RAISING STEAM
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STEAM APPREN[ICE CLUB MAGAZINE EDHTOR
Nanette Sanders, Erog Qottage, New Road, Porohfie'ld, Isle ofWightP030 4·LS CHAIRMAN., STEAM APPRENl'IGE Oll!IB
John Durling, Hawthorn,. Cobtage, Stubwood, IUttoxeter, Staffords:fure STl4;l.5Il[X ll'el: 018@9 591188 (between 08.00 and ~1.00 hours only: please) e-mail: jq_'hn.T,du:t'Jing@uk.trans,pol'"ffi5ornbarrlier,corn v.rcE-CHALRMAN, STEAM APPREN"FICE eu'1B
F)}aine Massey, 2a. 'Down Close, No:ctholii, Middlesex UiB5 6NS Il:el; 020 8248 Gt570e-mail: elainerrrnassey@aol.com
l\iUSMBERSHIP SECRC'f"AaY
John Cook, Do1farni, Church :tane, Kirby la '1,'h(;rr;pe,Slea'foPd, Lll\colnshire NG34 9NliJ, Cor.respondence only. Membership fee £5.00 per annum. APPRENTICE REPRESENTAlilVE
Matthew Lund, Willow Cottage, T'wy;nam's,Hill, Shirrell Heath, Southampton S0"32 2JL
Tel: 01329 832462- e-ma'il: matt.lund@engineer.com
SAC CO-ORDINATORS
Sam Bate, 30 Mow'bray Grove, Bishopsgartb,, Stockton-on-Tees, <Dlevela;nd'J1S1,98XA: Tel: Oil.642897153 e-mail: snm'bate@lycos.com
Graitam (%affer, 32 Jubilee Way, Stor.rington, West Sussex RB20 3NZ
Tel: 0~903 74592'1.e-mail: chaffer..gang@io24.net ,-O;)uncanCroser, 16 'I'v)pps Hill Close, Chalfol,l,t St. Giles, Bucks (HP8 43.Z Tel: 011.494875443 e-mail: duncan.croser@btintennet.com
Steve and Donna Taylor, 17. Smi'th Crescent, Coa'l.ville DE67 4JlF
IT'el:0'3.580835213 e-mail: steve.tailor@btinletmat,c;_om
The Editor welcomes any. contriOutions of articles, shorter items ot1pbotographs.fo111ncl\J.sionITTlfuture issues. A'lll matCJr.ialsubmitted ,is voluntary an£!payment cannot be mail.e for any mate11iahpub'lished. 'Ilhe opinions expresse°d fill the magazine, with the exception of Club announcements, are t!hose o£the contributors and dom.oOOndicatethe views of the Club as a whole. All items are held, cppyright by 'the contribut.or.and:th:e NII'EU'.
P.°!ease sena your con-bmbuiiions to lili.e :(E!dito:nat least: lfive weeks before puOlication. lr¥J)ed or e-mailea articles are preferred but not essential'.lii:fhandwritten put any names of~OPJJE, FLAfJES OIi ENGINES in Bl'.l00K CAP.l'l'AL'3.ff you ..r(tquire any Ii/art of your article (eg phoj;os'j)-eturning please say so ana enclose a stannped atldres~ed envelope. Enclose your mune, address and (i£Ap_prentice)age with any confu;ibutien.Th'e Editor reserves the Digh;_t,_ to amend or refuse contvibU.tions, and will attempb to cotrect spelling and grammar! The Mag__azineis nomnfilly published du:ci.ngltl\e early part 0£ Januar.y, :April, ffuly and OctO'ber.The Club accepts no llia'bility for failure to niee.tintended publication aates.
The Steam Apprentice Olub is a section of the !National Traction Engine Tnust. 'N'Dl!JTis a Regii:!_teredOharity, No. 2915:78. Registered in England No. [302197. Registered Office: 4 Church Greeru.East, Red ditch, Woraestershit;e i898 BB'P.
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FROM THE EDITOR
First of all I must say that I am sorry this issue of Raising Steam is late. Having the Christmas festivities included in organizing the magazine held things up a little, still I hope you all had a great time and look forward to a whole new year at rallies and on engines.
Having attended many rallies over the years my husband Sean and I have always wished that we could own an engine and be participants rather than onlookers. Back in October 2003 Sean travelled to Lincolnshire to see an engine that had come up for sale. The weekend passed with no news, I gathered that Sean had gone to yet another auction instead. I was very wrong! Sunday
Sean and Katie standing next to their new Marshall Portable.
night I was given a large folder full of information and ownership of our first engine a 12 nhp Single Cylinder, Slide Valve, Marshall Portable. Reading through the history in the folder it was built in 1916 in Gainsborough and owned by AG Petersens & Co. In 1957 it seems to have spent some time at Craig Sawmill, Achnashellac, Ross-shire. Being used in a sawmill we can only think that it was running perhaps a saw bench, which is what it will be doing
for us. Sean has a very large saw bench that was purchased from a farm in Hereford in what I can only describe as kit form, large piles of metal parts and a do-it-yourself 4 page diagram of how it is supposed to look. It will be interesting to see the bench and the portable running together maybe not this year but I can see years of fun to come. I have included a photo of Sean and Katie with the engine which is still in Lincoln.
Nanette Sanders,
Editor.
THE CHAIRMAN'S BIT
Morning Star update
Things are making progress regarding Morning Star. I now have a shiny new back axle, courtesy of Crewe Works. I suppose that means that I have a bit of railway engine on my road engine. It does mean that it will be a good bit of ste-el. By the time you read this the new gears will have arrived and the axle, bearings, back wheels etc. will be with the machining company. We are going to deliver all the heavy bits using Andrew Hall's Wallis and Steevens 6nhp engine Eileen. If you're taking bits of a steam engine about then you should do it by steam!
Progress is also being made with manufacturing some of the smaller bits like the new regulator valve and various fittings required for fitting the canopy. It doesn't look very different to three months ago, but quite a lot is happening really. I must keep telling myself this!
Now to club matters
I hope that you have all enjoyed your Christmas holidays and, with a bit of luck managed to get to one of the late steam parties held round the country. Some people even were mad enough to steam up on New Year's Day, despite the heavy rain!
As far as the SAC is concerned this is going to be a busy year. We start off as usual with the driving days - see elsewhere in this issue for details - and then there is the NTET Driving Course in May. This year we are moving to the Midlands and Hatton Country World in Warwickshire. Again, see details elsewhere.
It is also our 25th anniversary which, like the NTET's 50th will be celebrated at GDSF and the Road Run in Hollowell, both in September. More details of what is happening will be posted in a later issue of Raising Steam.
Every so often I get asked "what are the rules concerning young drivers?" It is time, therefore, for me to restate them.
Under age, non-licence holders may be allowed to steer or drive a steam vehicle at an Authorised event if all of the following conditions are met:1. The insurance cover for the vehicle speci f'ically includes Steam Apprentice Club members (as per the NTET Insurance Sche1ne).
2. The person is a bona fide member of the NTET Steam Apprentice Club.
3. That, age not withstanding, the 'Apprentice' is not prohibited from applying for or holding a driving licence.
4. The 'Apprentice' is closely accompanied at all times by a person who is a full licence holder for the type of vehicle being used.
5. The minimum age shall be 13, with a minimum height of 1.40m. The known conduct of the 'Apprentice' is not likely to detract from the safety standards of the event.
6. The Safety Officer has given formal sanction following a risk assessment of the 'roadways' and vehicle manoeuvring places.
7. The Rally Organiser has given written notice to the Exhibitors and Public of his intention to allow such movements (via notices and the Rally programme).
There are a couple of points to note about this. The rally must be Authorised by the NTET and the Rally Organisers must have agreed that youngsters can drive. This also applies to miniatures.
In the last magazine I apologised for the fact that I had mislaid the names of two of the winners of the colouring competition. I still haven't heard from you, so please get in touch if you won the second prize for either the junior or senior section.
It's now time I got back to the workshop or Morning Star won't be anywhere near ready for September. I hope that I will see lots of you during the course of the year.
John
Durling, Chairman.
DRIVING ON THE ROAD A CAUTIONARY TALE
The forecast for the weekend was cold, bright and sunny, so I decided I would go out for one last road run before putting the roller "to bed" for the cold winter months. I have a 10 ton E type roller of 1926 called KATE, named after my daughter.
Sure enough on the Saturday morning it was just as the forecaster had said so I went to the farm where I keep KATE. After taking off all the covers, raking down the ash into the ash pan and removing it I checked for any signs of dampness caused by weeping tubes. If you look at the ash when raking it out it can give you an indication. Mind you if you are like some and you throw some water into the ash pan to stop it being blown about it does make that particular exercise a bit pointless. I then checked I had sufficient water in the boiler (of course you say) before putting in a lit paraffin soaked rag on a shovel. Once I had got a few pounds on the gauge I blew down the glass gauges to make sure that all was clear and I had a true reading (I was on level ground). More coal and wood on the fire and the pressure began to rise nicely
3
Time then for a chat with the farmer who had come along over for a cup of tea and before I realized the pressure was up to 90psi. Next to do was oiling up. I start myself, from front to back going across the engine putting oil in the various holes and pots. The steam oil I just give a couple of turns on the ratchet so it is primed and the first lot of steam doesn't go in dry. By the time that was all done the pressure gauge was reading l00psi, time to turn over the engine. Did the safety checks, opened the cylinder drain cocks and gently opened the regulator, the flywheel slowly turned and excess water blew out of the drain cocks before nice dry steam emerged and then shut off the cocks. Next I made sure the pump and injector was working ok and then set off on my road run.
The route I was going to do was around the local area on roads which if you could look from above formed a triangle and I was starting at the base about half way along. The total distance for the route is about 3 miles and an hour or so to do. As it was a Saturday I did expect some traffic which sure enough built up behind me. Whenever that happens and the queue gets too long or they cannot pass too easily wherever possible I pull over into a lay by or bus stop to allow them to pass. Many drivers appreciate this gesture and also like seeing the engine out and about.
Every once in a while of course I had to stop and put more coal in the fire box and water in the boiler. I feel on our busy roads this is the safer option as not all drivers appreciate the limitations of a steam engine compared to a modern motor car and being on my own I must not take my eyes off the road. It was as I was going down the second side of my triangle that the reason for writing this article will become apparent. On this road as you look down it there are many vehicle crossovers for owners to take their cars on and off to their houses. In one of the houses about 50 yards away I could see a young girl looking out of the window at the engine, she was obviously interested, so I decided to pull over so she could see it better, plus it was time for coal and water.
After giving the appropriate hand signals, yes you do have to know them; I pulled up about a foot from the kerb. 'fhat was so I did not damage any water drain covers. rrhe girl then came out with her grandmother to have a closer look, ask a few questions and have her picture taken before going back in. I then got off the engine myself just to have a look around it, and give it a wipe down whilst the engine pressure builds up again. I started on the road side, being careful of any vehicles passing and making my way round to the front roll. As you can imagine cars were queuing up behind the roller before going round her when it was clear. I then passed around the front of the engine and stepped back up on the pave1nent. At that very second a BIG BLACK MERCEDES zoomed passed me followed by two other cars.
As you can imagine I was somewhat shocked by this action of the car drivers who had been so impatient they couldn't wait a few seconds and had gone up over a crossover further back and passed me before going down another crossover when they had passed. Indeed if it had been a few 1noments before the little girl and her grandmother could have been hurt as indeed I
could have been if I had stepped further onto the pavement. The reason for writing this TRUE story is that whilst you or I do everything as correctly as possible there is always going to be someone out there who will do or carry out a dangerous or stupid act. Always be alert wherever and whatever you are doing even when you believe it should be safe.
Kevin.
MAIL BAG
Dear Editor,
Hi there fellow members, my name is Chris Wright, I am writing to you all to tell you about the great weekend I had at Haddenham Steam Engine Rally. It all started when my family and I were looking around the stalls at the show and my Nan saw a tent with leaflets and information about the Steam Apprentice Club. Until then I did not know that you existed, or so much enjoyment could be had from coal and water. Having joined the club the man in the apprentice tent said that if I wanted to help on an engine for the day an engine by the beer tent called HIS LORDSHIP would take on an apprentice. I walked over to the engine and introduced myself to the driver and a fellow apprentice called Tim Clark.
As time went by Tim and I became friends, I knew nothing about showman's engines, how they worked, why they were built and what we were doing. Tim told me everything and showed me how to manage the fire and water to maintain 200psi, whilst generating electric for the OCTOBERFEST organ. I enjoyed working on the engine so much I wanted to stay for the night's show and the following day. Tim asked his mum and dad and they agreed that I could spend the night with them
We both got up about 7.30am and went over to the engine; we started by taking the sheets off then started cleaning. First of all the footplates brasses (they get the hottest), then the chimney cap and boiler brushes finally dumping the ash pan and raking out before lighting the fire. The engine absolutely gleamed in the morning sun.
Behind HIS LORDSHIP was another engine, ISLAND CHIEF the owner Jamie Clark asked if I would like to help him get ready, I readily agreed and helped Jamie clean, oil and run ISLAND CHIEF. It is a wonderful machine and Jamie is a great person to be with. I have his phone number in Scarborough and he says I can work with him on his engine anytime I want.
All too soon Sunday was over and I had to go home but I will say that the weekend at Haddenham was the most energetic fun day of my life an experience I will never for get.
My thanks to Tim, John, Graham, Jamie, Steve and Matt (they were on the IRON MAIDEN).
Chris Wright, aged 14, Cambridge.
Dear Editoi-, I have sent you an interesting photo of my dad Jonathan Wheeler.
At the Pumfrey' s anniversary party in June, my dad Jonathan Wheeler was shaving in a Burrell road locomotive showman's MARGARET using the shiny hub cap as a mirror.
Daniel Wheeler, aged 9, Norfolk.
Dear Editor
Having read the latest issue of Raising Steam I thought I should contribute to the urgent call for more articles and suchlike, so I thought I would fill you in on an event that happened during the 25th and 26th of October last Jonathan Wheeler using Burrell (mirror' year.
Between Reading and Newbury off the A4 there is a little village called Englefield and for quite a few years now there has been a gathering of engines for an end of season steam up. Amongst the engines were the reasonably famous OLD TIMER (the engine responsible for starting up the whole steam rally scene), two Aveling rollers, a Burrell Gold Medal tractor, a very nicely turned out Wallis Advance and lastly a Brown and May portable running an old water pu1np.
The weather was reasonable with the exception of a vicious wind swirling all around the yard. My brother, dad and I had the sense to set up base behind a wall much to the envy of fellow modellers. In spite of this there were two things at hand to keep you wann, one was the huge boiler in its original boiler room running an enormous mill engine, and the other was Bob Staunton's home made wine, a sip of which will keep you warm even when standing in the North Pole.
This year my family inherited a 4in. scale Burrell BUDDY built with love and care by our late granddad some 16 years ago. She is a great little runner, one of those engines that will never let you down providing she is being worked, not the type of engine that can sit around all day being looked at. Taking it in turns to trundle up and down the road and around the yard we had a gTeat
weekend, topped only by the generosity of other engine folk as we had rides and drives of other engines, in particular a four inch scale Foster complete with canopy (rare for a model that size) possibly one of the most well built models I have had the pleasure of driving. On the Sunday night all the engine men went out for a meal at a local pub, it gave a sense of finality to the weekend especially as it was the last event that BUDDY would be attending before being drained and sheeted up for the winter.
So there you go, my little contribution, I know I was a little vague where Englefield is but that's because I am a bit vague. If anyone does find it feel free to come along next year, it's a friendly event filled with loads of people who will gladly talk to you about the engines. One last thing, I have sent a drawing that I have done. Over the years I've been improving my drawings and hopefully I can provide an inspiration for any budding artists out there.
Fowler PloughfngEngine.
It took me 20 minutes to write this letter down admittedly the only thing on television was snooker but if everyone took 20 minutes to write about an event or anything you would like to share with other apprentices then it only takes a little bit of effort, and if everyone wrote something the magazine would really come to life. Give it a go.
See you all for now Paul.
Paul Davis, aged 15, Surrey.
Dear Editor,
I would like to talk about my Mamod collection. I have a collection of three engines which are stationary engines with the addition of a workshop, a brass boilered tractor and a showman's engine. My first engine out of the three was the stationary engine and what made me want to buy it, was one day in 1997 my dad and I were on our way home from the Crossness Engines, I said to him that I wanted it so we went to Bexley Models to buy it. Later in the same year my dad and I went to the same shop to buy the workshop for the engine, and he fixed the engine and the workshop to a board. Later in the same year or 1998, my dad brought me (I think) the tractor. It worked beautifully until 2001 which was the time the whistle went so rusty that it got jammed and I had to replace it with a new one. Until this year the engine had more problems, I had to replace the sight glass about three times because they would often melt. Then a more mysterious problem came along. Even when I tried to get the engine to move at high pressure it would not move anywhere, but a member of the Welling and District Model and Engineering Society (another club I belong to) helped me with it. He said that the fire box on the inside was so filthy that it got in the way of the heat from the fire.
In June 2002, I had the showman's engine as my third engine in the collection and also a half birthday present. I was proud of it because it worked beautifully especially when using the dynamo and because it is my favorite engine in the collection I would call it FLAGSHIP OF THE FLEET. I would like to have another Mamod I cannot decide whether it should be the conventional traction engine trailer or the post van.
Edward Ronayne) aged 16) London.
Dear Editor,
I am writing to tell you about the exciting weekend I had at the Bedford Steam and Country Show at Old Warden over the weekend 13th and 14th September 2003.
We arrived at the field at about six oclock and I went up the field to find my best mate Oli Needham. I found him and his family in the miniatures area and l then we went and got my tent as Oli and I had decided that we were going to set up outside his caravan. Once this was done we unloaded his family's four l and a half inch scale Burrell traction engine CATHERINE. After we were all ready for the next morning I went to have my dinner and report in to my family. 1 Oli and his family went down the fair where the showman's engines including EX MAYOR and CARRY ON were generating for the rides. On their return we all went back to the caravan and tent and went to sleep.
The next morning Oli's dad Mark was awakened by CATHERINE'S blower hissing away. It was still only quarter to eight in the morning. We were literally the first engine on the whole rally field to be in steam. Once we were all up we chuffed the engine down to the refreshment bar and bought our breakfast (a
very tasty bacon roll), after we went out for a run. Oli held the whistle open as we went along the engine line, to wake all the engine drivers (their early morning 9am call).
At eleven o'clock we went for the safety talk along with a boy called Jamie who was driving the 6 inch McLaren road loco called GIGANTIC. The safety talk outlines the safety arrangements for the weekend and gives the general rules of the rally. For most of the day we were chuffing around the rally field visiting the fairground (and beer tent) on the way. We waited in this area for about an hour as we heard a rumour that there was a massive queue to get into the arena. When we did finally go over, there was no one in the commentator's box so we felt a bit stupid as we had missed the parade. Once we had put the engine away for the night we went to the beer tent where once again all the engines were generating for the lights and fair.
On Sunday we were a bit later at lighting up than the day before but we were still the first alight. Again for most of the day we were just chuffing around the site. We however were able to position SANTON the full size of CATHERINE, and a three inch version of the same engine and CATHERINE in the photo area for a special photograph. We then went to the arena with SANTON, CATHERINE and the three inch SANTON following each other. We call ourselves the "Brunet Arrows".
Once we had finished, it was time to go back and load up CATHERINE ready for the journey home. We packed away and then it was too quickly time to say our goodbyes and then they set off. I returned back to my mum and dad in our caravan and helped pack away. Then we were off home, all tired, but having had a really great weekend.
I would like to thank Mark and Melinda for a brilliant weekend and making me feel so welcome.
James Allen, aged 12, Hoddesdon.
Dear Editor,
On Sunday 13th April, I became the proud owner of a large pile of bits. It is a 3" scale Wallis and Steevens Simplicity Steam Roller. The prototype design came about in 1923 when the company decided that there was a need for a light, easily maintained steam roller, mainly for rolling dirt roads in the Far East. The rollers needed to be able to burn just about anything, as good quality coal was not available in those parts of the world. Fifteen full size rollers were built and there are six surviving in the UK today.
The model is re]atively small compared to most engines in three inch scale but it is still quite a large, versatile model, capable of pulling around three adults, and it is also a large enough size to take on the rally field, should you so wish.
Specification for three inch scale Simplicity steam roller: Length: 35"
Width: 141/2"
Height: 26"
Weight: 160lbs (approximately 80Kg)
Working pressure: 90 psi
Cylinder bore: 1"
Cylinder stroke: 11/4''
Flywheel diameter: 4 1/2''
Boiler diameter: approx: 4 1/2"
Front roll diameter: 9"
Rear roll diameter: 11 1//'
The prototype Simplicity only weighed three tons in full working order, so it makes quite a small model. The Simplicity has a sharply inclined boiler (roughly 40 degrees I haven't measured it). The firebox is another piece of tube fitted inside the boiler barrel, and is, somehow, stayless. The water gauge is mounted on the right hand side of the boiler, and the pressure gauge is mounted on a flange on the cylinder block. It has a lifting injector located on the left hand side of the boiler between the cylinder drains, and a pump driven off the second shaft feeds through a clack valve on the right hand side of the boiler. The rolls have no spokes; they are just a hollow casting. The front rolls have three holes cast in and the rear rolls have five holes, these are for access to the axle oilers. Also, there is no tender as such. There is a footplate and guard where a normal footplate would be located, but water is carried in a belly tank underneath the boiler, and there are coal bunkers bolted to the tops of
both sides of the water tank. There is no storage for fuel or water behind the footplate. It has single speed gearing, the reversing lever only has three notches cut in it (forward, mid gear and reverse) and the steering is the same as that on Wallis and Steevens Advance type rollers. It has a steering wheel at horizontal, a shaft going to the steering bracket at the front of the smoke box where there is a toothed casting and a worm wheel. The worm runs through the teeth and the casting is directly attached to the front saddle.
The Model
The engine is built from drawings by Lion Engineering and Plastow Traction Engines, who scaled down the original works drawings for the engine. My engine so far has a front-end assembly, rolls, smokebox, chimney smokebox door and steering bracket with toothed casting. It has a fully made boiler and integral firebox, all 1nade of copper with 13 copper fire tubes and hydraulically tested to 160psi. The rear rolls are done, and fully machined, as are the front rolls. The rear and front rolls are attached to their respective axles. So, basically it's a 'Bare' roller, with no motion, gearing or steering. It did, however have the water tank and coal bunkers, all fitted. It had a large cardboard box full of drawings, and after examining them last night, there appears to be one full set of the drawings with spares, and a boiler assembly drawing for a 3 1 /2" gauge 'Tich' locomotive.
Then, there was a smaller cardboard box containing lots of lovely bits and pieces to be machined! There was: a part completed cylinder block, this needs a few holes drilling round the bottom plates to be bolted to the boiler. Then, a hole needs drilling for the valve rod to go through, but all the steam passages are machined. There was a very nicely made and machined front cover for the cylinder, two unmachined top and rear cover plates and a valve cover plate. There is a trunk guide, which I think is bronze. This has all the holes drilled in it. Then there is a completed chimney, with a turned brass chimney cap!' Along with all this there is about eight tins of screws and bolts and reversing lever bits, and a bag of copper rivets. There is the reversing lever assembly, and two valve eccentrics. There is lots of material to make things with as well.
So what needs to be done you ask? Well, the first job for me to do today was to carefully study the drawings, look at what I had, write it down in a book and then look at Plastow catalogues and work out what I needed to buy and what bits I could make myself. There is a lot of drilling and lathe work to do. The holes need drilling at the front end of the boiler so that the smokebox can be riveted to the boiler. The cylinder block needs holes drilling in the base to be bolted to the boiler and it also needs a hole drilling to take the valve rod. I need to buy a piston and machine it, as well as a slide valve. I need to make the motion-crank, big end, little end, crosshead, piston rod, valve rods, expansion links, (but there is material for these) a crankshaft and gearing and numerous other little things such as steering shafts, regulator-valve and reach rod, cylinder drains, canopy, blastpipe, blower and all the pipework. I also need a water gauge and lots of oilers!
Although the bulk of the big, difficult work has already been done, there is lots of intricate machining which will take time - gear cutting for example. I can only put in weekends, holidays and free nights from homework after school. I am also going to get into the engineering group at my school. I'm hoping that it won't be much longer than two years until it is finished. The engineering club is only on Monday nights and as I'm in my last year at school, I'm very busy with things like coursework, which unfortunately has to take most of my free time. I have included a picture of the engine. The bits lying on the bench are the cylinder block, the trunk guide casting and the lubricator.
Martin Treanor (16), Duffield, Derbyshire
Dear Editor,
Thank you for publishing my letter in the last magazine. I thought you would be interested in another of my family's steam vehicles. My granddad has an 1896 Witney steam car, fully restored to its original look. Historically it is a very rare and important car because it is one of the first useable American steam cars. Even the Stanley brothers were caught copying and measuring parts at a fair and later they were sued by the maker George Eli Witney the car was over 150 parts Claytons. At one time the car was owned by a very famous opera singer James Melton in America, he had a big collection he called Auto Rama. He sold some cars individually including our car and the rest of his collection was sold to a famous rich family the Rockerfellas. The car even has a buggy whip for scaring dogs away when horses helped pull the car, but I kept away because when I was younger I had an accident with a whip I tried to crack, I managed it but I caught the side of me and ended up with a big painful red mark.
So we thought it would be fun to enter it in the London to Brighton run 2003. It was the oldest steam car and it started 3rd in the run. There were only two petrol cars that were older. We also had a van so if the car broke down we had a bag full of tools ready. As my granddad does not drive the car very much my dad volunteered. As he started to steam the car up in Hyde Park he was interviewed by Meridian TV. They asked him several questions about the car. Later we saw him on the TV.As my dad and the passengers his friend Allan and my brother Billy set off the van was behind them. About half an hour later on at a check point Allan and Billy jumped off and sat in the van even though my brother was wrapped up warm from the cold harsh weather he was quite cold but he did not complain. Then it was my turn in the car. When I went by many people waved and cheered at me and my dad. The whole atmosphere was amazing. We found out that there was something wrong with the car and its boiler tubes were blocked and to clean them is a morning's job. It is not as easy as cleaning the tubes of a traction engine. So it did not run properly and flames were coming outside of the boiler. Many people shouted "you 're on fire". We needed to hurry if we wanted to finish the run. In the end the tubes became too blocked up and we were ten miles from the end. Overall the run was great fun
for everyone and next year we will have more confidence and we will make it.
Jack Kenway) Hook) Hants.
This is a picture of our 1896 Witney stemn car the first day we got it and my dad and Allan are steaming it up. Jack Kenway.
Dear Editor,
In almost every SAC magazine I have there is a request for a source of child sized overalls, well I know a place where you can get them, it is called Robson and Cowan in Scots Gap. If you don't live near Scots Gap they will do mail order if you write to this address.
Robson and Cowan Country Store
Scots Gap, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 4DT
Telephone 01670 774205
Fax 01670 774319
They do all sizes from about 4 years old upwards, they are good quality and they have been road tested in all situations on my dad's steamroller Coquet Lass.
Matthew Walker, aged 9) Northumberland.
Dear, Editor,
My name is David Burroughs age 12 and I joined the SAC at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year. My membership No is 3873. I've been interested in steam engines since I can remember and have always wanted to help look after and drive an engine.
My wish came true this year when my mum and dad took me to a local pub which had a steam day. There I met Terry Cheetah who had brought along his 4 inch scale steam engine. He let me drive it around the field and then invited me to help him at the Verwood Flameburst in October.
I arrived at lunchtime and Terry soon had me working cleaning the boiler tubes. Then I got the firebox ready and filled the boiler. Next we had to put up the tent. Then we lit the fire and when it got up to pressure I drove Terry down to the entrance where he was helping and drove the engine back by myself.
Soon the public started to arrive and I spent my time maintaining the engine. We also had a great b-b-q and the fireworks were good too. I really enjoyed the day and Terry said he would contact me before the next event.
My mum helped me write this because I am dyslexic and I wondered if you could put me in contact with anyone local who needs a steam apprentice.
David Burroughs.
You 're a lucky lad David, it seems you may already have an engine you can work on. However.,strictly speaking, at 12 years of age you shouldn't really be driving an engine in a public place. Please read the guidelines in my Chairman's Notes, near the front of this magazine. The rules are there to protect you and the public. You should not be discouraged from working with engines but safety must always come first. You'll soon be 13 anyway! - John Durling
NTET DRIVING COURSE
We have again been invited to attend this prestigious driving course.
If you want good tuition on good engines in good company sign up for this 2 day course.
This year it is being held at Hatton Country World, Warwickshire on 15 & 16 May.
The NTET are again subsidising the SAC on this so the costs will be £35 (+VAT) for 13 to 15 year olds and £60 (+VAT) for 16 to 21 year olds.
For more details and an application form send a C5 (for A5) SAE to John Durling.
THE ANSWERS TO THE WORD SEARCH IN THE LAST ISSUE
BOIL BRASS
CYLINDER DORSE'r
COAL CRANKSHAFT
DRIVER ENGINE
FAIR GREASE GREAT OIL
RALLY REGULATOR ROAD ROLLER STEAM STEER
Dear Editor,
After waiting two and a half years (3 birthdays and 2 Christmas's) Simon has finally received his present, a 3 inch Burrell made by a good friend and myself. He has called it Rex. It made its first rally appearance at Barleylands last year and next at The Grand Henhrun Rally which last year was held on the Norfolk Show Ground and finally at Great Chesterford.
I enclose a photo of him at Norfolk rescuing dad (me) after my Simplicity roller decided to embarrass me by a lack of steam much to Simon's amusement, not to mention all our friends one of whom took the photo.
I am hoping to finish a 3 inch Powell stationary baler to be driven by the Burrell.
Best wishes to the club and lets hope its future is secured by many new members.
Derek Birkumshaw, Chelmsford.
Simon driving his 3 inch Burrell 'REX' at Norfolk.
NEW MEMBERS
Louis Bartram, Beds.
Christopher Brown, Bristol
Christopher Callaghan, Berkshire.
Thomas Coleman, Banbury.
Robert Crumpler, Wales.
Jessica Dix, Staffs.
John Hammond, Coventry.
James Hawkes, Herts.
Jamie Jennings, Peterborough.
William Morris, Normanton. Marcus Still, Dorset. Jack Talboys, London.
Hugh rrhurston, Lines.
Edward Thurston, Lines.
Andrew Turner, Sheffield.
Sam Waterworth, Somerset. Ben Wilderspin, Beds.
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!
Steam App,entice £!uh - Drivingii[)ays. List oilv.en,.ues.
Venne Date Leader's !Name
Klondyke Mill, 3 l';.pril Jo'hn DUFling Draycott in the Olay., ~2©04 East Staffordshire.
Fengate Farm, 1,'I & 18 Rich_¥d Pim~ott Weet:ing, Apcil Brandon, Suf.fo'lk. 2©04 I
Henstrillge Aimield, 8May ll'l'.eather Tem,plec0mbe, Viincent Somerset.
Ding1es Steam 12May Richard Village, 20©4 Sandercock Lifton, Devon.
Old Warden Park, 24&25 Paul w·mbey Biggleswade, April Bedfordshire. 2004
Burs1ecl.onBni:ck 15 April Graham Works, SwaE1.wick 20©4 Chaffer Lane, Swanwiclc, Southampton.
Comments
North Staffs"& Cheshire 'DE Club Base-. Small sit~ witlh several enginesloased here plus visitors. Lunch w;ili be provided.
Mr Parrot~ has a c0'11'ection'o:fi4 o:r 5 engines W,ithothers a!lsoon site. Again they ar:erunning o:ver two days. ~amping/cara:vaning space is_ available.
'.lF>isusednirifield.iHard roads. 2-Poden wagons and other visiting engines.
An active Steam Museum with ~ several engines and full w@rkshop aci1'ities
Old Warden is,the lbome of the Sbuttleworlh collection and the Gld Warden'Ra!Jy, This is the biggest of the SAiC driving days, ff rou live near. Old Warden o/0ll mustn't miss it.
NOTE, A:!1Pl¥.directly to Paul W0rbeyf0r this venue as fhe Bedfoi:d Stcamffingine Ercscrvati@n S0oietyis ;prnvidlnga complete weekencll@f activities.
The aim of these dni.vtingdays is t0 g_iyeSAC mernber,s wlio do not have tegular access to an engine the chance t0 dnive one for a dalf. Theref011..e,if any course is over subscribed, we reserve the righ't to offer ithe g,laces to members f.rorn non-engine owning famili~s. 1, ,.
®ld bri.o'k:wor;k:snow :used@S a museum and steam centre.
R0rizonta!l eFigineDy Greens 0f :Leeds, Several engines based focally. Cafe on site.
1 ,Car.a;vanning/.oam(!l:lllga;vailable.
