RAISING STEAM
STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB MAGAZINE
EDITOR
Barry Sumsion, Kearline Graphic Images, Fairoak House Business Centre, Church Road, Newport NP19 7EJ 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)
VICE-CHAIRMAN, STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB
Elaine Massey, 21 Down Close, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6NS Tel: 020 8248 6570 e-mail: elaine.masseyl@virgin.net
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
John Cook, Dolfarni, Church Lane, Kirby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU. Correspondence only. Membership fee £5.00 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 Natioual TracUon ~ogine Trust. NTET is a Registered Charity, No. 291578. Registered in F,nglanclNo. 1302197. Registered Office: 4 Church Green East, Redditc-h,WorC'csten,ihircB98 8BT.
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The 1915 Garrett 4CDShowman's Engine, No. 32762, 'Princess Mary', Registration No AD 8954. I just couldn't resist featuring this beautifully restored engine from a picture by Kerrie Dunderdal,e. See her /,etterfor more on this engine on page 4. Ed.
FROM THE EDITOR
Well, we would normally be in the middle of a busy rally season, but they have been few and far between this year. The Foot and Mouth Disease has put paid to many rallies and although the disease seems to be in decline, it's not over yet. I have heard criticism of rally organisers who cancelled their rally early on and now some are saying that they made their decision too soon. It's all very well to criticise, but how many people realise just how long it takes to organise a steam rally and just how many people (usually volunteers) are involved. You simply cannot make arrangements and possibly spend money 'up front' when you don't know if yow· rally will be allowed. And do those critics really think that the organisers wanted to cancel their show? We are all losers in this unfortunate situation -but we have to make the best of it. I have heard of some engine owners having the odd steam run for a few miles to meet colleagues at a pub and have a few drinks and an impromptu steam-up. Apprentices should continue to keep in touch with engine owners where they can - without being a nuisance, of course! If you live near to where there is an active model engineering society, try to give them a visit. Many of them run their engines at weekends and are mostly a friendly lot, willing to explain and appreciate your interest. (Youwon't be allowed to drive though due to insurance restrictions.) Look out for the odd village fete where there might be a visiting engine. Of course, there are some rallies going on. You might have to travel a little farther than usual, but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end. Remember you all received a list of NTET approved rallies with your last magazine, try a phone call in the week leading up to the rally date, and you may be lucky to find that your favourite rally is still taking place.
SAC apprentices photographed at the Dr•iving Days at Old Warden in front of a Garrett Showman's Engine. Photograph from Nicola Holmes. Who is going to write in and tell us all some more details about this engine? Ed.
The message is keep on steaming! Take those photographs and enter them into our Annual Photographic Competition, and for the younger ones there is our Colouring Competition, where you will find the drawing in the centre pages of this magazine, drawn for us by Chris Wells -thank you once again Chris.
Good Steaming, Barry Sumsion, Editor
THE CHAIRMAN'SBIT
Ah, for the joys of the open road!
Morning Star is now out and about looking shiny in her new coat of paint and running very much more smoothly on her new tyres. We have already been to the LichfieldBowerFestivaland a local Church fete, which has involvedabout 60 miles on the road. This is enough, I think, to let me know that the new tyres have made a HUGE difference.Thesejourneys weren't completelywithout incident but I expectthat you will hear more about this from Martin Treanor, who was with us for both of these trips. However, I now don't need any persuadingto 'take her out for a run'.
Nowto the Club business - lets start on a positivenote!
At least 90 of you have alreadyhad a good start to the steam seasonwith the three SAC drivingdays which did go ahead, BursledonBrickworks,Chatham Dockyardand, by far the biggest,Old Warden.Wehave now started to think about next year's courses so you all can lookforwardto real hands on experience.Thank you to all of you who havewritten to me or the organizersto expressyour thanks for the day.We do like to hear from you when you have enjoyedyour time with engines.
The NTETDriving Course at Strumpshaw was attended by 5 Apprentices,who all enjoyedthe two day course and told me how much they had learnt. This is definitelythe wayforwardfor the olderApprenticeswho have real hopes of workingon engines in the· future. I have alreadyhad one Apprenticebookinghis place on the NTETDrivingCourse for next year -and we don't even know where it is going to be held yet! This is the kind of enthusiasm that I am lookingfor.It lets all of us who are trying to run the SACknow that you appreciatethe work we put in. This is important, because we want to provide what you want to do!
I know that Foot and Mouth has knockedout many of the ralliesyou would normally., attend, and more are still being cancelled,but I hope that you can find some near enough to you to visit. The SACwillbe out in forceat the Great DorsetSteam Fair this year.I am hoping that we can gather all of the adult helperstogether at once, to plan the future for your club. If you can make it to the biggest steam show in the country then we would love to see you and find out what you think.
Also at the GDSFwill be the usual competitions of photography and colouringdetailselsewherein this magazine.
John Durling, Chairman
MAILBAG
Dear Editor,
Well the winter has ended and it is about this time we see the return of the engines on to the rally fields, if the Foot and Mouth holds off. As usual, there will be the old favourites that everyone lmows, but this year has a brand new face Princess Mary a 4CD Garrett Showman's engine, built in 1915. It was purchased in August 2000 by Mr Dunford of Flockton, Wakefield, and has taken just over nine months for complete overall restoration. And boy is she pretty! The engine has been painted a deep maroon colour with the original owner's name on the canopy. As the engine is pre 1918, instead of the smokebox door having a brass 'G' around the handles it has a·brass circle saying 'R. Garrett and Sons Ltd, Leiston' and does not have the lioness in the front of the dynamo extension bracket, which some engines do. This figure was not made when the engines were made; the lioness was only made in time for the Garrett wagons.
Continuing the theme on Garrett Show 1man's engines we seem to have picked up on this time, here is one I took earlier. Cole's (originally) 'Little Billy' pictured at the GDSF a couple of years ago. Anyone know more about this engine? Please write and tell us. Ed.
It will be the first time this engine has been seen by the public for 45 years, the last time the engine was on the show field it pulled the stalls on herself.
You may have seen Mr Dunford around last year with one of the only 16 remaining Burrell Scenic Showman's engines left King George V. This engine is quite new to the rallies; it is its third season out this year. Nr Dunford is also owner of the 1931 Sentinel Steam Waggon, which wa.s new to the rally scene last year.
For the last umpteen years, I have worked with Mr Atkinson of Scarborough on his two engines, the Burrell Showman's His Lordship and my favourite his lovely Garrett Showman's Princess Maud. I also work with the J.C, who is well known on the rally field and from Neil Cobb's stories. I also work alongside David and Bernard (Bernard having a partnership with the Carr brothers on the roller) on two of their three engines; the sweet little Aveling & Porter road roller Old Peculiar, which coincidently was the very first engine I learned to drive, and the Ransomes Sims & Jefferies agricultural engine Lady Mary VG, and although John has three engines, Neil Cobb, the infinite writer and his brother Andrew have been loaned the Marshall engine to play with. In this time, they have restored it and rallied it down and around the south. We had the official unveiling, with cake and drink at the last Great Dorset Steam Fair, may I remark Mrs Cobb is a great cake maker.
?rincess Maud will almost be a new engine this year as well, as she has had a long awaited trip to Fred Dockrays, for a new firebox, boiler, throat plate and tube plate, along with other repairs that needed doing. So that means there are two new engines for me to have to play with this year.
I'm sure Alex Morrison you will not mind having to get to know a new engine. And Adam and Claire Meredith, if I'm allowed to bring Princess Mary down to Dorset, how do you fancy a play on a brand spanking new engine?
Although I have Princess Mary to work with I will not be leaving Mr Atkinson. So, if I'm not on one Princess then I'm on the other.
Mary's first trip out wil be to the Garrett Engineering Works at Leiston, Suffolk on the 14th/15th July. It is in celebration of the 20th year of The Long Shop Project Trust. Along with Princess Mary there will be a Garrett wagon (on a road run from Yorkshire), showman's road locomotives, a portable, and a self-moving portable. So I hope we will see some budding apprentices there
The weekend starting 23rd June was Princess Mary's first proper steaming on coal. She ran a little rough, but settled down once she warmed up. But what can be expected of an engine that has just undergone a full restoration? After being set up to cope with the high pressure of live steam she ran like a dream. She sat outside the sheds contentedly turning over, while we all ran round checking and tightening up glands and bearings etc. After a four hour steaming we all agreed she deserved a trip up to the local pub for an official christening.
We will travel throughout the season to rallies such as Pickering and Harewood. No doubt, I'll be keeping you updated on how the engine is holding out and what we've been up to and the public's comments (if they dare pick faults!).
Yours faithfully
Kerrie Dunderdale (16) Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Dear Editor
I hope you can find space for a brief letter from an old 'apprentice'. The letters about Burrell 3593 Duke of Kent make no mention of the period when she was owned in Somerset.
Steaming Vol 16 No 3 June 1973 has an unusual side view of the engine when in the ownership, but perhaps not in the full control, of Bill Hazel. At this time the engine was called Fidus Achaetes.
Keep up the good work of this magazine, I er\joy it.
Charlie Daniel Bodmin, Cornwall
We are always really pleased to hear from our friends among the 'older apprentices'. Any time you feel like recalling any of your many experiences with road steam, we will all be avid listeners and readers.
Dear Editor
I would like to tell you about my SAC weekend.
Friday: We arrived at Old Warden and set up. We went and had a look around the seventeen engines there including Ex Mayor and Jubilee. None of the engines were in steam so we went down to the Tavern and talked to the drivers of the engines.
Saturday: We got up at 7.30am and went to the steam engines. We started to polish up the Shand Mason fire engine. After it was ready we got the nozzle and shot water down the drain. After that we went on the roller Midnight. We had a ride on that and drove a while ourselves. We went on some big steam engines and the 6 inch scale Guinness Foden and the Foden Bus.
Sunday: We got up at 7 .30am and started working on the 6 inch scale 6-wheel Foden. We polished it up then got the fire going. We went on steam engines and
drove them around a field. We had a group photograph in front of the Garrett Showman's engine. We got our certificates and went home. Thanks Paul and Lynn Worbey and the steam engine drivers.
Nicola Holmes (12) Grimsthorpe, Lincolnshire
Nicola Holmes and brother Michael in charge of the roller 'Midnight' at Old Warden Driving Days. More details of this engine, which I believe to be a Wallis & Steevens, would be apprecia~ed. Ed.
COLOURING COMPETITION
For Members aged up to 9 years old
CAREFULLY remove this page from the magazine - ask an adult for to help if necessary -be especially careful of the staples.
COLOUR the picture using pencils, crayons, paints or felt pens. (Pencils are probably best.)
WRITE your name, age, address and membership number in the space provided.
POST your entry in a large envelope, to avoid folding it too much.
ENCLOSE a large stamped addressed envelope if you want your entry returned.
REMEMBER to send your entry to arrive with Fiona by Friday 17th AUGUST. This date is important as John and Fiona go on holiday after this date and end up at the Great Dorset Steam Fair WITH YOUR ENTRIES!
ADDRESS for entries is:
SAC Colouring Competition Hawthorn Cottage, Stubwood, U ttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5HX
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
The 2001 Steam Apprentice Club Photographic Competition
The annual photographic competition is an on-going one, and starts almost as soon as the last one has finished, so let's have as many of you as possible · entering your best photographs that you have taken this year. The competition is split into age groups - up to 15 years and 16 years old and over. Engraved medals and other prizes will be presented to the winners. The best overall entry will be presented with the Dorset Trophy and will receive a book donated by NTET Sales.
Rules
1. Entry to this competition is restricted to fully subscribed members of the Steam Apprentice Club (SAC).
2. Each m.ember's entry will consist of three photographs, preferably 6" x 4" prints, colour or black and white, and should have been taken during the period 1st August 2000 to 31st July 2001.
3. Entries must be sent to the Secretary of the SAC at Hawthorn Cottage, Stubwood, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5HX, to arrive by Friday 17th August.
4. All entries must have the following details on the reverse of the photograph: name, address, age and SAC membership number; place, date and details of the engine or subject. (It is better to write these details on a piece of paper and then stick this on the back of the photo.)
5. Copyright in all entries will remain with the SAC member submitting the photographs and the organisers promise that prints will not be used in any manner or display other than in connection with the 2001 photographic competition. (A selection of entries will appear subsequently in SAC magazines.)
6. All entries are to include a suitable stamped addressed envelope to ensure photographs can be returned. The organisers promise to return all entries if this rule is adhered to.
7. Entries will be displayed at the 2001 Great Dorset Steam Fair in the NTET tent. All entries will be returned after display and/or publication in the magazine. ,.
8. The competition will be judged in two age groups: up to 15 years; 16 years and over. Prizes and engraved medals for First, Second and Third places in each group will be awarded. The best overall entry will receive the Dorset Trophy shield, to be held for one year.
Judging
The judges will be looking for originality, composition and technical ability. Photographs do not have to be of traction engines, but other subjects must clearly be related to the traction engine movement. The judges' decision on all entries will be final and members are asked to accept them in a spirit that will bring credit to themselves and the Steam Apprentice Club.
MORE MAIL BAG
Dear Editor
We have recently been re-tubing our 8-ton Aveling & Pmter steam roller No 4877, registration No YA1975, ready for its 100th birthday. During the job we had to do a process called annealing in which you have to heat the new tubes before you put them in the boiler so that when you expand them it will be a lot easier. Then we put the headstock and front rolls back on and got her ready for the boiler inspector. Here is a photo of me annealing the tubes.
Tom Nunn (13)
Halesworth, Suffolk
Good to see an apprentice being allowed to do a real job. It would have been better if Tom had worn protective gloves on both hands and was wearing shoes with steel toe-caps. (In the picture he appears to be wearing trainers.) It might seem to be nitpicking but you cannot be too careful when do'ing jobs of an industrial nature no matter how simple a job 'it rnay seem to be.
Dear Editor
I am writing to tell you about the 3 day rally at the Milestone Museum on the 26th-28th May 2001. I slept over my Auntie and Uncle's house for 4 days with my cousins Storme and Rachel, who are the daughters of my Aunt and Uncle who owns a Wallis & Steevens convertible The Mistress.
We set off at about 9.00am from Headley; Hampshire and got to the museum at about 10.00am. We got the fire going in The Mistress by using diesel and a bag of wood. We got the fire going well at 50 psi instead of 75 psi minimum. My cousin Rachel drove and I steered (Rachel drove superbly).
At about 12.15 we did a couple of laps around the rally field and had lunch. Soon after lunch we had a look round the rally site, there was quite a selection.
The second day on the way we picked up my cousin Storme' s boyfriend who I got on really well with. When we got there we unsheeted The Mistress, polished and lubricated her. My Auntie, Julia, cooked some not so tasty bacon rolls as I had greasy hands from lubricating. Rachel and I took the engine round the rally field. When we stopped Gerald, my uncle, tied some learner stickers on the engine ready for Stormes appearance to take the Wallis around the site.
Later on that day Gerald fixed me up to steer a Wallis & Steevens 10-ton road roller Sir Lancelot owned by Ian and Teressa Best, friends of Julia and Gerald. It was the first time that I had steered a roller, so it was great fun (Ian was driving). At about 4.00pm we and 5 other engines went on a one hour road run. As The Mistress and Sir Lancelot were both Wallis & Steevens we went to where the factory used to be. Because The Mistress had four people on the footplate, I went on Sir Lancelot which including me had three people on the footplate.
Going down the steep incline to the Basingstoke railway station was where the Wallis factory used to be. On the last stretch back to the rally site ( a straight dual carriageway) Ian and Teressa let me steer the roller, saying how good my steering was!
Thank you everyone who let me steer (Mr and Mrs Best, Julia and Gerald, Simon and Storme and Rachel). I wrote earlier this year when The Mistress went into the museum.
Dominic Geary (10)
Billingshurst, West Sussex
Alongside we reproduce a drawing from Dominic of a Wallis & Steevens engine. The drawing is labell,ed 'Wallis & Steevens 1890' and carries a footnote 'Kathleen'. So, Dominic, how about a letter to tell us more about the engine in your drawing, where you learned about the engine and where it might be seen (if still in existenceO.
MORE COBB!
We continue the story 'Go North Young Man' from the pen of Neil Cobbsee last time's Raising Steam if you missed the beginning.
After initial introductions to our neighbours, the Wrights to our left; they have a Wallis & Steevens roller Midnight. It is a single and O Boy you can tell. The Keetons, their son has an Aveling & Porter single Buster and they have a dog Tess. Graham is teaching her to fetch coal from other people's coal heaps, but she hasn't quite got it right yet, as the coal has to be thrown for her to bring it back, just keep trying Graham. Les Donn, he has a beautiful Fowler compound 10-ton roller, which was repatriated from Ceylon about 5 years ago and Les his father have completely rebuilt it in just over 3 years including a new boiler barrel, firebox etc, replacing the back and front rolls, damaged rolls being the best excuse to convert an engine into something it never was, but no "a roller it was built and a roller it will stay" says Les. I also met Bob Siddal and daughters (three very attractive young ladies and well versed in the art) - they have to be. Toby a Babcock roller, the only one I have ever seen, must be singularly the snatchiest, most ill mannered machine ever built. Lovely to look at but above 100 psi impossible to drive. I also met Mick Farmer. He has a Wallis & Steevens Advance roller and as John put it "That b .... r is the only one I know who can make coke smoke", and sure enough for the next 3 days the Wallis sat under a constant cloud of smoke. When questioned about it, Mick said "I don't know how it happens, I must just put the coal on upside down". Well it's a new angle isn't it?
After the obligatory 'cuppah cha' John suggested that David take me for a run round on the Aveling whilst Andrew and Dad went for a sortie with the Ransomes. It's not that I was disappointed but you must admit that an 8 ton Aveling roller doesn't have the cudos of a large upstanding agricultural engine. David and I climbed aboard the roller, David just glanced at the water, 2/3rds of a glass, opened the damper (she was down to 160 psi, the red line is at 200 psi) opened the cylinder drains, wound off the brake, put the reverse lever full forward and pushed the regulator open, checking all round as to be sure that there was no-one in the way as he did so, the roller moved forward so gently, within 2 or 3 revs of the crankshaft David closed the drain taps and linked up the valve gear and we steadily accelerated across the field. As we started to climb the hump in the field I became aware of two things (i) was the eerie sensation of watching all that gubbins, going round but not a sound from it all, not even the usual crunching and clanging from the gears, which I am familiar with on every other engine I have been on. The other was a thud, thud, thud, thud, noise which when I stuck my head round the side of the cab I could hear and see quite clearly was the exhaust up the chimney. I remarked to David that "I didn't think piston valve compounds had an exhaust beat, especially one so strong". "It's always been like that" remarked David, then the safety valves started to blow. The boiler had made 40 psi of steam in less than 10 minutes. "I thought piston valve Avelings were shy steamers". "Who said that?" replied David. "Err everyone I think!" "Well the're wrong about this one aren't they?" With that David shrugged his shoulders and closed the damper. The pressure only fell back to 190 psi as we returned to the engine's peg and the ir\jector was put on to bring the boiler pressure down to 1 70 psi and restore the
water level to its 2/3rds of a glass, What a remarkable little engine. When the Ransomes and Dad arrived, John offered to take Andy and I around and I could go into the arena and have a swing on the handles. So off we trundled. John didn't stop the engine he just passed it over to me by standing back and putting my hands on the levers, with a cursory warning of "It needs a touch like a midwife". The Ransomes is a fine engine and good looking too, but with its large handles, that massive crank and big end whirling round just under your nose it is a daunting experience to handle. All was going well until Andy who was steering turned the engine up hill. Until now I hadn't had to make any alterations to any of the controls, I just stood there and held the handles looking professional, as the engine slowed noticeably. John said "go on give her a bit of steam". Now John's idea of a bit and mine are obviously different. Now two factors came into play to bring about the start of a learning curve; (i) I had never driven a single. (ii) I had heard how hard the regulator was to open, the end result was that I pushed hard on the regulator, too hard, the engine let out three or four staccato bangs up the chimney and made a headlong dash. I pulled hard on the regulator which promptly snapped shut and the engine slowed rapidly and I now found I couldn't open the regulator. It was as if it was welded shut. By the time I managed to thump the lever hard enough to move it, the engine had stopped and it just stood there with a faint hissing noise coming from the governor gland. I looked round at John, and he said "You've done it now, you've got her into one of her moods!" I pushed on the regulator which now moved as if it was on air bearings, but nothing happened. John said "shut the regulator and now you'll have to get rid of the steam in the valve chest, so open the cylinder taps and pull the lever (reversing lever) over toward centre and let the engine rock back to release the valve chest and cylinder of the locked in steam". This all sounds very simple but have you ever tried it? As I tugged and pulled at the reverser many suggestions were made, like, 'try changing your butcher', 'try a bigger breakfast', have you thought about iron tablets', etc, etc, etc. Eventually the lever moved and the engine gave a sort of "fut" noise up the chimney and hiss from a cylinder drain tap and rocked back slightly. "Now that's a forward starting centre, but if you don't get it right you will be back where you started" warned John. "OK, We got it now". I put the reverse lever forward and pushed on the regulator, then I thumped the regulator with both hands, one pushing and one thumping the regulator handle. It began to move, suddenly the regulator was open, the flywheel rocked back, then rocked forward and then back again and with a lurch the engine stopped again, yes the regulator was as free as a daisy, the reverse lever was solid and now the engine was on dead centre or straight arm (the crank in a line with centre line of the cylinder). "I think you better do it" I said to John. Obligingly John pushed the flywheel off the dead and as if by magic the engine rolled forward, and we were on the move again. "Shut the taps sunshine" and John sat down on the coal bunker again saying "she can be difficult at times, but then all singles can!" I returned the Ransomes to its peg and was then offered a "go" on the Aveling's handles by way of a comparison. What a difference. The regulator is so light even at 200 psi and the reverse lever is so easy to move even with steam on, and this engine has twice the valve gear to move with a lever hardly any longer than the Ransomes' regulator. Just how could two engines be so totally different, the little Aveling is an absolute GEM it really is.
Perhaps the roller isn't as big or well painted as the Ransomes (it hasn't been painted for almost 25 years), but the clean workmanlike engine is just how a well maintained contractor's engine would look. I drove the roller round and round and round, stopping and starting it, backwards and forwards, there isn't a position of the crank that this engine (given the button or simpling valve) won't start. "Can you bring this down to Dorset? along with the Ransomes?" I asked. John's reply was, "Yousee the man, if he will transport it you can have the pair for the week." "Can I?" I asked "Yes"came the reply but with a warning that, "I wouldn't build up my hopes too much, there are plenty of Avelings in Dorset already and this is just another one with a horse on the front." It's a shame that, but it's true. If you have a big shiny showman's engine, irrespective of its originality you are welcome and get a bucket full of money for your trouble, if you have a roller of any description, totally original, and costing just as much to insure the boiler, maintain and transport, it seems you are not so welcome and have to finance yourself. This seems a strange way to encourage enthusiasts of my generation! and an even stranger way to maintain a collection of historic vehicles in original condition. But as someone said "It is he who pays the piper that can call the tune". So perhaps the NTET should start and educate the public, because it is they who pay to come through the gate, is it not?
The sun was setting on the Nottinghamshire sky line as I very reluctantly put the Aveling to bed. The rule is last to play put it away (greases and sheets).
To be continued
GEOFFREY WHEELER PRINTS
Most of you will probably not have known of Geoffrey Wheeler, many of you will be too young. But all of you will have seen a small sample of his work, for he was the artist who drew the original drawing of the engine which adorns the cover of Raising Steam.
He became well known in the steam world for his drawings and coloured illustrations, and I had the good fortune to meet him many years ago at the original Great Dorset, then affectionately known as and held at "Stourpaine". He was then selling amongst other things a range of cutaway drawings of engines. These drawings had originated from the days when he drew the cutaway drawings to be found in the boys' comic "The Eagle". (I know you won't have heard of that!) Sadly Geoffrey died in 1995, having moved into his restored windmill as his home and becoming the owner of the Ruston & Hornsby 6nhp traction engine Oliver. Some of you may have heard or remember of the hurricane that swept across southern England in 1987. Both the windmill and the engine were, I believe, damaged. I feel sure I remember this being mentioned in Old Glory either at that time or after. Luckily for us, many of these prints remain available. His wife and son, Jonathan are now offering these to SACmembers at a discount price. They will not be making any profit from sales at these prices, but it was felt that apprentices would get some very useful information and understanding from owning copies. The cutaway drawings measure 17 inches x 24 inches (432mm x 610mm
approximately) and normally sell for £7.00 each again including post and packing. Mrs Wheeler and Jonathan are offering them to SAC members at a 25% discount from that price.
The available prints are:
Cl Burrell 7nhp Showman's Road Locomotive Princess Mary
C2 Burrell 7nhp Showman's Road Locomotive Princess Mary (with numbered key)
C3 Fowler 7nhp Agricultural Traction Engine Farmers Friend
C4 Fowler BBl Ploughing Engine
C5 Fowler BBl Ploughing Engine (with numbered key)
C6 Aveling & Porter Type 'F' Compound Steam Roller
C7 Aveling & Porter Type 'F' Compound Steam Roller (with numbered key)
C8 Ruston & Hornsby 6nhp Traction Engine Oliver
C9 Ruston & Hornsby 6nhp Traction Engine Oliver (with numbered key)
C 10 Ruston & Hornsby 12nhp Compound Portable Engine
Cll Savage three-abreast Steam Gallopers (with numbered key)
The 'numbered key' means that most important parts of the engine are designated a number with a description of that part written alongside the drawing. The cutaway reproduced here cannot possibly show the quality of the originals, they are simple reduced in size far too much to retain the detail. Whilst I would be the last person to try a 'hard sell' on apprentices at any time, I do certainly recommend that as m:iny of you as possible try to own one or more of these drawings. They can be obtained from
E PWheeler
The Windmill Bardwell Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP311AD
Now I need more contributions and photographs from you. I have now used up virtually all you have sent me (except Neil Cobb of course!) and I need more. I particularly need good pictures of our Chairman's Aveling & Porter Morning Star. All will be revealed in the next issue. Get writing and get snapping. - Ed.
