RAISING STEAM
EDITOR
STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB MAGAZINE
Nanette Sanders, Frog Cottage, New Road, Porchfield, Isle of Wight P030 4LS Tel: 01983 523317 e-mail: sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk
CHAIRMAN, STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB
John Durling, Hawthorn Cottage, Stubwood, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire STl4 51-IX: Tel: 01889 591188 (between 08.00 and 21.00 hours only please) e-mail: jolm.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, Kirkby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU. Correspondence only. Membership fee £5.00 per annum.
SAC CO-ORDINATORS
Sam Bate, 30 Mowbray Grove, Bishopsgarth, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland 'T.'Sl9 BX.A 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
Steve and Donna Taylor, 17 Smith Crescent, Coalville LE67 4JF Tel: 01530 835213 e-mail: steve.tailor@btinternet.com
Matthew Lund, Willow Cottage, Twynam's Hill, Shirrell Heath, Southampton SO32 2JL Tel: 01329 832462 e-mail: matt.lund@engineer.com
Kevin Munn, 56 Blacklands Drive, Hayes, Middlesex Tel: 020 8573 9180 e-mail: kevin@munnsteam.freeserve.co.uk
Barry Sumsion, 1 Leicester Road, Newport, South Wales NP19 7ER Tel: 01633 213332 (office) e-mail: ba.rry(q)kearline.co.uk
Kevin Lawrence, 62 Park Avenue, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA13 9BH Tel: 01229 838144
The Editor welcomes any contributions of articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issueH.All material submitted is voluntary a11d-payment cannot be made for any material published. 'rhe opinions expressed in the magazine, with the exception of Club announcements, are those of the contributors and do noLindicate Lhe views of the Club as a whole. All items are held copyright by the contributor and the N'l'Wl'.
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 P1'\0PU.:, l'LAC'l~Sor F.NCTTN1.;R .in BLOCK CAPITALS. If you require any part of your article (eg photos) returning plomio1iuy HO uud oncloHt' n stamped addressed envelope. Enclose your name, address and (if Apprentice) age with 1niy ('.1JJ1t1•i1.iul,lo11. '!'ho l~ditor reserves the right to amend or refuse contributions, and wiU at.tempt Lo col'l'('CL 1:1pulli11g1111dl{rnmmnr! The Magazine is normally published during the early part of January, April, July 11nd Odob111·.rrll!I Cluh nccoptHnn liability for failure to meet intended publication dates.
The Steam Apprentice Club is a section of the National 'l'racLion l1~nginn 1l'r111;t NTET is a Registered Charity, No. 291578. Registered in F:nglnnd No 1:i02107. Registered Office: 4 Church Green East, Redditch, Worce:-il,nrKhir•f\1IHK /-!!IT --'fypesetting and Artwork by Kearline Graphic Imagef\ Ud, Jl'nirouk fl1111H11Bmil111,HH Ut111Lro,Church Road, Newport, South Wales NP19 7EJ Tel: 01633 262197 Fax: ow:tl :ll,H0AH1111111ll 1~i,11m·ul(u1koarline.co.uk
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What an interesting weekend we had recently. Sean, that's my husband, decided to visit as many rallies as possible in just a few days. After catching the 9.00pm ferry from the Isle of Wight we arrived at Barnard Castle at 5.15am to be told that there was no room left to camp. Word of advice pre-book your camp site - saves a lot of upset. 'I1he guards on the gate felt sorry for us and gave us a cup of tea and advised us to park out on the road until later in the morning, they would see what they could do. Later we were allowed in. It was a lovely rally, though a little windy, much to everyone's amusement when I am running down the field trying to catch my tent. As the day went on what I can only describe as a mini hurricane swept in and everyone started packing away, stall holders were holding on to their canvas shelters. We left before nightfall.
at Barnard Castle - look at the stall and flag behind.
Con1ing back down the country we stopped at Chipping another really nice rally with lots to see and do. The weather held out and we enjoyed the day. Next stop on the saine day was Nostell Priory. It had just closed when we arrived but there was still plenty to see. Katie managed to find an engine with her name on it. Unfortunately the owner was not around so I have no information about the engine.
Katie
Katie standing in front of 'Katie' at Nostell Priory.
We arrived at Carrington in time for supper. Being quite a large rally we spent all the next day there. Everybody had an unexpected surprise when down came a hail storm so hard that chairs in the marquees were being used to clear the weight from the canvas. Just as quickly the hail stopped and the rally carried on as normal with sunshine and not a cloud in sight. I felt sorry for the vintage cars that were open topped; there had been no warning or time to cover them over. What a weekend, despite the weather we enjoyed ourselves and managed to visit rallies we had not seen before. Our next adventure is going to be one of our regular visits to Welland and it will be pre-booked.
Nanette Sanders, Editor.
THE CHAIRMAN'S BIT
Much to the annoyance of both my son Ian and Martin (WoppiL)my Apprentice, Morning Star is taking a bit of a rest after attending the NTBT Driving Course at Astwood Bank, the North Staffs Rally at Klondyke Mill and then the Belper Rally (which is actually in Duffield, Derbyshire). This has m.eant that we've done nearly 200 road miles already this year. Our next planned outing will be the Great Dorset Steam Fair which should be as good ttl:l ever.
As I mentioned last time, repairing the paintwork damaged by ttie lagging fire is not very appealing and therefore hasn't happened, in fact the whole lot has got considerably worse on the run to Astwood Bank, when the :remaining wood caught fire again and finished the job off! Still, I now know two new things; 1, there's now nothing left to burn, and 2, don't use soft wood for the lagging.
Now to Club matters.
The Driving Days that have been held so far have been a great success; a big thanks to Duncan Croser for organising these. Look out for the form for the remaining three that are being held later this year.
NOTE.
The driving day at Henstridge is in August so you need to get your form off NOW if you want to go. •
The Technical Achievement of the Year Award has attracted 5 entries, which we are now studying and will be contacting those concerned very soon. I am really pleased that 5 of you have made the effort and hope that others who are involved in an engineering project, either full size or miniature, are taking pictures and notes so that they can put in a submission next year.
The last point I want to talk about is the Certificate of Competence. We are now in a position to offer those who have reached the necessary standard, the chance to put themselves forward to be assessed. Following is a list of points to explain the full process of the test and its aims. This is a major step for the SAC and MUST be treated with respect. Any apprentice found abµsing this privilege will, of necessity, be dealt with severely, as it would greatly jeopardise the opportunity for others.
Happy steaming and I hope to see many of you out and about this summer.
John Durling, Chairman.
Certificate of Competence
This is the natural progression for those who have completed their log book and are really getting to grips with the art of engine driving. Because the granting of a Certificate of Competence is not done lightly, there has to a proper process to decide if any given individual is worthy of receiving one.
The process is as follows:-
1. You must have obtained (at least) a provisional licence to drive a car.
2. You must be working regularly with an engine and its owner/driver.
3. You need an experienced engine driver to perform the role of mentor.
He/she will need to review your progress and decide if you are ready to go forward for assessment.
4. You will need a copy of the syllabus for the examination from the SAC.
5. You need to arrange with one of the examiners a suitable location for your assessment, bearing in 1nind that you will need to be able to simulate road driving without actually going on the highway (unless you are over 21). Discuss this with your mentor and the SAC.
6. You will need to arrange for a suitable engine to be available for you to carry out your test.
7. The examination will take you and your engine fron1 removing the sheets, through fire lighting, steam raising, engine preparation, moving, driving through obstacles, 'road' work, to shutting down and leaving the engine properly at the end of the day.
8. You will be asked various questions about the engine, about faults which can develop and how to deal with them, and be expected to know how to deal with some of the more common 'emergencies' that can happen when driving engines.
9. This assessment will take four to five hours.
It is our intention that successful Apprentices will be able to drive an engine at a rally (subject to the Rally Organiser's approval) without the need for supervision provided they are displaying a blue 'A' on the engine. This is to be regarded rather like the green 'L' some new car drivers display.
John Durling.
Important Notice
The St Agnes Rally has a new SAC co-ordinator called John Sawle. He has offered to help any apprentices who are going to be at the rally. If you know that you will be going to this rally please would you give John a ring on 01872 553932.
MAIL BAG
Dear Editor,
My name is Stephen Myers, aged 13 and I live in York. My Dad is the owner of the Scenic Showman's engine called General Gough No. 3888. Last year at the end of Dorset, one of the tubes sprung a leak. Luckily, the engine was going
in for a rebuild a few days later, and a place in Horsham was already reserved for the engine. Once there, the person who was doing the work had the engine in bits in just a week and you could not tell it was an engine anymore. All this work usually takes about three years but if we get a move on then we should be able to make Dorset this year. We have seen a few pictures of it now (end of May) and it is looking more like an engine with its front wheels on. While General Gough is in bits I h.ave been driving another engine, a Burrell Devonshire but I cannot wait until General Gough is back.
Above and Left: General Gough during the 2004 rally season. 'General Gough' being rebuilt March 2005. Photos by Stephen Myers. Stephen Myers, (13), York.
Dear Editor,
I attended the Steam Apprentice driving weekend at Old Warden, Bedfordshire, which was run by the Bedford Steam Society.
I really enjoyed myself and once again met some friends I made last year. I would like to thank everybody, the organisers, the engine owners and all the apprentices who helped me over the weekend. I have not long had an operation on my toes and this was my first attempt to get my safety shoes on, and as I could not walk far I had to use my wheelchair for part of the day.
I have enclosed a picture of me steering Liz Grime's 6 inch scale Allchin which I had the first go on at any event. Liz only acquired this engine a short time ago. I am pictured with Steve Grimes driving, and I would like to thank Steve and Liz for all their help over the weekend on both the Allchin and Steve's Aveling & Porter roller.
Thank you very much.
Kate Cleal (16), Warwickshire.
Mailbag continues on page 11.
Kate Cleal steering a 6 inch scale Allchin belonging to Liz and Steve Grimes.
COLOURING COMPETITION
For Members aged up to 16 years old
CAREFULLY remove this page from the magazine - ask an adult for 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 John and Fiona Durling by Saturday 20th August.
The competition is open to all apprentices up to the age of 16. Entries from those aged 12 and under will be judged separately.
ADDRESS for entries is:
SAC Colouring Competition Hawthorn Cottage Stubwood, Uttoxeter Staffordshire ST14 5HX
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
The 2005 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 member's entry will consist of 3 photographs. They may be 6" x 4" prints, colour or black and white, and can be digital. If supplying digital entries they may be supplied on disc in jpeg form or you can supply 3 prints on photo quality gloss paper. Because they may be reproduced in this magazine afterwards, the resolution should be not less than the maximum setting on a 2 megapixel camera. All pictures should have been taken during the period 1st August 2004 to 31st July 2005,
3. Entries must be sent to the Secretary of the SAC at Hawthorn Cottage, Stubwood, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5HX, to arrive by Saturday 20th August.
4. All entries must have the following details on the reverse of the photograph (or on the disc): 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.)
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 2004 photographic competition.
6. All entries are to include a suitable stamped addressed envelope to ensure all materials can be returned.
7. Entries will be displayed at the 2005 Great Dorset Steam Fair in the NTET tent. 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 1nust 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 Lhat will bring credit to themselves and the Steam Apprentice Club.
MAILBAG
Dear Editor,
Bursledon Brickworks Driving Day, Sunday 24th April.
Today I went to the SAC driving day at Bursledon Brickworks near Southampton. I was working on the Marshall 10 ton road roller Oman owned by Grahain Chaffer and was being looked after by Fred Streeter. I was working with Matthew and Louis. We started at 9am, I started by cleaning out the ash pan, I got very dirty. I then polished the brass all over the roller, lit the fire and put wood and coal onto the fire. When the pressure was above lO0psi we moved into our spot for the photo, and then had lunch. After lunch we played in the car park and had three goes at the slalom. I was steering and we managed to get round them all but I clipped two. Everyone thought I was a back seat driver because I was always telling them when to turn and brake and stop.
At 3.00pm we swapped engines, I went on a Marshall called Major Henry. I steered round the car park and then started the slalom. I was the first to drive Major Henry up and down the slalom. We were unlucky that at 4.00pm it started to rain and the engine had no roof. Just before I was going to drive the miniature engine the rain became dreadful, it poured down but it did not wreck my day. I would like to say thanks to Bursledon Brickworks the SAC and Graham and Fred.
Robin Marshman (see page 12)
Dear Editor,
My biggest surprise. Whenever I go to rallies or driving days, I would say that one of the most exciting parts would be the fact that you never know what kind of engine you are going to work on. When I turned up at the Leighton Buzzard Bypass Rally on the 5th June I thought that I would be working on the engines that weren't in the working area, threshing and sawing etc. When my Dad and I got there somebody on site took me to the working area where I was at the 2003 show. I thought I would be disappointed because I had so much experience here anyway, but I was in for a surprise. After Michael Watts and I were preparing his 1902 Marshall General Purpose engine Punch, which was driving a threshing machine, I was left to maintain the fire, water level and pressure, it was a great responsibility.
When I was finished with Michael the public steering was on. There was Sandy Ross with his equipment an Aveling and Porter tractor, stone crusher etc. There was Ian Vickery with Queen of Hearts which is his mother's 1907 Aveling and Porter Tractor No. 6319, I had worked with Sandy and Ian before which was a nice surprise. To finish off I would like to say a big thank you to the engine owners that I have mentioned for turning up at the rally and I may see you again.
Edward Ronayne (17), London.
Robin Marshman steering and Matthew driving on 'Oman' at the Bursledon Brickworks. Robin Marshman steering on <MajorHenry' at the Bursledon Brickworks.
l\t{esteering and Mathew driving onOmon
Me steering on Major Henry
Dear Editor,
The best month I ever had was October 2004 when my Granddad acquired a 1931 Sentinel DG4 Steam Waggon Registration No. TM9486 works No. 8595. The waggon had been in a Canadian collection owned by Charles and Roger Matthews since 1958, my Granddad had spent 14 years trying to buy it.
The main reason for wanting this particular waggon was that it used to work for the flour mill in the village of Langford where I live. Henry Franklin Ltd used it for 22 years with only one driver Alf Peacock, throughout its life at Franklins.
Sentinel DG4 Steam Waggon No.8595 carrying 9 tons of flour at Langford Mill 1952.
Granddad first discovered the waggon when visiting relations in Canada in 1990 but it wasn't for sale at the time, he kept in touch with the owners and after many discussions and 14 years they agreed to sell it.
The day after the Shuttleworth Steam Rally 2004 my Granddad and Uncle flew out to Canada to help with the loading and any other jobs that needed to be done to make sure it had a safe journey home, meanwhile my Dad stayed and looked after the family haulage business. When my Granddad and Uncle got out to Canada the waggon was sheeted up, so they started the main job of loading it onto the container. This container had to be open because the Sentinel was too high for a sealed box even with the wheels taken off. The loading went well with no accidents until at the end when my uncle was just chaining it to the container when the chain snapped and crushed his finger (ouch). After it was all loaded they watched it drive off for its long journey to Montreal docks in Canada.
Two weeks later we had a phone call saying that the waggon was at the docks in Thamesport, Kent. My Granddad thinking it would ~1otbe h01ne for at least a month because of having to clear customs, had to ring round for somewhere for it to go. Fortunately he found a farm a couple of miles from where we live. On the Friday we arranged for it to be dropped off at the local farm. As we arrived it was already there on the back of the container lorry. We started straight away by getting a fork lift either side to lift it up so the truck underneath could drive away, but it was too heavy, so we had some of the truck company's lorries on the farm to crane it off. As the lorry drove out from underneath the waggon we rested it on Bedfordshire's soil for the first time in 51 years.
Sentinel DG4 being craned off at the farm in She/ford, Bedfordshire, October 2004.
The next day we came back and started the real work, first the wheels had to be placed back on. Holding the front of the steamer up with a fork lift we had to get it into the shed. We towed it very carefully knowing that it had not been moved for 20 years but as they were towing it my Dad accidentally knocked it into gear. We were hoping not to do that just in case it was seized or anything else, but it turned over freely and we placed it in the shed. Now it's the big work that we have to overcome, such as the boiler work and many other jobs: We have never had steam in the family, we have always had vintage lorries such as the Thornycroft and Bedford lorries, the only steam we have is my Uncle's 2 inch Clayton steam wagon but this will be something different. I do have experience with steam from helping out on many engines and wagons such as Barry Weatherhead's two Sentinel Steam Waggons and John Forshaw's
Mark Simmonds standing with Sentinel DG4 after unloading at the farm in Shefford, Bedfordshire. October 2004.
Ransomes Sims and Jefferies. My favourite rally is the Shuttleworth steam rally on the 17th and 18th September 2005 where there are always steamers to help on. I am even happier this year because this will be the first rally that our waggon will go to, this year we are going to tow it there because it is not in steam.
Mark Simmonds (14), Bedfordshire.
Dear Editor, My name is Adam Paterson, I'm 18 and from Leeds. I've been a member of the Apprentice Club since I was around 6 or 7 and I've been totally obsessed with traction engines for as long as I can remember.
A lot of years ago I was round at my Nan's having a cup of tea and me and my grandad decided it would be a good idea to try to build a miniature.We opted for 211 scale and set about it, and sure enough 5 years down the line we had something that looked fairly convincing. We had taken it as far as possible so we left it in the hands of a local model engineering guru that we knew and he called us roughly an hour after we left it asking us to take it home because it
was no good -the boiler was built totally wrong and it got taken home and gathered dust for a few years then we were having a clearout and sadly it just got thrown in a skip.
I got into an engineering apprenticeship and I have started building the 2 11 scale Durham and North Yorkshire traction engine. It's a design by John Haining and its a really nice little engine and very simple to build. I notice you had articles on l" Minnie earlier on but to all those budding model engineers out there I really recommend trying this engine. Another good thing is its such a popular desig11 that most places that supply it supply fully machined and assembled parts for it so if there's a bit you see when you're sifting through the drawings which looks a bit hard -no worries you can just buy it. I'm pretty much on my own round here with the whole engines thing, hardly any of my friends even know what a traction engine is so I've just had to persevere and I've cut a few corners with it here and there but nothing too major.
I'm no good with boilers, so I decided to buy one. As it so happened I got talking to a guy who had the boiler, cylinder block, gearing and a few odds and ends laying around for one of these so I took them off his hands for £200, which is a bargain really. The workmanship was superb and the boiler is certified so it's ok to rally it. To buy the boiler from my local engineering supplier would have been around £450 ex. VAT so I'd say I did fairly well!
I've been working on it for around 8 or 9 months now and its really coming along, I'm hoping to have it running on air by August next year, I work through the day so I have weeknights and weekends to do it.
I really do encourage everyone out there who wants a miniature for goodness sake just try it - get some drawings. I'm ok with buying engines but there's a lot of satisfaction in seeing something you've created sat there working. Get yourself some drawings and have a go!
Anyway if you'll excuse 1ne - I have several hundred rivets to put into the hind wheels and they're not going to build themselves!
Adam Paterson.(18), Leeds.
ANSWERS TO LAST ISSUE'S WORDSEARCH
Here are the 50 words that are hidden in the grid. COAL AVELING ARENA RALLY OIL TRACTION ENGINE FODEN WALLIS STEEVENS HOTDOG CHIPS GEAR/GUARD SPARK LAMP BURRELL FOWLER BEERTENT STEAM ROLLER WHEEL FAIR OVERALLS FIRE/BOX MUD/LID PLUG TUBE/BRUSH ROPE/DRUM BULB NUTS BELT BRASSO PORTER SENTINEL STALLS GRAND PARADE BOILER MOTION VALVE
A full issue this time! Barry Sumsion will be continuing his series of articles on "Know Your Traction Engine" in the next edition of Raising Steam,.
STEAM APPRENTICE CLUB -DRIVING DAYS
List of Venues
Venue Date
Henstridge Airfield 13
Leader's Name Comments
Heather
Combined with charity show Templecombe August Vincent should be 14 engines on 8ite Somerset 2005
Brantham Hall, 1 October
Martin
A selection of local engines Colchester 2005 Stubbins running in the grounds of Brantham Hl:111.An enjoyable venue last time
Holly Bank, 17 September Josie
Driving plus breakfast on the Tybroughton, 2005 Millington shovel Whitchurch, Shropshire
The aim of these driving days is to give SAC members who do not have regular access to an engine the chance to drive one for the day. Therefore, if any course is over-subscribed, we reserve the right to offer the places to 1nen1bers from non-engine owning families.
