Raising Steam 2003 Vol.17 No.4

RAISING STEAM

STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB MAGAZINE EDITOR

Nanette Sanders, Frog Cottage, New Road, Porchfield, Isle of Wight PO30 418

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) e-mail: john.r.durling@uk.transport.bombardier.com

VICE-CHAIRMAN, STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB

Elaine Massey, 21 Down Close, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6NS Tel: 020 8248 6570 e-mail: elainermassey@aol.com

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

John Cook, Dolfarni, Church Lane, Kirby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU. Correspondence only. Membership fee £5.00 per annum.

APPRENTICE REPRESENTATIVE

Matthew Lund, Willow Cottage, Twynam's Hill, Shirrell Heath, Southampton SO32 2JL Tel: 01329 832462 e-mail: matt.lund@engineer.com

SAC CO-ORDINATORS

Sam Bate, 30 Mowbray Grove, Bishopsgarth, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS19 8XA Tel: 01642 897153 e-mail: sambate@lycos.com

Graham Chaffer, 32 Jubilee Way, Storrington, West Sussex RH20 3NZ Tel: 01903 745921 e-mail: chaffer.gang@ic24.net

Duncan Croser, 16 Tripps Hill Close, Chalfant St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4JZ Tel: 01494 875443 e-mail: duncan.croser@btinternet.com

Steve and Donna Taylor, 17 Smith Crescent, Coalville LE67 4JF Tel: 01530 835213 e-mail: steve.tailor@btinternet.com

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 or e-mailed 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 pru:t 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 Traction Engine Trust. NTET is a Registered Charity, No. 291578. Registered in England No. 1302197. Registered Office: 4 Church Green East, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 8BT.

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Fax: 01633 259089 email: kearline@aol.com

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FROM THE EDITOR

It is almost the end of another steam year and what fun we have all had. As usual the Great Dorset Steam Fair was enjoyable with fantastic weather a.nd many new apprentices joining us. The usual Thursday night cavalcade was thoroughly enjoyed by all; apprentices once having had their turn on an engine around the arena were racing to the back of the queue in the hope of another go. Sunday morning's breakfast on a shovel was a new experience for me, after watching the line of apprentices waiting with plates of raw sausages 1 bacon and eggs venture off to cook their breakfast it soon became my turn. I managed to embarrass myself by setting fire to my sausages at least twice, good job I like barbequed food.

1909 Marshall 6-nhp general purpose engine named 'FAITHFULL" and owned by Mrs. C. Jenkins of Ryde, Isle of Wight.

On my travels with my note pad I have come across a very pretty engine called FAITHFULL. This is a Marshall 6-nhp general purpose engine with a very interesting history, and is owned by Mrs. C. Jenkins who is the granddaughter of the original owner Mr. E. Faithfull . Mrs. Jenkins had great pleasure in recalling her childhood memories of her times with FAITHFULL. Before leaving the factory in 1909 the boiler was specially shortened to enable her to negotiate the Island's narrow country lanes, and was displayed at 1

the Reading Agricultural Show later that year as a new class of engine. In time the engine was passed down to Mrs. Jenkins' father and uncle, Albion and Milton Faithfull and used mainly for contract threshing around island farms until 1944, it was then left at Barnsley Farm. 17 years later in 1961 Mr. Taylor acquired FAITHFULL and after fully restoring her once again she could be seen at rallies. To Mrs. Jenkins' delight Mr. Bob Stay who had becmne 'FAITHFULL's next owner had decided to sell her in 1995 and it coincided with her golden wedding anniversary that year. Mrs. Jenkins felt that this was the right time to bring FAITHFULL back into the family where it had once started, and was surprised to see that after restoration the engine was actually red when her childhood memories are of it being black. I expect in its long working days there was little time for the extensive polishing that we see carried out on the engines at rallies today. What a lovely story.

Nanette Sanders Editor.

THE CHAIRMAN'S BIT

Morning Star update.

You don't realise how many parts go to make up an engine until you take one apart!

The only bits left attached to the boiler now are the front wheels and the cylinder and 1notion. The motion will have to come apart at some point to check for wear but at the moment the safest place to keep them is on the boiler.

I am making progress on the engineering work with the new, oversized, axle on order and discussions are underway with the company that is going to machine the bearings, wheel hubs and second shaft. I have also found someone who can roll the 'T' irons for the canopy, all I need to do now is find some suitable sized T section steel. To help me with this work I have ordered prints of the original Aveling & Porter drawings from the Lincolnshire Archive. It is rather satisfying to be able to look at the correct drawings to show me how things should be.

The other piece of good news is that the ultrasonic tests on previous repairs to the boiler show that these are still perfectly sound which means that the barrel is good for many years to come. Now that the summer - and therefore play time - is over I can give more time to progressing things in the workshop.

Now to club matters.

As I write this piece I am looking back on another brilliant season for the SAC. We had a wonderful time at Old Warden in July courtesy of the Bedford Club and I completely lost count of the number of Apprentices who were at the Great Dorset Steam Fair - I do know that over 70 enjoyed the cavalcade on the Thursday evening. We also had offers from several rallies for them to host events for us. We hope to build on these next year to spread the number of

rallies that you can go to and also the parts of the country where events can be provided.

Following on from this thought you will see, elsewhere in this issue, requests from two engine owners for Apprentices to work with them on their engine. This is definitely the best way to get really involved as you learn one engine thoroughly and get to be 'part of the team'.

Now to more modern matters, the redesigned SAC website has now been up and running all this season. Have you found it? The web address is: www.ntet.co.uk/sac Your search engine should be able to find it from Steam Apprentice Club.

Have a look at the website at school and show all your friends what you do in your free ti1ne! Please keep looking at the website regularly as we will be including features such as engines looking for apprentices, other opportunities with museums etc, possibly trips and days out. You can contact us via the website and also send in photos and news items yourself.

If you have friends wanting to join the SAC there is a downloadable membership form.

Please let us know what you would like from your club. We did run a questionnaire at the GDSF and have also put it on the website for you to fill in, please do as it will help us to provide what you want from your club.

John Durling, Chairman.

MAIL BAG

Dear Editor,

I am writing to tell you that through the S.A.C. and due to the kindness of Mr. P Moody I have managed to get an apprenticeship on a rather rare engine, a Robey Tandem Roller. I would like to tell you a bit about it; It was built in 1924 it is 3nhp and weighs 8 tons. It was new to Flint County Council in 1924, no. 7 in the fleet, and used continuously until 1961. It was then sold seven times until being sold to the present owner P. Moody in 2001. There are about three left in Britain including the one I am working on. The last rally I went to was Chester-le-Street. I am enjoying myself on the engine and the owner is really nice. I hope to enjoy the S.A.C. as much next year as I have this year.

C.A. Jones, Whickham, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Dear Editor,

This year when I went to the Great Dorset Steam Fair I went on a showman's engine called PRINCESS MAUD. I was with Alan and his daughter Kerry and a boy called Alex. I stayed with them the whole week and had a

fantastic time. One of the nights I stayed on the engine until about 11.30pm. There were three other engines called THE IRON MAIDEN, HIS LORDSHIP and ISLAND CHIEF. They also have a stage organ with dancers. They won a trophy for the best show. At the end of the show Dave would get all the engine drivers and apprentices up on the stage, including me.

On Sunday morning I went over to the NTET tent with my brother Damien who was also on an engine and we had breakfast on a shovel. After that we went back to say goodbye to Alan, Kerry and Alex and to say thank you for having me. I can't wait for next year because Alan and Kerry said I could go back on their engine. Thank you Alan and Kerr,y I really had a great time.

Damelza Slu1nan aged 10, Exeter, Devon.

Jack Ken way inside the belly tank.

Dear Editor,

When I joined the Steam Apprentice Club I decided to write you a letter. I thought you would be interested in my Dad's steam engine. It used to be a Fowler showman's engine and now we are on the way to restoring it back to a road locomotive.

Its name is Dawn of the Century and it's l0nhp. Its works number is 9177. My Dad brought it about three and a half years ago but he was unhappy about the way it was working, so we have been doing work on it ever since he has had it. I have been sanding parts of it down and my Dad has repainted it to its original colour, black.

One day I got right inside the belly tank because my dad was too big to fit inside and over the day I got out a whole bucket of rust and dirt. Recently I have painted all the metal bars on the canopy and I have also polished the brass straps on the boiler. I regularly dust it all over to keep the paintwork looking shiny and clean and I have helped my Dad replace the old canopy with one that suits its original form.

Restoring a road locomotive is a great hobby and I am looking forward to the day when ours is up and running and we can take it to steam fairs.

Jack Kenway aged 12, Hook, Rants

SOME PHOTOS FROM THE 2003 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

See later in this Raising Steam for report

Two pictures from competition winner Mark Gliddon. Above we see Burrell crane engine No 3197 'Old Tim', out for the first time after a 10 year rebuild, while below we have Wallis & Steevens 6-nhp general purpose engine No 8052 'East Lothian Star' at work on the saw bench at Powderham Castle Historic Vehicle Gathering in July this year.

A MINIATURE TRACTION ENGINE PART 4.

By Matthew Lund

Those of you who went to the Great Dorset Steam Fair may have seen Minnie on the SAC stand and noted her further progress and the dreaded Dorset dust covering her, I am still trying to get it out of the tool box.

With the horn plates and shafts on we can put the smokebox and fore carriage onto the boiler hopefully turning it from a pile of bits to something resembling a traction engine.

OK, with putting the smokebox on, the hardest thing is lining it up and holding it there while you drill the first couple of rivet holes. Lining everything up can be achieved with a steel rule, square and a good eye.

The boiler must be first set up square to a good flat surface using bits of card etc. A kitchen counter top makes a good surface, (a great deal of precaution from or distraction of mothers may be required at this stage, MINE DID)

With the boiler square and the smokebox slipped on the front of the boiler, place the square next to the smokebox and look from front to back and using the perch bracket and door hinge as a guide adjust the smokebox round on the boiler till "it looks right". Mark this position with a pen on the boiler and box.

To make sure the box is parallel with the boiler place the edge of the steel rule on the side of the smokebox and adjust the box so that the gap between the boiler barrel and the rule is the same all the way down the boiler barrel. Do this down the sides and top. It may take a lot of playing about to get everything just right.

Lightly clamp the smokebox onto the barrel and without moving anything to 1nuch (if possible don't move anything at all) drill through a couple of the previously drilled holes in the smoke box (a Dremel or small hand drill is good for this) and put a couple of rivets in just to hold everything in place. With a couple of rivets in place again check that nothing has moved and put the rest of the rivets in.

The front axle and wheels can now be placed on and the front end is virtually complete. All that is left to do is the chimney.

With the front wheels on as you would expect she is a bit "back end down" and with the rear axle and its bearings complete, that so annoying and tedious l job of wheel building comes around again. Building the back wheels is very 1 similar to the front the only major differences are the hub is oval instead of round and the rear wheel rim is a double T ring instead of a single one which is a bit more tricky to machine.

Start off by machining the rear rim in the same way that you machined the front and you should have basically a copy but with a very thick T section. This T section now needs a channel evenly machined in it turning it into a double T section and something you can rivet the spokes to. I did this by setting the half machined rim up in the lathe so it ran true and using a small parting off tool I marked the smaller inside diameter with a couple of grooves that showed me

the thickness of the T (the flange that you rivet the spokes to). After that it is a simple case of removing the material in the middle of the two grooves to the appropriate depth. (Handy tip I used to judge the depth of the grooves without a lot of measuring is using a permanent marker. Mark the tool at the appropriate depth from the tip and just plunge in until you reach the mark).

Machining the spokes and hub I did in exactly the same way as the front wheels (see part 2). The rear wheels can also be put together in exactly the same way as the front but with a new bigger jig for lining up the hub and rim (see part 2).

Whilst we are at the back of the engine we'll have a look at the fire hole door. Minnie has an opening door (like Morning Star) the other type of door commonly used on traction engines is the butterfly sliding door (like Olive).

Minnie's door is made out of a piece of 1/16" thick plate and two pieces of 1/8" diameter copper tube. Mark and cut out the hinge plate and silver solder a piece of the tube to it; this will become the mount for the hinge pin. Next mark out the door adding a lip 1/8" wide on the hinge side of the door, cut the door out and bend the lip up so that you can silver solder the other piece of tube to it, and this will become the hole in the door for the hinge pin. The door needs to mount onto the outside of the hinge plate, so using a small hacksaw and file cut out the middle portion of the tube on the door so that the hinge plate will go into it and the holes for the pin line up.

For more information or help please email me at matt.lund@engineer.com.

BREAKING NEWS

According to our local paper the Buxton Advertiser October 1st 2003, a factory housing some of the oldest vehicles in the country has been destroyed by fire, this includes an 1886 Burrell engine which was under restoration and would have been worth about £80,000.

Now the sad news, the famous Fowler Showmans engine RENOWN owned by the Howard brothers was completely destroyed by the fire.

Isn't it sad about RENOWN RENOWN was one of the best Showmans engines around. It's a pity that it was destroyed. RENOWN did a wide range of events in the local area, including carnivals, steam rallies and lots more events. RENOWN was probably last seen in Dorset.

Yours sadly Emma Turner, SAC member, Derbyshire.

Editor's Note: Emma's news is certainly very sad. However, she is quoting a local newspaper and we have contacts who have been on site and seen the damage to 'Renown' and other items. The Burrell is damaged - mostly at the back end - but otherwise probably not too badly. The centre of a set of gallopers was largely destroyed, but the centre engine was mostly unscathed and is being rebuilt already. <Renown' is very badly damaged. Much of the brasswork including name and builder's plates actually melted so great was the heat. The rubber tyres have burned off and wheels are buckled, the canopy has gone and the dynamo will alrnost certainly need a total rebuild. So great was the heat that we understand that 'Renown's' safety values were blowing off due to water remaining in the boiler. Our contact says that he has never seen an engine so badly damaged - but probably - one day - she may steam, again.

APPRENTICES WANTED!

The owner of the Allchin TE Bess is busy re-building her with a view to finishing the work in about 18 months. He is looking for an Apprentice to work with him during this re-build and then carry on when Bess is out rallying. The engine is based at Petersfield in Hampshire.

The owner of an Aveling and Porter type XAC tractor is looking for an Apprentice to work with him taking the engine to rallies. This engine is based in Winchester. If you are 11 or older then this could be for you.

To take up either of these offers contact John Durling.

THE COLOURING COMPETITION

This year the entries were up in both number and standard. Thank you all of you who entered.

The winners are:-

Junior section.

1st Rachael Brighty - 10

2nd

3rd Arron Birks -7

Senior section

1st Amy Brighty - 13

2nd

3rd Matthew Fithon -14

You will notice that there are no second winners listed. This is because both of these youngsters took their drawings away at the end of the show, and I have lost the piece of paper with their names on. If you will contact me, I will publish your names in the next issue - sorry, JRD.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

This year there were only two entries to this competition, so I think we will have to make changes for the future. However the winners were:-

lst Matthew Gliddon, who receives the Dorset Shield .

Ruston Proctor Lincoln Imp 4-nhp leading Aveling & Porter 4-nhp Tractor with a Tasker timber trailer and load at the Great Dorset Steam Fair 2002.

2nd

Martin Treanor.

Aveling and Porter KND Tractor converted to a showmans tractor in 1970s at the Elvaston Castle Stea,n Rally 2003.

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome as steam apprentices the following who have recently joined. Enjoy your membership and join in whenever you are available with any activity or contribute to your magazine.

Matthew Ainslie, Essex.

Christopher Allenby, Hampshire. James Allison, Shropshire. Christopher Anderson, Surrey.

Jack Badger, Tewin.

David Baker, N orthants. Lewis Barns, Lincolnshire.

Kelly Beale, Milton Keynes.

Nicholas Blackett, Surrey.

Ryan Bicknell, West Sussex. Sam Bicknell, West Sussex.

Mark Kossick, Bucks.

Chloe Lacey, Bucks.

Johnathan Last, Hants. Thomas Le-Count, N orthants

James Lough, Leics.

Nicholas Mansi, East Sussex. William Mansi, East Sussex. Ian Marshman, Hants.

Peter Marshman, Hants.

Robin Marshman, Hants.

Simon Marshman, Hants.

Matthew Bromage, Derby.

Jamie Brookes, Glos.

Shaun Brookes, Glos.

Beverley Brooks, Co. Carlow.

Shane Brooks, Co Carlow.

Rachel Bullivant, Glos.

Stephen Bullivant, Glos.

David Burroughs, Dorset.

John Burton, Worcester.

James Callicott, Bucks.

Felicity Cheshire, Derbyshire.

Bethany Cheyne, Aberdeenshire.

Rebecca Cheyne, Aberdeenshire.

Harry Clayton, Hants.

Samuel Clayton, Rants.

Joe Clayton, Derbyshire.

Kate Cleal, Warwickshire.

Luke Clements, Worcester.

Devan Clifford-Wing,Cornwall.

Jack Clifford-Wing, Cornwall.

Richard Coleman, Banbury.

Tricia Collard, Bucks.

Daniel Collier, Didcot.

Emma Cowburn, Monmouthshire.

Sam Cowburn, Monmouthshire.

Richard Crane, :Hampshire.

Peter Dabbs, Wiltshire.

Charles Dale, Stoke-on-Trent.

Sam Dale, Stoke-on-Trent.

Todd Donachie, Devon.

Darren Funnell, Beds.

Matthew Foster, Cornwall.

Mitchell Fox, West Midlands.

Georgina Gamlen, Bristol.

Luke Geeves, Lines.

Johnathon Ginn, West Midlands.

Rachel Golby, Devon.

Brian Gratton, Derbyshire.

Jam.es Green, Leicester.

Matthew Grice, Leicestershire.

Henry Haines, Wiltshire.

Thomas Harper, Oxford.

Robert Harris, N orthants.

Rebekah Harvey, Rants.

Anthony Hatch, Wiltshire.

Cameron Marr, Suffolk.

Lewis Mason, Hereford.

Jack Merrett, Glos.

Tina Midsinter, Berks.

Joshua Morcombe, Dorset.

Christopher Moore, East Yorks.

David-Lee Mulcahy, Beds.

Stephen Mulcahy, Beds.

Brandon Nail, Glos.

Phil Nail, Glos.

Selina Nail, Glos.

Tony Oakford, West Sussex.

Emma Oliver, Herts.

James Pettitt, East Sussex.

Matt Pettitt, East Sussex.

Ellena Plum, Norfolk.

Mitchell Plum, Norfolk.

Robin Price, Rants.

Tobias Proctor, Leics.

Lisa Prout, Cornwall.

Emily Pumfrey, Essex.

Sean Quigg, Co Donegal. James Ragsdale, Notts.

Jack Ready, Essex.

Tony Ready, Essex.

Keegan Reed, Wilts.

Shaun Robins, Somerset.

George Ronayne, London.

Henry Rooke, Somerset.

Victoria Rowe, Cornwall.

Samantha Rymer, Rants.

Owen Sage, Bridgend.

Gareth Saunders, Rants.

Thomas Scarsbrook, Warwick.

Adam Simmonds, Witney.

Alex Skoludek, Beds.

Peter Skoludek, Beds.

Matthew Slimming, Essex.

Aaron Smith, Glos.

Douglas Smallbone, Essex.

Richard Stevens, Essex.

David Symonds,Cambridge.

Matthew Theobald, Cornwall.

Lewis Thirling, Co Durham.

Frederick 'I1homas, Hereford.

Sam Hicks, Surrey.

Thomas Hilton-Stevens, Surrey.

Christopher Hipkin, Witney.

Matthew Hirst, Rants.

Edward Hosking, Cornwall.

Bobbie Hudson, Cheshire.

Daniel Humble-Smith, Dorset.

George Humble-Smith, Dorset. Lee Ibberson, Somerset.

Daniel Jackson, Notts. Neil James, Cornwall. Adam Jerrold, Suffolk. Ashley Jerrold, Suffolk.

Robert Johnstown, Ireland.

Tadeusz Kaznowski, Norfolk.

Jack Ken way, Warnborough.

Jacob Kistle, Cornwall.

Georgia Knight, Bournemouth.

Christopher Wright, Cambridge

Henry John Skelly, Rants.

Joshua Thomson, Surrey. James Titley, Lincolnshire.

Liam Towills, Glos.

Andrew Turner, Glos.

Rhodri Tyrrell, Swansea.

Steffan Tyrrell, Swansea.

Peter Van Houten, Leics.

Oliver Warburton, Surrey. Harriet Watson, Northumberland

Paul Watson, Northumberland.

Ben Whiting, Suffolk.

Jack Wilkinson, Northampton. Calum Widgery, Devon.

Christopher Wilkinson, West Yorks

Edward Williams, Devon.

Benjamin Wills, Isle of Wight. Christopher Wheeler, Rants. Mitchell Woodcock, Beds.

Joe Young, Lines.

Jake Higgins, Essex.

HERE IS A WORD SEARCH FOR YOU TO TRY

Each word is something to do with our hobby! There are at least 18 to find, but some may find more!

Words can be up or down, left or right, diagonally and forwards or backwards.

The answers will be in the next issue of

AN INVITATION TO HELP

The Steam Apprentice Club were approached just before the beginning of the school summer holidays by Steph Gillett, curator of the Science Museum Annex at Wroughton in Wiltshire. What I did not know at this stage was that Steph used to be the one time editor of our own Raising Steam, but more of that and Steph later.

The museum had just taken out of storage one of the traction engines that had not been seen since it was purchased from the Hollycombe Steam Collection in the early 1980s. This was Empress of India a McClaren agricultural traction engine, single cylinder slide valve, adapted to work a

turntable ploughing set from the crankshaft by means of a universal joint.

We had been asked if any of the apprentices would be interested in assisting the conservators with getting the engine into a condition where she could be put on show.

Naturally we were interested although it proved to be hard work to contact people. An advert was put on the website and we had a couple of replies.

Over the six weeks holiday we spent about a week cleaning and preserving the engine. It is quite different working on an engine solely to preserve what is there rather than keeping in mind the ambition to steam it. Firstly a lot of general cleaning was undertaken, simply with water and rags. Wire brushes were used to remove all the loose rust, of which there was a considerable amount, before the metalwork was painted with a rust inhibitor to prevent further deterioration.

The museum conservators have a different perspective of these engines and hence different ways of working. Substances such as Brasso are not used by the

staff as they can degrade the metal over time. Great care is taken about every stage of conservation and the staff are very knowledgeable.

There are several steam engines at Wroughton including a matched pair of Fowler BBls which have been fully restored and they are hoping to get them working next season. I offered to supply the museum with a team of adults and older apprentices to show them how its done, and to teach the museum staff.

Wroughton is just off the M4 motorway south of Swindon.

Elaine Massey Vice Chairman

We need your ideas!

This is supposed to be your magazine! Which means that we want you to send us pictures, articles, questions (or answers) etc.

To help us make Raising Steam the best steam magazine around we need your help.

Send your thoughts ideas etc. to Nanette NOW!