news of 'end of season' steam-ups as these informal events can be great fun.

Although it seems a bit early, I would like to take the opportunity to wish each one of you a Happy Christmas and I look forward to seeing many of you next season as we take our Aveling & Porter tractor Morning Star out for her first season in our ownership.

John Durling, Chairman

1997 PHOTOGRAPHIC AND COLOURING COMPETITIONS

I arrived at the NTET marquee at the Great Dorset Steam Fair early, I thought! But John and Fiona had already set up the impressive SAC corner and the entries for our competitions were displayed for all to see. Indeed, so organised were they both, that John had time to climb up the outside of the marquee onto the ridge to tie on the NTET's banner. The entertainment had

started! I was a little

Gavin Brown's photograph of this working Fowler miniature helped take him to third place.

surprised to see that we had fewer entries, particularly in the photographic section, than previous years. Some of you, however, decided not to chance the post and brought them with you to Dorset, and so the numbers grew. One apprentice, on enquiring where his entry was, learnt that they had not been received by John or Fiona. What was he to do? On hearing of this, I remembered that I

had received a packet of rather nice photographs from an apprentice, at the editorial office. They had full details of what they were and who took the photographs, but there was no indications that they were intended for the competition! Fortunately, my wife and family were joining me later in the week, and a phone call rescued the photographs in the nick of time. Just as well as it turned out, for amongst these pictures lurked the eventual winner!

I was not involved with the actual judging (I am pleased to say - it is a very difficult job). Chairman John tells me it was particularly difficult deciding who had won in each category, and our thanks go to him with Christine Wells and Ann Herring for helping in this important task. Our thanks go doubly to Christine once again for her marvellous drawing for the Colouring Competition (Indeed, we could have sold copies of the drawing on the SAC stand, such was the admiration by many of her work!).

In the end the results were as follows: Colouring Competition - 1st Gregory Chick, age 6; 2nd Matthew Smith, age 8; and 3rd Sophie Patterson, age 8. Photographic Competition - lst Robert Bance, age 12; 2nd David Main, age 16; and 3rd Gavin Brown, age 13. Robert is also the winner of the Dorset Shield for 1997. Well done to all those who entered-you all presented really good entries. Some have to win and some, regretably, have to lose. Please do not be disheartened if you did not win - try again next year. For the winners, they will be receiving their awards direct from Fiona.

Plenty of atmosphere and a good sharp pictur·e, typical of the entry from Robert Bance, gave him the winner's place in the Photographic Competition.

THE SAC CORNER AT THE GREAT DORSET STEAM FAIR

A few shots from the SAC corner in the NTET marquee at Dorset. Above we see some of the Lego fairground and other traction vehicles from Paul Cook, whilst next we see Fiona Durling doing her own jigsaw puzzles. Below is the

competition board at the beginning of the week - it was to fill to bursting before the week was out.

MAIL BAG

Dear Editor

I enclose a photo of His Lordship, owned by Graham Atkinson of Scarborough in Yorkshire. Also pictured are the steam apprentices who worked on the engine at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

They are as follows: (left to right) back row, Neil, Ben and Keith; front row, Claire, Adam and Kerrie.

On behalf of all steam apprentices working on the engines we would like to thank Andrew, Alan, David and John (the crew) with special thanks going to Graham Atkinson.

Andy Cobb

Dear Editor,

West Somerset Holiday

Holidays are always things which are thought about months before they happen. Our holiday to Minehead in Somerset with our Dad and Christine was talked about for weeks. Eventually the day came and there was a sigh of relief from my brother Alistair. Usually a car trip of that distance (Stretton to Somerset) is not exactly that interesting but we were in store for a few surprises. Approaching the Belfry golf course we saw, in a layby opposite, an

Aveling & Porter steam roller No. 9347 which worked in the Welsh district of Mountain Ash and now is known at the Klondyke preservation club. I was surprised seeing the roller but it posed the question "where was she going?" We carried on to the Michael Wood motorway services and had a fryup which sadly was not off the shovel of our roller.

We continued on after breakfast and below Bristol we saw an array of living vans and gypsy vans which in most cases were a bit dilapidated but in their day would probably have been very colourful. There was little more of interest apart from going over the Avonmouth Bridge where going the opposite way to us we saw some old lorries. Soon we were in Taunton and we saw the sign that usually meant we were nearly there but there was still a good way to go yet and it turned out to be 15 miles more.

As we approached the top of the last hill we were stopped by the level crossing which appeared to be Blue Anchor. The sea lay out before us and as we were scanning the sea for ships, there came a whistle and then a number of hard chuffs as if an express was starting a heavy load and slowly coming into view was our first view of steam in Somerset. The engine was No. 4160, a Great Western 2-6-2 tank and the sight of steam was a sort of hello and it was fantastic. On rounding a corner and following the road we came to the caravan park at which we were staying. After looking round it was found that the railway went round the park.

After setting a new record of putting the awning up we heard a whistle which came off Dumbleton Hall a G.WR. 4-6-0 tender engine which looked in splendid condition. In the evening we took a walk to the local pub and walking along we heard a distinct chuffing sound as a late workmens train set off to Minehead for the last time of the day at about 10.00 and the train looked like a ghost with all its lights on. We would listen every morning at about 10.00am for the whistle of the train from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and about an hour later there was a different train from Minehead. Also much to our dismay was a diesel service but that ran only to Williton. The railway is set on a G.WR. branch line and it goes a length of 20 miles, the longest preserved railway in Britain. The run all the way through takes about an hour. We didn't ride the train until Tuesday when it was decided that we would go shopping to Minehead. Alistair, my brother, was keen to use his holiday money and on the journey we saw Dunster Castle high up on the hill which was quite a sight but we never visited it.

Minehead was a lovely place to visit with the sea and stony beaches forming a good summer scene. We made a day out of it more or less and also an R.N.L.I. centre which gave an insight into their work. After arriving back at the park we went to the beach which was muddy but great fun. The next few days showed a variety of activities. On Thursday we went to Lynmouth and I bought a book about the flood disaster of 1952. I read it and found it most interesting but for those who want it, you have to go to Lynmouth to get it. Also there's a cliff railway which is 500 feet long and was very busy so we didn't go on it but it looked very good. The Water Museum there shows a number of miniature engines including City of Truro and two models of the Midland compound. There also, for Burrell lovers, was Lord Lascelles and a Burrell traction engine.

Friday was different altogether. We spent all morning on the railway and went from Blue Anchor to Bishops Lydeard. From Blue Anchor the train goes to Washford housing the S&D museum and a walk from there takes you to Cleeve Abbey. From there the train goes to Watchet, a former port, with old streets with shops, a cafe and a museum. On to Williton where we saw 34027 Taw Valley. The 1860's restored station creates a lot of atmosphere and also houses a diesel loco depot and a passing loop. Taw Valley had been repainted by the look ofit and was in steam but at that point it was not known why. Next stop was Stogumher which overlooks Bee World and shows Brunels broad gauge. Crowcombe Heathfield was the next stop and there is a small museum and passing loop. The end of the line is Bishops Lydeard where there is a visitor centre and souvenir shop. After a walk round the village we reboarded the train and made our way back to Blue Anchor. After light refreshment we heard the sound of an engine we had not heard before; it turned out to be Taw Valley going to Bishops Lydeard and to top off a truly good day we witnessed a double header to Minehead.

The way home on Saturday was much the same as the one to Minehead. We saw a Fowler road loco Lion which was not the one Dad was familiar with and it was not known where she was going, so could somebody please enlighten me. We also saw a threshing drum in a field by the M5. It was a most enjoyable holiday and the area is fantastic, so go there.

Alex and Alistair Durance ages 14 and 9

P.S. While writing this letter we learnt that John Bosworth had recently had an operation and is now recovering at home. We would like to wish him well on behalf of SAC members.

Whilst that was a little different from.usual, it should be noted that the West Somerset Railway hold an annual steam rally each year, where you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Look out for the date in the national magazines. Ed.

COMPETITION PAGE

There are 10 differences between the top and bottom pictures.

Put a ring round the bits that are missing and send it to:

Fiona Durling

Hawthorn Cottage

Stubwood Denstone

Uttoxeter ST14 5HX

The first three correct entries will receive a prize.

Please state your age here SAC

A Weekend at Parham Steam Rally

Friday 13th June saw me arrive at Amberley Museum to help prepare Aveling Barford 6 ton roller No. AG758 Gisela and Burrell agricultural No. 4019 Britannia for that weekend's Parham Steam Rally. We set off with both engines towing a trailer. We stopped near Rackham for water and, after an hour and a half of travelling arrived on the rally field.

After we'd parked up the living van and put the engines to bed for the night we headed for a good night's sleep.

Saturday morning saw us at the show parked next to Peter Fagg's 1886 Marshall traction No. 14242 Victoria and the 1895 Fowler traction engine No. 7453 Albert driven by Derek Gough. Both engines had roaded up from Brighton on Thursday and, as always, looked pristine.

After a walk up to Administration to get a programme, I found 39 engines were on the rally field. Although most of the weekend was spent with Gisela and owner Brian Johnson, I managed to see every engine. One engine I was surprised to see was Fowler showmans No. 15653 Renown, brought down from Derbyshire by the Howard brothers. On Saturqay I was lucky enough to get a ride around the arena in Alan Eatwell's 1924 Foden steam lorry PW 3767. Readers of Old Glory will have seen the recent article on this wagon. Back out after overhaul was the famous 1919 McLaren road loco No. 1652 Boadicea owned by Les Searle. Les's other engine, Fowler crane engine No. 8920 was also there. A familiar engine to me was there too, Brian Downey's 1909 Fowler traction engine No. 11814 Berkshire Tariff Queen. This engine attended its first rally as late as 1986. A total contrast was Giles Romane's 1902 Wallis tractor Goliath, which attended its first rally in 1953.

Saturday night was brilliant. Throughout the night Burrell showmans ·engines Nos. 3949 Princess Mary, 4000 Ex Mayor, 3655 English Hero, 3894 St Brannock and No. 3618 Lion and Fowler 15653 Renown drove the fair. Outside the beer tent stood 3 engines all with oil lamps and hurricane lamps alight. They were Roy Chapman's 1924 Aveling & Porter roller No. 10994 Queen Jubilee, Bob Langley's Fowler traction engine No. 7459 Endurance and Mr. lveson's 1930 ex Dingles Fowler roller No. 17483 Lady Janet.

On Sunday I spotted fellow SAC member Stephen Green on Burrell No. 4000 Ex Mayor. Stephen came down with us on Friday. The return trip was made on Sunday evening. Our steersman was Norman Flixman who himself looks after Marshall roller No. 79669 Joan, also kept at Amberley and undergoing overhaul.

Derek Kilburn, owner of Britannia followed us home. Going up a long hill we managed to burn off all the paint from the chimney of Gisela. The photographs show Gisela and Britannia on arrival at Amberley.

Can I please make a plea for information on Wallis & Steevens 3 ton steam tractors to aid a future article in the next Raising Steam? My address is: 18 Rochester Close, Durrington, Near Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3RP.

Kevin Mills (age 13)

4 Left: Brian 1 Johnson 's Aveling l Barford roller No. AG758 Gisela at Amberley, 15th June.

Below: Derek Kilburn 's Burrell traction No. 4019 Britannia also at Amberley on 15th June after roading 'from Parham.

Dear Editor,

At this year's Welland Rally I had the privilege of working on Dave Smith's 8nhp Burrell single Keeling. This is a big engine which at first sight could be mistaken for a road engine. She is not, she has been thrashing almost all her life and that is exactly what we did all day. I had to get up early to help clean down, polish and oil the engine. I was allowed to steer the engine down to the thrashing area. During the day I would be left to keep a good fire and water in the boiler, and received much good instruction into the different types of steam

engine, their fittings and their correct use. Towards the end of the day, after we had packed up, three trailers were hooked on and I was allowed to steer again. I greatly enjoyed this and felt it a great privilege.

I recently spent the day on Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies No.20760 Jubilee. As you may know the conditions were very muddy at the Great Dorset Steam Fair where I was on the engine and at first we did not know whether it would be safe to try and move to the Ransomes area where we would spend the day cutting wood. By the time we had polished all the brasses and got a good fire and plenty of steam pressure, the route had dried considerably We made it down and worked all day cutting timber.

We did stop for lunch and after that once while they went to get more timber when we ran out.

When the show closed, we started back towards the owner, Alan Frost's, living van. I was allowed to steer. It was going fine until we started slipping. We ended up getting towed the rest of the way by a tractor (only about 15 metres away). After we got back to the living van, I thanked Alan and left having had a very enjoyable day

Thank you to both owners for letting me have such great days on their engines.

Michael Sumsion (age 13) Newport, South Wales

This seems like a good moment to thank the many engine owners who welcomed apprentices to their machines at the Great Dorset. We also owe thanks to Fiona Durling who rose early each 1norning to make sure that apprentices were at their respective engines on time. Indeed she likened herself, one morning, to a mother duck walking across the field with a string of little ducks following! Hmm! Now wouldn't it be nice if we could hear from some of those other apprentices who, I'm sure, enjoyed their days on the engines at Dorset (or indeed elsewhere)! - Ed.

Alan Sparkes' Bnhp Fowler No. 8721 Delilah glints in the early morning sunshine at the Great Dorset. This is an unusual engine, having been used in Australia, ,, and having a long firebox and drop-down tender rear plate, to assist in wood burning. She is a general purpose haulage engine, but with no springs nor belly tank. Notice, however the unusually large flywheel.

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to the following new apprentices. Enjoy your membership to the full by taking part in as many steam events as you are able, and don't forget to write to your magazine and tell us all of your particular interests and what you have been doing.

Patrick Hitch, Scarborough

Martin Needham, Macclesfield

Nicholas Cowling, Balby, Doncaster

Robert Miles, Malvern

Joe Reid, Crick

Andrew Horton, Stourbridge

Ashley Crane, Cotgrave

Elliott Crane, Cotgrave

Shaun Whittaker, Leyland

James Daw, Bury, near Ramsey

Benjamin Fitch, Marks Tey, Colchester

Christopher Brown, Southbourne

Kevin Campion, Burnham-on-Crouch

Mark Taylor, Lymington

Robe1t De Jong, Totton, Southampton

Douglas Phillips, Lymington

Joseph Williams, Chandlers Ford

David Abrahams 1 Bitterne

Roland White, Fleet

Dominic Fraser, Fleet

Peter Abrahams, Bitterne

Matthew Antrobus, Bury St Edmunds

Thomas Bier, Brentwood

Thomas Gould, Ipstones

Shane Dawson, Fairford

Adam Gurr, Hailsham

Thomas Martin, Loughborough

Philip Cluff, Caistor

Paul Davis, Astwood Bank.

Hannah Williams, Chandlers Ford

Amy Lidgitt, Baldock

Naomi Birch, Poole

Ryan Birch, Poole

Andrew Watson, Antrim, N. Ireland

Martin Keelan, Collon, Eire

Lara Heave1~Wantage

Claire Meredith, Cirencester

Rory Heaver, Wantage

Jack James, Belper

Martyn Rooke, Shepton Mallett

Jason Gallop, Swadlincote

David Wilkins, Walberton

Stephen Myers, Rufforth

Andrew Myers, Rufforth

Mark Stewart-Paver, West Wickham

Hayley Stewa1t-Paver,West Wickham

Jason Massey, Northholt

Andrew Bruce, Dunsford

Ethan Parsons, lyybridge

David Woolsey, Morden

Samantha Newton, Hungerford

Benjamin Newton, Hungerford

Jason Ellway, Liskeard

Toby Fitch, Westbury

Alice Brown, North Curry, Taunton

Ryan Collins, Rad.stock

Emma Turner, Buxton

Stacey Hawkins, Kingswood

Glenn Bradley, Kingswood

MY DATE WITH A PRINCESS part 3 by Neil Cobb

I was up and off like a rabbit, there was last night's supper pots to wash, and anyway the Princess needed my attentions. As I approached I could see the sheets were off but the smokebox door was open, obviously the fire wasn't alight yet. As I rounded the organ box I could see Dick, kettle in one hand, tea pot in the other, 'yer no wen't t turn up' (you know when to arrive).

'He's atit already' nodding towards the engine. In the shade of the engine

John was sat with what looked like an assortment of bits of tin, brass and

engine bits laid out on the grass. As I stood looking Dick gave John a cup of tea. John replied with 'ta', 'oh mornin sunshine' (to me). 'Dick I am going to need this, that, another one of, same of this and if you see it a tube of miracle paste, oh and whilst you are at it if you see a bucket of sand you can do me the Desert Song'!!

Dick went under the organ and produced his swag bag from the belly box. 'I'm off then, back in half an hour'. I shouted do you want me to light the fire. 'NO' said John. I don't want to be working up there with you stoking and trying to fry me, clean some brass! Or take me that mechanical lubricator off, it's not working properly, or better still peel me a grape. I thought he's not happy or he'd been at the miserable pills this morning. Dick shrugged his shoulders and carried on into the auto jumble. Andy arrived and was given a run down on what was wrong and was told and don't light the fire yet. Andy was given the job of cleaning up the crank pin with fine emery tape. It was as I was later told grooved, barreled, oval and tapered. Dave arrived and got another run down on what was wrong, so he proceeded to take off the mechanical lubricator.. John was now trying to file the little end pin round from a shape that nearly looked like an egg, pointing out that this plus a recent seize up was the reason that the little end brass that should have been a two part brass was now a four part, the wings having sheared off the back adjustable brass. Dick returned, tipped out his swag bag to the obvious delight of John who at the production of each item would say 'great', 'magical' and a succession of other terms. John with the aid of super glue!! yes super glue, and soft solder, fitted the big end, having made a taper to go round the brasses to keep them tight in the strap. The little end was just a bit more awkward but with more super glue, shim and soft solder he managed to reassemble the little end and crosshead.

A funny thing that happened was whilst John was sat amidst the parts of the engine a chap came and took some photos and then started to talk to John who was trying to hold a big end brass and scrape it to fit the crank pin. In all seriousness the man asked John if he was a Garrett fitter, 'NO!' replied John I'm their field engineer. Can't you see all the grass around me? The man thought for a moment and then burst out laughing saying I suppose I asked for that, then went on to say that he had done similar jobs many years ago on Field Marshall tractors under very similar conditions, although with much more mud, and much less grass usually in a stockyard or ploughed field. Meanwhile David and Dick had succeeded in repairing the mechanical lubricator, and by 3pm the engine began to turn not quite silently but quiet enough, when running at generating speed, for you to hear the belt fastener clicking round the pulleys. So she generated the afternoon and night away, first of all stopping every half hour to check the bearings. Later running for 4 hours non stop, using only 3 squirts of oil to top up each of the big end lubricators, the Princess generated the night away.

Friday - doesn't the week soon go. I got down to the engine early to help clean and light up. I ran the engine for about 2 hours had my photo taken by Mr Sumsion and was sort of pressganged into writing this story for our apprentice magazine. Note I said OUR magazine.

YOU CAN WRITE THE NEXT ONE!

I had to go and display some of my skills with the Barford Atom plough, returning about 4.30pm. When Grahan1 (Mr Atkinson) arrived about 6.15, he walked up and said 'now what's all this then, Mr Carr been around has he, she seems to be running sweeter'.

I related the past days events to Graham with Dick filling in the gaps, poor Graham, he got the whole lot again when John returned and a discussion was had as to what action should be taken, John saying that probably a new set of tubes would be needed and that the only answer to the bearing problem was new ones cast and the little end pins either ground or replaced. So it was that the Amazing Fred of Loughborough (well that's what John calls him) was invited over to look at and pull faces at what he was told and what he saw.

Mum and Dad brought supper again and shock horror at 11.30pm precisely Andy broke into his piggy bank and bought everyone a drink. Not the whole rally field, mind you he could afford it, but everyone round the Princess, me included.

Saturday - This is the big day with steam apprentice breakfasts and a little driving perhaps. I was up early and as breakfast was to be cooked on·an engine I had a bowl of something to put me on until later. First call was down at the Princess to see if I was needed immediately or if I could go straight up to the SAC meeting. Dick said I was not needed until about 12.30pm. By the time I got up to the NTET tent the breakfast bash was well under way. The unfortunate thing was that the weather failed us and within minutes of me arriving at the tent the heavens opened. David and John Carr between them managed to negotiate the Taskers between the tent pegs and guide ropes and get most of the engine under cover in the marquee, much to the amazement and delight of the people who were taking shelter inside, in fact breakfast cooking on the Tasker was only delayed by as little as 5 minutes, people who were unfortunate to be given larger engines without cabs ended up with rather soggy bacon butties and it didn't seem to matter whether the engine had a cab or not the rain got the people onboard anyway. Fortunately it was only a small downpour and it did little to dampen people's enthusiasm. Although it did keep the dust down. I then had a little drive of an engine, it's a great feeling to open the regulator of 12 tons of engine and feel the footplate jump under your feet, as the majestic mass lurches forward. Andy and I having had our fix for the year returned to the engine and organ to give them a final spruce up for the night ahead. It's remarkable how quickly brass tarnishes especially if it gets rained on.

John came back about 5.30pmjust in time to miss cleaning some brass. Dick then gave the instruction to let the fire go down and top up the boiler in order that we should go and get a meal, whilst the fire would be cleaned and the engine oiled round in readyness for the night do! "We don't want any hicoughs now do we".

Saturday night at the Great Dorset is electric especially if you are as fortunate as I am to have your own private mechanical grandstand, the seething crowds, all with smiling faces, the music, the smell of coal and oil mixed with onions and hot dogs, it is electric. I am at a loss to describe the

atmosphere. As Dick said it's a special feeling, that no picture can capture and no words can describe, like a good bottle of grog, something to savour and remember for years to come.

With 180 psi on the clock, a full glass of water and bright fire the Princess wurred the night away. The heavy haulage gang trundled majestically through the fairground and dancing girls danced, even Michael Oliver smiled at the relief of another successful rally, his own bottle of special grog! All too soon the mass choir of the Stourpaine Singers appeared on the organ stage nearby and speeches were made and thanks given. Suddenly like coming out of a dream it was all over, the organs and engines one by one shut down, the crowds thinned, and the instructions to top her up and run the fire down were given, mind you it was well turned 1.00am. So another year was over. It will be another 12 months before I see my Yorkshire friends again (mind you when they see this I wonder how many friends I will still have?) So here's to next year.

Well that was a long contribution from Neil and referred to the 1995 Great Dorset Steam Fair. This year, 1997, I received another article from him - at the Great Dorset. I also received veiled threats from the crew about printing any more comments about them! Hmm, we'll see! Watch this space!!

Two drawings done at Dorset and brought to 1ne 'hot off the press' by, on the left Thomas Deering age 7 and, on the right, Robert Deering age 10. I know these two lucky apprentices enjoy much time around steam engines, especially the Burrell showmans Britannia. - Ed.

Below we see Chairman John Durling's Mamod based fairground equipment in use at the SAC corner at the Great Dorset. John provided quite a collection of his 'toys' for use by apprentices - which many appreciated. r .. , '['\flu./.,:,: . •• ••'"'. ".

Well that was quite a full magazine. But I am very pleased to say that I have more to come, and if you did not see your contribution this time, please be patient, it will happen. That does not mean that you should not keep the articles and photographs coming. I have many more pictures if we need them, but I really prefer to print your work. Now I have not so far mentioned this year's 'breakfast on the shovel' held on the Sunday morning at Dorset. I have some pictures coming, but a small write up from some of the many who enjoyed their breakfasts this year, would be very welcome. Once again thanks are due to Steve Parrott for organising this event and to the engine owners who got up early to light up their engines and polish their shovels on your behalf.

Barry Sumsion, Editor

Clothing for Juniors

FRUIT OF THE LOOOM SWEATSHIRTS

produced with the image of a road roller, printed centre chest position.

FRUIT OF THE LOOM TEE-SHIRTS

produced with the image of a road roller, printed centre chest position

The above items are all available from the NTET MAIL ORDER SALES 90 Devon Road, Luton, Bedfordshire ~U2