Above: This photograp/1(IIJt-/tlwt un thF f1u11t, uv,., mr f1u111Chairman, KevinMunn and taken at Old Warden. Photo aboVt'i-./111\'\ •• /\Im I ',;111mn1,., wit/, o friend polishing up Fawell 7 nhp
Traction Engine, No. 9'J, f{t1t! N11 f I,; /II', I. l,u/lt /11 I 903. The cover pictures show James Calicott and friends cl1t1tth1J:/Jy/fr111~tJf-ll"'~"-i111-.. ,t /13l(t•1/tA 'fraction EngineNo. 36020, Reg.No. BS 90 I 0 and built in / 9).!,
The back cover shows 0/H' of thr t u/lr• tltm nf f•l1utug/lJ/Jhssent to us by Sam Bozson.It shows two Fodensof very dl(frtt'l1f nr,n(=lf'tct1i;111, r 11ml dr-.tgn r-ft-tspitebeing only 5 years between them. We do not know the ldw1fl1y11frh"' ""lll[illr ill thr fmrf!l<Htndas it doesnot appear in the 'Traction Engine Register'.fr. is, ltuwrVF1,,1 H ot,1,1tll11Jf"',yhndnrengine, Reg.No. BS 95 I 6 'Glendora' of 1910. Furthest f,-0,11t/1r 111/W!ld ft;; /111 ~411~.Hr1g,No. SD 5293, 6 nhp 'General Huntr-1 Weston' of I 915. fokr11 tit tllr, l,.POrj't11m/lwuudStN1m Rally which included the Fode11 I .!JO years celebration.
1
Editor
Nanette Sanders, Frog Cottage, New Road, Porchfield, Isle of Wight PO30 4LS Tel: 01983 523317 sac.raisingstcam@ntct.co.uk
President
John Durling. 19 Mill Lane, Barton under Needwood, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE13 SHE
Chairman
Kevin Munn, 56 Blacklands Drive. Hayes. Middlesex Tel: 020 8573 9180 e-mail: sacbairman@hotmail.co.uk
Vice Chairman
Elaine Massey, 21 Down Close, Nonholl, Middlesex UBS 6NS Tel: 020 8248 6570 elainermassey@ntlworld.com
Membership Secretary
John Cook, Dolfarni, Church Lane, Kirkby la Thorpe, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 9NU. Correspondence only. Membership fee £7.50 per annum.
SAC Co-ordinators
Steve and Donna Taylor Tel: 01530 835213 Steve.tai lor@btinternet.com
Emily Drury ecdrury@botmail.co.uk
Matthew Lund Tel: 01329 832462 matt.lund@engineer.com
Gareth Haase Tel: 07720 718008
Kevin Lawrence Tel: 01229 838144
John Lloyd Tel: 01603 415325 Barry Sumsion Tel: 01633 262] 97 barry@kearline.co.uk
The Editor welcomes any contributions of articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issues.All materialsubmittedis voluntaryand payment cannot be made for any material published. The opinions expressed in the magazirne, 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. The Editor reserves the right to amend or refuse contributions. The Magazine is normally published during the early part of January, April, July and October. The Club accepts no liability for failure to meet intended publication dates.
The Steam Apprentice Club is a section of the National Traction Engine Trust. NTET is a Registered Charity, No. 291578. Registered in England No. 1302l97. Registered Office: 4 Church Green East, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 8BT.
Typesetting and Artwork by Kearline Graphic Images Ltd, Fairoak House Business Centre, Church Road, Ncwpo1t, South Wales NPl9 7EJ
Printed by TSG Creative Solutions, St Neots, Carnb1idgeslti.rePE 19 8EL
FROM THE EDITOR
Hi everybody, at last the summer has started. As soon as the sun comes out I am outside and my whole mood changes. Now I am thinking and planning what rallies I am going to attend. Of course I have my favourite regulars, one being Flookburgh, what a great rally. There were loads of you there last year; you all had a good time. The weather was a little dodgy but I know its going to be good this year. Hopefully we . wm have a few more engines available for you to play on. A new one for me last year was Boconnoc in Cornwall. I was really impressed, we]] spread out in lovely grounds. We were made very welcome and made new friends who we spent our evenings with. The whole rally was enjoyable. Of course tbe main event for me is the GDSF. We plan each year around this rally, meeting up with friends and apprentices, catching up with what has been happening since we last got together. There are so many of you at the GDSF all waiting to play on the engines. I like the Cavalcade on Thursday night. You all line up so patiently, and new apprentices who have only joined at the rally get .really excited. Of course the engine drivers are all giving up their free time for you so we are all very grateful to them. Finally my last rally has got to be the Bedford rally at Old Warden. We all take it a little easier and enjoy our time together with you and as a team.
Back to this magazine issue. There i.s of course the coloming competition across the centre pages, this will be judged at the GDSF. We have a new model for you to spend your summer holidays making, this will also be judged at the GDSF. We must not forget the photographic competition, I was very impressed with the quality of the photo's I saw pinned to the board last year, you all did really well.
Please take note of a message the Chairman Kevin has put in this issue about being on engines at GDSF, it would help us greatly if you could remember this when you are there please and give some of the new apprentices a better chance of having a turn, thank you.
Nanette Sanders, Editor 3
MORE PICS FROM NICK BOSWORTH
LincolnRally2006. FosterTmctor'Miglity Atom' No. I 3031. Reg.No. FE 1456. Built 1913. Photograph:Nici<Bosworth "
LincolnRally 2006. C/ciytot111<.\/111rtlrw~1, r/1 /'rnctionEngine'Enterprise'No. 44103. Reg.No. AL 9348. Built 1911 Photograph:Nick Bosworth
CHAIRMAN'S BIT
The steaming season is now well under way and I hope you are all enjoying yourselves out and about on engines. We have held five successful driving days so far and there are three more lined up which I hope you w.ilJsupport. See the advertisement elsewhere in the magazine. But what else would you like the club to do for you? In my last editorial I wrote that we are thinking of expanding the activities to include training days and visits to associated interests to do with steam engines. For example a visit to a boilermakers or learning to sign write. Does that appeal to you? Have you any other suggestions? Let me know and we will see what we can do. So far I haven't heard from anyone, does that mean you are happy with what we are currently doing. If you don't let us know your thoughts, positive or negative, nothing will change. Again, also in the last issue T responded to the comments received that nothing much happens for apprentices 'up north'. Well l am pleased to say the County of Salop rally will run a SAC driving day on the Bank Holiday Saturday in August, prior to their rally. This is the third new venue we have introduced this year, so like the others please support it and therefore the efforts of the enginemen who are kindly allowing you to use their engines.
Sam Bozson has sent us a selection of his photographs to use in our magazine from time to time. Here we see Fowler Showman's engine No. I 9783 'King Carnival II' of I 932, taken at the Great Dorset Steam Fair in 2005. There were only four of this type built and known as 'Super Lions', rated at I O nhp. Three survive and the fourth is being recreated. They were some of the last showman's engines built.
There is still time to gel your applications in for the Technical Achievement Award and Steam Apprentice of the Year (see January and Ap1il editions of Raising Steam,).So, get writing and nagging your cngineman to pul you forward.
The big event of the year, The Grcut Dorset Steam Fair, will be just around the corner by the time you get this issue or th,.;11wgazine.Elsewhere in the magazine is a programme of what we hope to do and when. A daily event sheet wil1 be posted on the SAC stand in the NTET marquee, so check there for any changes or additions. For those of you who are regulars at GDSF you wiH lwvt,; 1H>ticcclwe have been experiencing increased difficulty in getting apprentices on engines. We would ask for your patience as we give 'first timers' first bite at the cherry.
I shall be there at least 011 the P'1iday ll1rnugh to the Saturday. So, if you or your parents wish to have a chat by all 111l:nns rn111c111"> lo me. Myself and other committee members should be easily spotted, as wt: shull l1t: wearing a polo type shirt in navy blue with the white SAC logo embroided on ii. 01 ii the weather is bad, a hi-visibility jacket with the S.A.C. in blue on the back.
Happy and safe steaming.
Kevin Munn, Chairmo11
MAIL BAG
Dear Editor,
On Sunday 29th or /\piil I tilll-!1ldl·d llll' driving day at Bursledon B1ickworks. A few minutes after we got th~rl' Wt• w1•1't• 11ssigw.·dlo the engines, I was put on a 1931 Fowler 10 ton single cylinder ~ti.:nmrolk•r I HICLttetl by sweeping the tubes, which for a roller were quite easy to get at ~d1ho11phthL·n·Wl'l't· some quite tricky ones at the top. After the fire
The 193 I Fowler worked on al tlrn Ru,1,fo(/011 Brickworks by Matthew Lyons and the other apprentice William.
was lit we had to wait for it to get up sufficient steam. Whilst we waited we polished the engines brass and copper, but there was not much as the engine is sti11being restored. About half an hour later we broke for lunch which lasted about another half hour. Wben we returned from lunch we lined the engines up for a photo shoot. Afterwards every one took turns to drive, steer and lide the engines they were allocated to. At about half three we drove other engines, William and me (someone working on the roller with me) went on an Aveling and Porter compound convertible engine called Queen Victoria which can be either a traction engine or a roller, "this one was in traction engine form. We took turns driving and steering this engine, the regulator was tight but although the engine was 9 tons it had really light stee1ing. After this a few of us put the Aveling to bed. This job included wiping clown the paintwork, rubbing the brass with Vaseline and putting a massive cover a bit like a tent on it.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Chaffer for organising the fantastic day and all the engine owners for letting us on their engines.
Matthew Lyons, aged 15, Bournmouth.
This and the followingpicture sent in by Tony Oakford showingthe line up at the Burs/edon Brickworks.
Dear Editor,
Thank you for another great steam day. Although the weather was very very hot we were well provided with drinks. I would like to say thank you to the person who provided us with the drinks.
I have enclosed 2 pictures that were taken at the Brickworks as I think they are my best ones. I am the one in the blue and red boiler suit. I hope I have this much fun next time I go.
Tony Oakford, Littlehampton.
Dear Editor,
My name is Owen Sage nncl we rccenlly had a driving weekend at Richard Parrot's farm at Weeting. My sister C11t1fonncl myself spent two clays driving and steaming different eng.inesincluding llul'rdl No.1522 the Old Chap, Burrell No. 4051 Betty and a Burrell steam roller No. 4061 c•ulIt'd ./011elte.
We practised reversing into a Hinke which represented a trailer hitch, and did various Tom, Catrin and Owen stn11dl11g,wxt tn ,m <mr,'lneat Richard Parrot's farm at Weeting. (I am afraid that the identity of tlw ong/m't/wt tl,ey ore standing by was not given.)
manoeuvres. On the second day we reversed Betty right around the big field. We all had great fun, and plenty of practice at driving and steaming. We also met our friends Tom and Zach from Staffordshire who we met at Weeting last year. This was my fifth driving day a,nd my sister's first.
We would like to thank Richard PaJTot and all his helpers for a great weekend.
Owen Sage aged 9 and Catrin Sage aged 7, Bridgend.
Catrin choosing the big lumps at Richard Parrots farm at Weeting.
Dear Editor,
I wish to tell you about my apprentice day at Bursledon Brickworks on the 29th April. I was appointed to David Freemantle's engine Volunteer. First off David said sweep the tubes, so we did. Then we polished it and then we oiled. On the footplate we soaked an oily rag in paraffin and put it in the firebox. Next we threw in loads of wood then piled in the coal. After that we had our lunch and back on the engine for a photo call. Then we went back and put the engines in their original places. On the footplate we had a go at d1iving and changing gear. Finally we went and had a drive for two hours. We went over the brjdge, up to the gates a11dround the car park many times. Then we came back and changed engines. Far too quickly we had to come home. Here is a picture of me steering the engine.
I also went to Swanage for a weeks holiday at Easter. On a trip to Wareham I spotted this old sign in the entrance to a side street off North Street. I thought it would interest you.
Bradley Evans, aged l l, East/eif?h.
See Bradley's pictures on page 17.
MORE FROM THE CHAIRMAN - GDSF ETIQUETTE
All being well we hope to provide all who tum up with a place on an engine. Whether that is for the whole day or part of a day will be up to the engine owner. After you have spent your time with the engine, PLEASE DO NOT ask the engine owner if you can come back the next day or stay on the engine for the rest of the week. We would like to give everyone a chance to have a go on ao engine and to also vary your experience. It is also the case that not everyone can come all week so they may only have the one chance to have a go.
EVENTS
Duckling Run. Will happen Wednesday through to Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the SAC stand in the NTET tent. The Saturday run will be particularly for those apprentices who have come for the weekend to have a turn on an engine.
If after the Duckling run we find we have apprentices still to place, we hope to have an engine, or engines, in a corner of the main arena where we can go through the whole process from removing the covers, lighting up, steering and driving, to finally putting to bed and covers on. If it is your first time on an engine this might be better suited for you. Breakfast on the shovel. This will take place on Sunday morning starting at 9 a.m. where we cook our breakfast of bacon, sausages and maybe eggs on the shovel. There will be NO duckling run this day. This normally takes place outside or near the NTET tent Cavalcade. This is the chance to d1ive and steer the many different types of engine in the main arena. This is to take place on the Thursday evening from 5pm to 6pm subject to weather conditions. See notice on SAC stall as to where to queue for this event. Demonstrations and Talks. See the timetable on the SAC stand as to when they are going to take place. We hope to have a cutaway boiler to show you and talk about, as well as a 3 inch scale model engine.
ACTIVITIES:
Wednesday to Saturday: Be at the marquee by 9am if you would like the opportunity of being placed with an engine for the day.
(Saturday places are only for those arriving for the weekend)
New/young/inexperienced apprentices will have the chance to learn all about firing up and running an engine in the main arena each day at 11am.
Thursday evening: 5pm SAC Cavalcade in the main arena: a w011de1fultime steering many different types of engines (weather permitting).
Sunday: 9.30am: our now famous "Breakfast on a shovel". Bring along your ingredients, bacon, eggs, veggie burgers, and cook it with us, the traditional way, on the shovel inside the firebox. We will provide plates, drink, ketchup etc.
After breakfast we will do our presentations for prize winners. Hopefully photographs of all this wilJ appear in the steam press.
COMPETITIONS
We have tried to provide a balancedexpeliencefor both old and new members. We have introduced a brand new competition, a freestyle painting with the theme "Steam at the Fair" (for 12 yrs and over), our regular colouring competition (up to 14 yrs), the traditional photographic competition, open to all and of course our model entries, this year a water cart for your Mamod.
continued on page 15
PHOTOGRAPHICCOMPETITION
The 2007 Steam ApprenticeClub PhotographicCompetition
The annual photographic competition is an ongoing 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 two age groupsup to 15 years and 16 years old and over. Engraved medals and other prizes will be presented to the winners. The best overall entTy 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 format 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 2006 to 31st July 2007.
3. Entries must be sent to John Durling at 19 Mill Lane, Barton under Needwood, Bmton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 SHE, to arrive by Saturday 18th 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 disp]ay other than in connection with the 2007 photographic competition.
6. All entries are to indude a suitable stamped addressed envelope to ensure all materials can be returned.
7. Entries will be displayed at the 2007 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 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 b1ing credit to themselves and the Steam Apprentice Club.
COLOURING COMPETITION
For Members aged up to 14 years old
CAREFULLY remove this page from the magazine - ask an adull for help if necessarybe especially careful of the staples.
COLOUR the picture using pencils, crayons, paints or felt pens.
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 an.-ivewith John Durling by Saturday 19th August. The competition is open to all apprentices up to the age of 14.
ADDRESS for entries is:
SAC Colouring Competition 19 Mill Lane, Barton under Needwood Burton upon Trent Staffordshire DE13 8HE
Narne .................................................................................. Age ......................................... .
Address ................................................................................................................................. .
NEW COMPETITION FOR GDSF THIS YEAR!!
This year the SAC are launching a new art competition for those of you that have grown too old for the colouring competition, want a different challenge, or simply want to enter another
The Theme for this year, "STEAJVIAT THE FAIR"
Entries can be in any medium, pastels, oils, watercolours, crayons, felt tips, anything you like. The maximum size we have decided will be A3. That is not to say you have to use
that size, you can choose to go much smaller if you wish. If you are using pastels or •· charcoal, then please use some fixative to preserve it, especially if you are forced to post it (even hairspray works!).
This competition will be open to those aged 12 and over, the colouring competition is now limited to an upper age of 14.
There will be a wonderful prize for this competition, so please do enter! Added to that the winning picture will be published in the steam press.
REMAINING SAC DRIVING DAYS FOR 2007
Flookborough 27th July
John Durling The SAC have the show arena Grange-over-Sands 2007 for the day (Fliday) Cumbria
County of Salop 25th August
Steve Milns To be held on the show site on Telford, Shropshire 2007 the clay before the rally
Tinkers Park 15th September Adrian Vaugh,rn To be held on Tinkers Rally Sussex 2007 site near Uckfield, E.Sussex
Contact Kevin Munn SAC Chair for an application form via e-mail or snail mail (send a SAE), or use the one sent out in the January issue and write on the event you wish to attend.
NTET DRIVING DAY AT ASTWOOD BANK
from the June 2005 issue of Klondyke News from Barry Job reproduced here by kind permission of the North Staffordshire & Cheshire Traction Engine Club
Klondyke members have a well-deserved reputation for roading their eng:ines to events. Indeed, I would confidently say that our club members cover more miles on the road per year than any other club. Ian and John Durling upheld lhis tradition by roading their
Aveling steam tractor Morning Star from Klondyke through Tamworth and the outskirts of Coventry to the National Traction Engine Trust "Steam Training and Driving" weekend event, and back again, a total of 122 miles on the road. The outward journey took one day on the Ftiday before the event and the return journey one clay immediately after. Not surpiisingly a few -~ minor problems were experienced on the trip, but nothing that couldn't be fixed on the roadside and the journey was successfully accomplished. In addition to this, Ian and John were engaged in training and supervision for the two days of the event itself. Held over the weekend of J 4th
and 15th May, the venue was changed from the proposed Hatton Country World because of concerns that the poor ground conditions of last year's event would be repeated. Thus the 2005 venue was at the premises of S.E. Davis and Son al Astwood Bank to the south of Redditch. This excellenl site, with extensive hard standing and fields with views across to the Malvern Hills, had the added benefit of containing a vast array of quanying and agricultural equipment.
The weekend was again well organised by Stumt Tomlinson and his enthusiastic group of helpers. The programme consisted of lectures on safety and engine construction, however, the students were looking forward lo lhe main part of the weekend; the bands on tuition. There were 17 engines available for them to have a go on, including two ploughing engines, but only two rollers (alLhough this was twice as many as last year). The students began with sweeping tubes, lighting up, oiling round and poJjshing, but it wasn't long before the steam pressure had risen and engines were starting to move around the site. Indeed, on the Sunday the lane up to the top field became quite congested at times and marshalling became necessary to allow the engines enough room to manoeuvre in the turning area. Fortunately the weather stayed dry; although it was quite windy at the exposed top end of the site. This event gave the novice and more experienced student the chance to gain experience in a safe environment, this is particularly important to those who perhaps do not belong to an engine owning family and would not normally have the opportunity. The training of young enthusiasts (although some of the students were not so young!) is an important task, many of the engines present belonged to leading members of the Trust, and any non-members looking al] involved must be commended for the excellent weekend. BaiTy Job
~NOTICft~
TRACTION
f RGINES&.. HEAVY MOTORS
PROHIBITED •• THIS LANE lfyOrdcr 9f • TheCouncll
Left: Bradley Evans steering 'Volunteer'at the Bursledon Brickworks. Belowleft we see the photograph that Bradleytook of a notice he spotted whilst passing through Wareham in Dorset. This type of notice was not at all uncommon when the traction engine was an everydaysight on the roads of Britain.There are a few about to this day, as Bradleynoted. See if you can spot anythinglike this - some of them are quite large, especiallywhere a weak bridge may have to be crossed.
Hello
I am writing about my driving day at Bursledon Brickworks in Southampton. I wa.snervous about my clay but when I got there I was given my itinerary. I was placed with a man called Tony who had a 4'/z" BrnTell. The engine was called Oliver. In the morning I had to clean the engine and sweep the tubes which was fun. We had to light the engine and all move into a line for the photo call.
We stopped for lunch and I chatted to Dave Stone who drove me to Southampton. I joined the Steam Apprentice Club at Kemble Rally where I helped on Lion which is a Fowler Showman's engine and is massive, and I also helped with Lion at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. I had to do lots of polishing and it was really great at night when a11 the showman's engines were all lit up.
After lunch we got a chance to steer and drive other engines. I had Jots of fun driving Oliver and I learnt a lot in my day. l aJso made
friends on my driving day and I have had great fun since I joined the SAC and I am 1ooking forward to the rally season and getting to know more about other engines. One thing I have learnt from my chiving clay is that Steam engines are not just for BOYS they are fun for GIRLS too.
Thank you for a fantastic day.
Ellen Cawley, aged I O years
In July last year I went up to Michael Davis's farm, near Banbury. I was there to help put tubes in his Fowler Z7 ploughing engine. It was built in 1922, a 22nhp engine weighing around 25 tonnes. Michael Davis brought this engine and 5 others back from Mozambique where they were shipped to from new to work the sugar plantations. When I got there the tubes had already been belled out and annealed. Belling out involves making one encl of the tube bigger to fit the size of the front tube plate, as the ends are different sizes to aid removal again. Annealing is heating and cooling of both ends on the tube to reduce the brittleness and make them become more ductile, allowing the use of the tube expanders without the metal fracturing.
About half had already been put in but this still left about 25 to go. The first job was to fill the boiler up to the level that the tubes were at to see if any leaked cold, as I have been told 'A tube that doesn't leak cold won't leak Hot'.
So this was done and there were a fair few leaking. I was lucky, I managed to get the fu.-eboxend so I could stand up in the cavernous box. (I love big engines .... ) So Andy who was also helping had to curl up in the smokebox, but don't feel too sorry for him as it is pretty big! The tube expanders work by having 3 or more rollers (we were using 5) in a housing with a mandrel through the centre, when turned this forces the rollers out, expanding the tube into the hole.
Andy fed the tubes through from his end, while I made sure the tube entered the hole correctly my end using a stick. Then I placed mole grips between the tube to be expanded and the next tube hole along to stop it spinning while Andy expanded his end. I would then expand it my end. You have to make sure there is oil around the expander, but not excessive otherwise it will spin around not doing anything. That afternoon saw most of them in, we probably sweated enough to fi11the boiler working through the hot weather! The next morning we filled the boiler up again and to our dismay we had quite a few dribbles ... By the evening the ashpan was on and she was ready for a trial steaming.
Jason Massey
Once again there will be assessors available at the Great Dorset Steam Fair who will be able to carry out the NTET Competency tests.
If you want to be part of this get in touch with John Durling for more details. You must be over 17 and hold (at least) a provisional car driving licence.
Email: john.r.durling@uk.transport.bombardier.com Phone: 01283 712818
KEMPTON GREAT ENGINES from Elaine Massey
I have recently become a volunteer with Kempton Great Engines Trust, and also through them an organisation called ALPHA, who own a collection of pumping house engines. They are enthusiastic about involving the SAC with some of their activities: WATCH THIS SPACE!
The engine at Kempton has been used in several films you may have seen, Titanic with Leonardo Di Caprio, it has featured on the Bill in recent weeks, and will feature in the Golden Compass, from Prullip Pullmans novels, when it is released in December.
The engine house at Kempton Park is clearly visible from the A3 l6. The building is a registered National Monument, no 153. Each day from 1928 until 1980, both of the huge triple expansion engines would pump 19 million gallons of chinking water to north London. At 62 feet high and weighing in excess of 800 tons, the flywheels weigh 32 tons each, the no 6 engine produced 1008 horsepower. Today it is the largest worl<ing triple expansion engine in the world.
Kempton will be holding an exciting SAC weekend on the 20th/21stOctober this year teaching us about the running of this exceptional engine. There are limited places available, so that each apprentice will have maximum opportunity, so please apply early to Kevin. It will be a good hands on weekend, so you need to turn up with overalls and boots!
STEAMING WEEKENDS for the remainder of 2007 September 22/23, October 20/21, November 17/18. Admission: Adults £6, concessions £5, children free. www.kemptonsteam.org
Kempton Park Water Works, Snakey Lane, Hanworth, Middlesex, TW13 6XH Telephone 01932 765328
SIMON SAYS SIMPLE from Simon Beat
Havjng dealt with the smoke box door we will now deal with the ashpan door or dam.per.
To burn fuel requires afr. Tf you can control the airflow, you control the rate of fuel burn - this regulates the fire heat output and consequently the amount of steam generated by the boiler.
To fit an ashpan is not easy but possible.
1. While the asbpan is off the engine check and fit the damper door, this should contact on all edges. The top edge on a lot of ashpan doors usually seal against the foundation ring of the firebox. In a case like this a strip of flat bar say l" x 3/16" can be welded across the top of the ashpan front edge to give the door an edge to close up to, also stiffening up the front of the ashpan and giving an edge for the foundation ring to pull down on to.
Having fitted the ashpan door you can turn to the ashpan itself. On my engine the ashpan is held up by angle brackets and draw bolts see fig 2. Other engines are fitted up by cotters (fig 3). Either fitting has its good points and its not so good points. I personally prefer the version in fig 2 as the ashpan can be pulled up evenly and tight.
To be able to control the air properly air must not leak past the joint between the ashpan and the foundation ring. To make sure that this is airtight I use the following
Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
method. Clean tlH.:lircbox foundation ring and clean the ashpan mating face then you apply a film of adhesive to the ashpan edge, l use 'flue plumb', (from B&Q) it's sticky, rubbery and fire prnor! To this I stick nn even layer of glass wool (old roof insulation) about I" thick as shown in figure 4.
fire box foundation ring
gleasswoll
Hue plumb
ashpan
eishpan brackets-
Fig '1.
To offer up 1111'111-tltp:_111square wi!l1 Lhc engine I find that a Lrolluyjack with a board placed acros:-.ir ( lo •,p,t>lld lhc lm,d :ic1·n1.s the bottom of the ashpan) wmk.s well as you can hold up the ashp1111wltilv ynu lin~.-up tilt· bolt holes or compress Lhc glnss wool while you get the cottcl'H d11vt•11111lighl.
This do1H;yn11 1,h1111ldllnw :111 11i,·tigltl ashpan, one that will nlmost put the fire out when the dampt:t drn11lh '>iiUl
Should yo11 lrnd tllnt llw 11tlr<1dm'S not push the ashpan up dead tight, put washers between the cl1llc·1 ,1I11Illll' u-.11111111t'dµ1.:, see fig 5.
ti•ebOxroundoliof>•Intl
frxedpeg scrowod Inlo (oundaloo ring
Fig 5
REPLACINGTHC:DOil LIt ON 'SPRIG'from Nick Bosworth
Dear Editor '
Firstly I wo1ild ld\-r tu 1h11nl\-the judges of the 2006 photo competition for deeming my entry to be the wi1wr1 II'., 111rI 11•{I lime I have entered the competition and I'm amazed that I actually won. 1 Wnllld i.ll~nlikt: to congratulate the others who entered. I have seen some very fine e,1111eh 1n 1hr lnle-'-11t'ditions of Raising Steam.
All 3 of my pll11l111. writ:' fltl1L-11wllilc replacing the front section of the boiler barrel on SPRIG, my Und1.:'H I <PO ltr1h(c·1 n~·11<.:ralPurpose Traction Engine.
We had known J111 lJJ[ li11.11conplc of years that there ·• ~//4, was some pilting in 1111:hn1111111 11I Ilic boiler ban-e1 and in 1 • ,. autumn 2005 it WUH J('l. tLkd that the barrel had to be • r · .. replaced. 'f
Replacing lh1; lmilt•1 !11111 t'I would involve many weekends work removing lilt lllbt.:s, taking the smoke box off, removing lhe l11hcplutL' und also La:kingthe cylinder block off to make Spl'ip t'Pndy lo t{O to the boiler works. After removiug the dndding nncl lagging, the first job was to remove the tub<:s,lo du this my clad sliced through the ends of the tubes wirh llw cut ling torch. This loosened the tubes and allowed us to knock them out with II sk·dgr linrrnncr.
Next we had to take the smoke box off. There were 22 1 ivets holding it on and to take them out my dad cut the heads off with the gas axe. I drilled though each one with a smaIJ drill, then my dad then burnt through them with the <.:ulting torch. While they were still red hot we knocked them out with a hammer and punch. We put bolts in the holes to stop the smoke box falling off before we wanted it Lo, and after we'd removed all the rivets we supported the l'ront end with axle stands and sleepers, then disconnected the front axle and wheels. It was then just a matter of taking out the bolts and using a jack to force the smoke box off the boiler barrel.
Now the smoke box was off we set about taking out the rivets from the tube plate and from half way " down the barrel. We did this in the same way as we did for the smoke box, replacing them with bolts to stop it falling apart, bul this time it took a lot longer t' ~------------~ because there ,. , were 106 rivets . to take out.
• Then came one of the hardest tasks of the whole job, removing the tube plate! The tube plate
wa:-in~w around 25 years ago, we wanted to remove it in one piece so that it could be reused. To do this I made several pullers, which consisted of a bridging piece across the frolll 1)1' the boiler barre] and very large bolts going through the tube plate to pull it with. It look a couple of days and a lot of effort but we :finally managed to get the plate out during the last week in December 2005.
AH we weren't going to be putting the new section of barrel on ourselves because we did11'1have the skills or equipment for riveting, we ]eft the front section of the boiler boltt!d on because that would make it easier to move Sprig to the boiler works. We took off all the top motion, the con rods, trunk guide, governors and way shaft bracket, etc. leavi11gjust the cylinder block. Then I made a draw bar so we could put SPR[G onto the low louder to take it to Alton Engineering, where the new boiler barrel would be put on.
/\ Iton Engineering dismantled the rest of the boiler and ..--.-,:;rar-ra;-....,.........,-----r-~rr-7 the old section was carefully measured to have a new one made. r thought it was interesting that the original barrel was slightly tapered. While the cylinder block was off we , took the opportunity ••~5?t.:..::.ll!E~.__,,~-~{ :::_~Jj' to have it re-bored and have a slightly larger piston mnde. Joe Walker of Derbyshire, who owns Tasker Tractor I '124 - "Hero", did the work for us.
The new pi~•t.:1.:of barrel was lined up and riveted on. Next came the c:or11plexjobof putting the cylinder block on again. It has 111he lined up to the crank shaft exactly right so that the 11101i1111will run smoothly.
By now we w1·rein June of 2006. The next job was the fitting of the 1111wplate. It was put in position so that the new holes could be drilled in the new section nl l1111rcl.It was then 1iveted and caulked, then the new tubes were fitted. Things wcn· i.l.1di11g to take shape and at the end of June my Dad, my Uncle and myself went to Alton f,11pineering to help re-assemble many of the smaller parts, and assist with some oft lit·w111l\, I Ii tted the governors and the slide valve and some of the other bits and -----~ pieces attached to the cylinder block.
~;,; Over the next two weeks Alton Engineering put the smoke _,.•., .. box back on and re-assembled the front axle and wheels.
• At first the smoke box was only bolted on so that it could - • be removed again if there were any leaks on the new boiler .
, The first steaming was a success, there were no leaks so the smoke box was riveted on and the remaining bits and pieces were put back on.
Sprig passed its boiler test on Thursday 61-h.l11ly2006 and was brollghl home the fo1lowing Tuesday. The first outing was lo CrmnJ'ord Steam Rally on 5th & 6th August.
