Raising Steam 2015 Vol.29 No.3

Steam Apprentice Club

Editor

Kevin Munn, 56 Blacklands Drive, Hayes End, Hayes, Middlesex. UB4 8EX. Tel 0208 573 9180 sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk

Chairman

Elaine Massey, 21 Down Close, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6NS Tel: 020 8248 6570 sac.chairman@ntet.co.uk

Vice Chairman

Hugh Dyson, 32 Granary End, Witchford, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2WF Tel: 01353 667150 hugh.dyson@inbox.com

Membership Secretary

Lisa Crankshaw, NTET Membership PO Box 10348 Hinckley LE10 9FB membership@ntet.co.uk

Membership fee £15 per annum

Webmaster

Nick Bosworth, 9A St. Wilfrid’s Road, West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 6HG Tel: 07931 577430 sac.webmaster@ntet.co.uk

SAC Committee

Main email: sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk

Matthew Lund Tel: 01329 832462

Barry Sumsion Tel: 01633 671798

Helen Tyrrell Tel: 01793 751830

Burrell Project Co-ordinator

Hugh Dyson Tel: 01353 667150 hugh.dyson@inbox.com

The Editor welcomes any contributions of articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issues. All material submitted is voluntary and payment cannot be made for any material published. The opinions expressed in the magazine, with the exception of Club announcements, are those of the contributors and do not indicate the views of the Club as a whole. All items are held copyright by the contributor and the NTET. The Editor reserves the right to amend or refuse contributions. The magazine is normally published during 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. N TET is a Registered Charity, No. 291578. Registered in England No. 1302197. Registered Office: 4 Church Green East, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 8BT.

www.ntet.co.uk

www.ntet.co.uk/sac

From the Editor

Kevin Munn

Well a new name in the frame for the Editor, but an old face! I have been with the S.A.C. now for many years in different roles and now I am having a go being Editor of the magazine. I hopefully have started off well as some of you have heeded Jenny’s call for articles which you will see further in the magazine. It really is easy just email me at sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk

As you will see some of the layout is not quite the same as I get used to the publisher programme I am using so

please bear with me until I get it to the standard of previous issues. Have a good summer holiday and plenty of steaming.

From the Chairman Elaine Massey

We’ve had a great start to the year with many of you attending successful driving days where I’ve seen a lot of really engaged apprentices on all shapes and sizes of engines. Always keep in mind that all of these days are arranged by volunteers , without whom play would cease! Please and thank you are always welcome!

Now that we are into summer I have to remind you all that appropriate clothing is a must! Arms and legs covered and good footwear. If there are any larger or taller apprentices that need overalls I have a few adult sizes here.(NEW) E mail me with you size, and hopefully we can help. These are courtesy of Vintage Spirit. Dorset will be difficult this year as the majority of the boroughs are already back to school. We will try to have some

activities going, but I doubt we will follow our usual formats.

There are still a few places available on the later driving days, particularly the more northern. Get you applications in asap! You can now enter the model competition by photographs. Look out further on in the magazine for how to do this. Take lots of pictures and enter the photographic competition as well!

You can now enter the model competition by photographs. Look out further on in the magazine for how to do this. Take lots of pictures and enter the photographic competition as well!

Elaine.

SAC Weekend at Stithians

Peter Heal

I had been looking forward to this weekend for ages. It was my first time at one of these events and I had a fantastic time! On the Saturday we all gathered in a little hut where we were assigned to our engines for the day. I was put on a Robey Tandem Roller called “Bullet”. We cleaned the ashes out and the tubes and while we were doing this we found that a bolt that supports the boiler had sheared off. This meant that Bullet couldn’t be used for the day. I was reassigned to a 1937 S-Type Marshall road roller called “Toby”. We got to drive and steer around the Stithians Showground. We practiced our driving skills such as hill starts, reversing and imagining real life situations like traffic lights. We carried on until late in the afternoon then sheeted down for the night. Bullet had been fixed throughout the day. On Sunday I was put on Bullet again

as we had already cleaned it the day before. I got to light the fire but we didn’t get steam up very quickly because we were in a sheltered corner and the wind wasn’t drawing a good fire (but neither did anybody else!). I got to drive and steer and learned a lot. Bullet is very different to other engines that I have been on. The fire box is very low on the footplate which makes putting coal in much harder, but there is a nice bench seat to sit on though! It rained pretty much all weekend but everyone just carried on! I had a great time, learned lots and made new friends. I don’t go to school (my mum teaches me at home) so I can proudly show my SAC Log Book and certificate at my education review at the end of the year. Thank you to everybody that makes these events possible.

Robey Tandem Roller called “Bullet” and 1937 S-Type Marshall road roller called “Toby“

2015 Photographic Competition

As in previous years, we are running a photo competition to be judged at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. We have some MEGA prizes for the winners and every apprentice who enters will receive a free badge.

Rules

1. Entry to this competition is restricted to fully subscribed members of the SAC.

2. Each entry will consist of 1 photograph taken by the apprentice between August 2014 and August 2015.

3. We prefer entries to be digital photos sent in by email or on a disc, but prints are also welcome.

4. Entries must be emailed to sac.webmaster@ntet.co.uk, or sent to Nick Bosworth (SAC), 9A St. Wilfrid’s Road, West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 6HG. Entries should arrive by Monday 24th August 2015.

5. If you would like your entry returned, please include an SAE.

6. If sending a print, please DO NOT mount your photo for display.

7. All entries must include: Name, age, address and SAC membership number; place, date and details of the engine or subject.

8. Copyright in all entries will remain with the SAC member and the Steam Apprentice Club.

9. Entries will be displayed at the 2015 Great Dorset Steam Fair in the NTET tent. Entries with a SAE will be returned after display and/or publication in the magazine

10. The competition will be judged in two age groups: up to 15 years and 16 years and over. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each age group will be awarded from the selection below. The best overall entry will receive the Dorset Trophy shield, to be held for one year.

Judging

The judges will be looking for originality, composition and technical ability. Photographs do not have to be of traction engines, but other subjects must clearly be related to the traction engine movement. The judges’ decision on all entries will be final and members are asked to accept them in a spirit that will bring credit to themselves and the Steam Apprentice Club.

Free Entry to Rallies

Did you know you can get free entry to rallies when you show your membership card. Not all rallies do this but many do. Always check ahead with the rally organiser if he/ she is willing to give you free admission. It is for YOU only and will not include family and friends. The NTET has a Authorised list of rallies at www.ntet.co.uk/events, so have a look.

www.ntet.co.uk/sac

SAC Weekend - Fengate Farm

George Turner

The first weekend of the Easter Holiday I attended the Steam Apprenticeship Driving Weekend up at Fengate Farm, Weeting. I arrived there on the Friday and set up camp. We watched some of the engines being brought up from the farm, including the Ploughing Engine being driven by Jason with Alex steering. Saturday morning I got up about 8.00am, had breakfast and I was ready for the day. At about 9’ish the drivers started to arrive. By 9.15 most of the apprentices started walking over to where the engines were. At 9.30 we were all assigned to an engine. My friend Adam and I were given the ploughing engine (Saucy Sue). Our first job was to unsheet her. Adam started the fire and maintained it whilst I started cleaning her and getting her ready. After a couple of hours we had enough pressure to start moving. So for the rest of the day Adam and I, and the two drivers Bruce and Jason, drove around the field learning how she worked, how

the steering was, and it was great. We stopped from lunch at about 12.30 and had burgers from the burger van Mr Parrot had organised. We then carried on driving around, taking turns. We did manage to get stuck at one point in the large field on soft ground, Sooty came to the rescue and we learnt a trick on how to get yourself out of being stuck, ash for the ash pan came in very handy. At around 4.30 we stopped for the day, we parked up, wiped down and then sheeted up. At this point all engines were lined up together, ready for the next day. The drivers departed, reminding up to change our clock. We went back to the camper to have Fish and Chips for tea. Whilst eating we kept hearing steam escaping, on investigate the sheet was learning on the whistle . string when the wind blew. After a little adjustment, all was quiet again.

The next morning (having lost an hours sleep) we were up early and it was the same routine, but instead of having

the ploughing engine we were given the crane engine Lord Derby. Straight after we were given the engine it started to rain heavily. Lucky for Adam and I we had an engine with a canopy so we left the side sheets on and started the fire. About half an hour after we started the fire, we started oiling up, when we had finished we checked back on the fire and unfortunately we had accidentally let the fire die (we should have known better). We managed to get it back on track, so after about an hour and a half, we took the sheets off and started moving. Sunday was much the same routine as Saturday but due to Sunday being very wet things were a little bit more difficult for moving about. a lot of heavy showers making the ground quite muddy. We got

Driving Days

stuck quite a few times but managed to get ourselves out most of the time, we did have to call on Sooty again on one occasion. After lunch we had a change around of engines. I went up on Betty and James said I could take her for a ride around, Peter came up as well and steered her around the ring.

We carried on moving around for a bit but the ground was getting quite cut up. At around 4.30 it was time for the engines to go back to the farm. The apprentices started to pack up and go home. One of the drivers (Roger) was taking the engine back to the farm (Princess Royal) by himself, I politely asked if I could help him and he said yes. So I did and it was great finishing the weekend on a high. It was over for another year.

Linda Allen, Driving Day Co-Ordinator

I’d like to thank Paul Worbey and his team at Old Warden for providing the Apprentices with lunch on Saturday and brunch on Sunday and for making it all seem like the easiest thing in the world to have that many engines and apprentices running around. Lady Sylvia, the SAC’s engine, was also in attendance and lots of you enjoyed having a run round on her. The trailer, beautifully painted by Joby Carter gave plenty of children (and adults!) a ride round. You may have seen the picture in Old Glory?

Thanks must also go to Dee Searle for organising the driving day at her yard in Horsham. As usual, a great range of engines were assembled and plenty of cakes were brought by various parents to keep us all going. This year Dee had organised things a little differently, and there was an opportunity for some

of the more experienced Apprentices able to do some lifting with a crane engine. Apprentices were also invited to have a go on other engines later in the afternoon, which was enthusiastically taken up by everyone.

We still have a couple of driving days which have not had a huge uptake yet, County of Salop on 29th August and Otley on 12th September. It would be great if more of you would sign up for these. We know there are members in these areas, so make the most of your membership and sign up for one of them! They are a great opportunity for you to experience engines with people who are there to make sure you have an unforgettable day. I’m too old to take part, but if I was given even half a chance, I’d be up on an engine in a flash! Please have a look in your diaries and see if you can attend.

www.ntet.co.uk/sac

Apprentices at Old Warden

2015 Colouring Competition For SAC members up

to age 14

CAREFULLY remove this page from the magazine – ask an adult for help if necessary – be especially careful of the staples.

We are happy to accept a photocopy of the drawing if you don’t want to damage your magazine. It is also available to download from our websitewww.ntet.co.uk/sac

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 arrive with Nick Bosworth by Monday 24th August.

This competition is open to all apprentices up to the age of 14.

ADDRESS for entries is: (SAC Colouring Competition) Nick Bosworth, 9A St Wilfrid’s Road, West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6HG

Paint Job For Your Trailer

Elaine Massey

Hopefully you are all busy building your trailers about now ready for the model competition! (If you can’t find the plans, look online or in the last Raising Steam)

Obviously the first thing to do is paint your trailer grey. I have used acrylic, but even household paint, eg tester pot, will do the job. If you are mixing black and white then make sure you mix enough for each part as a change in mix will really show up.

For the lettering, you can do it freehand, use a stencil, print it on your computer and cut it out, or even paint

it in. I cheated and used a “tippex” pen I found in the drawer!

Simple! Job done!

Well, after that you could add all sorts of extras.............

Make a base for it to stand on, (and landscape it) add accessories like rope, chain, wheel chocks, tarpaulin, loads, or even “distress” your trailer with damage, knocks, mud, whatever you can think of.

Apprentice of the Year 2015

To receive the Jack Beeby cup

This award is to recognise an Apprentice who has shown all round enthusiasm in their involvement with Road Steam. This may be hands-on experience with an engine or helping to maintain or restore an engine. Consideration should be given to how well they have learnt and respected the necessary skills needed in the operation of an engine. There is no particular type of submission we are looking for other than that you feel the Apprentice has made an effort, has learned from what ever activity they are doing and has shown the ability to ‘stay the course’. We would expect that the Apprentice has been working with one engine or group for at least 3 or 4 years.

Submissions should consist of a brief description on one side of A4 paper of what they have been doing and why you think the Apprentice deserves the award, perhaps with 3 or 4 photographs and/or sketches if you feel it will better illustrate the case.

Entries to be with the SAC Chairman by mid September, see address inside your latest copy of Raising Steam or Steaming. Judging will be completed by mid October, with the announcement of the winner to be made at the NTET AGM where the award will be presented.

The final decision on the recipient will be made by the SAC committee.

Much better than a Limo! SAC Member Casey Carrier arrives at prom behind a Steam

Roller!

Most people arrive at their school prom in a limo or a fancy car, but Casey Carrier arrived at hers in style; behind a 1927 Marshall steam roller!

Casey has been apprentice on Cliff Rodger’s Marshall roller ‘GOOLIE’ for the past 5 years, and it seemed fitting to reward her help by taking her to her Prom.

Preparations began on the afternoon of Friday 26th June, GOOLIE was taken by low-loader to a near-by Toys’R’Us car park and the trailer was brought there by a Field Marshall Tractor.

Casey, accompanied by her boyfriend Ryan, rode in the trailer for a steady 1 mile trip to the Derby Conference Centre, but before they could set off Casey had to make sure the paintwork was spotless! Probably the best-dressed engine cleaner in the country!

New Members

Logan Allen - Stevenage, Herts.

Morgan Bayford - Maldon, Essex.

Liam Carter - Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Jessica Yeoman - Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

Lilly Dean - Haddenham, Cambridgeshire.

Isla Dean - Haddenham, Cambridgeshire.

Rupert Parrish - Shefford, Bedfordshire.

Lewis Burgess - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Daniel Norman - Bedford, Bedfordshire.

William Hague - Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

George Hague - Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Albert Barber - Tring, Herts.

Marcus Probitts - Diss, Norfolk.

Ewan Johnston - Derby, Derbyshire.

Jacob Shone - Diss, Norfolk.

Ben Tregear - Stotfold, Hertfordshire.

Harrison Allman - Bedford, Bedforshire.

William McGannan - Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Caitlin Doidge - Redruth, Cornwall.

Ben Sismey - Desborough, Northants.

Charles Frederick - Thetford, Norfolk.

Elizabeth Stevens - Hertfordshire.

Lucy Stevens - Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

Charlie Grinstead - Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Tegan Cain - Old Knebworth.

Finn Cain - Old Knebworth.

Jack Morgan - Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Jamie Masters - Redruth, Cornwall.

Oliver Mulley - Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Jago Carveth - Camborne, Cornwall.

Emily Raven - Bourne, Lincolnshire.

Mia Dawson - Wollaston, Wellingborough.

Charlie Munnery - Sandy.

Lowenna Moore - Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire.

Alfie Munnery - Sandy.

Liam Busby - Hounslow, Middlesex.

Joseph Wheeler - Toddington, Bedfordshire.

Billy Woodcraft - Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

John Morris - Chalgrove, Oxon.

Adam Morris - Chalgrove, Oxon.

Bailey Whitaker - Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Codie Mitchell - Leicester, Leicestershire.

Matilda Walker - Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

Izaak Barraclough - Telford, Shropshire.

Liam Bradley - York, North Yorkshire.

Dylan Jones - Dorking.

Books for Steamers

Just in time to take on holiday with you!

The new story in the Peter’s Railway series from Christopher Vine;

“The Great Train Robbery”

The story is a wonderful adventure starting with the children having doubts about a group of four men asking lots of questions about the new train “Faraday”.

As the story continues their suspicions are realised and ends happily with a reward for the children.

Chris’ books are wonderful. In each there is a bit of science, practical diagrams and knowledge to be had. A must read book for young enthusiasts, (and older ones)!

Special Competition Announcement Model Competition

Starting this year you can also enter the SAC model competition by submitting photographs!

If you cannot attend the Great Dorset Steam Fair in person, you can still enter the model competition by sending us photos of your model. You can send up to 10 photos, please make sure there are at least three of the finished model, and include photos showing the different stages of the build (so we can see how you’ve built it!)

We will put a selection of your photos on display at GDSF, alongside the usual model competition entries. (All your photos will be shown to the judges).

Entries should be emailed to: sac.webmster@ntet.co.uk

Please include your name, age and membership number.

You can tell us about any special features of your model. Entries, both physical and photographic will be judged at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Winners will be announced at GDSF, on the SAC website, on Facebook and in Raising Steam.

All entries to be received no later than Monday 24th August

NOTE:- If you are intending to bring your model to GDSF as usual, there is no need to send photographs.

Kate’s Progress

Kevin Munn

Well since I last wrote I have had to deal with many teething problems from the straight forward so to speak of leaking steam pass glands to hot water and steam coming back through the water pump. The latter proved to be most frustrating mainly because inside the pump is several non return valves which should only allow water to go into the boiler and not back out of it. The main reason it was frustrating was all these parts are made up of brass or gunmetal and are metal to metal contact and I hadn’t touched them since the day I took it off and drained it out several years ago. As it was metal to metal I gave them as good clean and rub with a cloth and even then steam still leaked back! I then decided to lap them back in face to face using grinding paste similar to that which you use when grinding in valves in the cylinder head on a car. That was a mistake as even the finest paste was too coarse. After asking around I got something called Timesaver this is very fine paste almost like Brasso when mixed up as it comes in powder form and you add, funnily enough water to it to form the paste. After much lapping I tested the pump using air at 100 psi and no loss of pressure occurred. This was good news but I wasn’t counting my chickens because a hot steamy engine is a completely different thing. At the next steam up I gradually brought it up to 100 psi steam pressure and it worked even after operating the pump, relief! I still don’t understand why I had the problem, have any of you come across something similar? If so let me know your experience.

Rear Cover: Running in Lady Sylvia at Old Warden with lots of help!

Technical Achievement Award Annual award for technical achievement

Applications are invited for the SAC Technical Achievement award. Areas of achievement may include: engineering work on full size engines, model engineering or any other appropriate steam related subject (bearing in mind that we are essentially a road steam organisation).

The purpose is to encourage young people to develop hands-on experience generally within typical engineering skills. This can be using various machines such as lathes and mills as well as handwork.

Nominations to be entered by a sponsor for whom they have been working or have been under the instruction of, or apprentices may enter themselves.

Applications to be received by August 15th should consist of a brief description on one side of A4 paper with 3 or 4 photographs and/or sketches. See address inside your latest copy of Raising Steam. The judging committee will then

contact the nominator or apprentice by either phone or in person to discuss the application. From these discussions, suitable candidates will be chosen, and final and fully detailed submissions will be invited to be with the Chairman by August 31st.

Judging will be completed by mid October with the announcement of the winner by end of October. The award will be presented at the NTET AGM.

Judges will be from members of the SAC Committee plus invited persons from an area appropriate to the subject entered.

Please note that due to the all round experience we are looking for it is unlikely the award will be awarded to an apprentice under 15. Though as we know there is always an exception to the rule, so please don’t hesitate to either enter or contact the Chair for guidance.