Steam Apprentice Club
Chairman
Elaine Massey, 21 Down Close, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6NS
Tel: 020 8248 6570
sac.chairman@ntet.co.uk
Editor & Vice Chairman
Kevin Munn, 11 Tiverton Close, Woodley, Wokingham, Berkshire RG5 3BE. Tel 01189696821 sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk
Membership Secretary
Lisa Crankshaw, NTET Membership PO Box 10348
Hinckley LE10 9FB membership@ntet.co.uk
Membership fee £15 per annum
Webmaster
Nick Bosworth, 76a Main Road, Smalley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE76EF
Tel: 07931 577430
sac.webmaster@ntet.co.uk
SAC Committee
Main email: sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk
Matthew Lund Tel: 01329 832462
Helen Tyrrell Tel: 01793 751830
Rebecca Hurley (Derbys) sac.publicity@ntet.co.uk
David Hurley (Lincolnshire)
Clara Taylor (Sheffield) Glen Prince (Essex)
Driving Days Coordinator
Linda Allen: allenlinda178@gmail.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
As our Chair says in her bit we are already half way through the season and all being well you have had a good time with no muddy days to spoil the driving and steering.
In fact as we know it has been the opposite so far with lots of sunshine, so do make sure when you are working on and around an engine you have a bottle of water handy so you don’t de-hydrate.
We have a new addition to the magazine, bear. Bear hasn’t a name so we are asking you to name bear and give us a reason why we should choose your name.
The winner will get next year’s subscription to the S.A.C. free.
As well as GDSF I will be at the West Somerset Steam and Vintage Rally on August 5th and 6th with a stall in the model tent so do come and say hello and let me know what you want from YOUR magazine.
From the Chairman
Elaine Massey
It’s halfway through the season already! I can’t believe it.
We are getting to grips with plans for the Great Dorset Steam Fair. There is going to be lots going on, activities in the marquee during the day, and plans for a get together following the cavalcade . If you have been keeping up with our website and following the SAC on Facebook then you will already know that the Cavalcade will be held at 3PM on Sunday afternoon.
Details of the competitions are in this magazine. Don’t forget, you can now enter the model competition even if you can’t get to Dorset!
Hopefully you will all be aware, and some of you hopefully working towards entries for the Technical Achievement award. One of our two prestigious awards
presented at the NTET AGM. If you are working on a project, helping to restore an engine, building a miniature then keep a record, take pictures and submit it!
The other award is one you need to be nominated for, and that is the Apprentice of the Year. You need to have shown your commitment , been reliable, learnt, and developed your skills. Anyone who you have worked with, and knows you well can put you forwards for this.
There are still a few places open for the autumn driving days, so check the dates and locations and put your applications in quick!
Elaine Massey Chair SAC
Introducing BEAR!
Welcome to the newest and furriest Steam Apprentice
HELLO APPRENTICES!
I am a very special bear because I get to go on lots of adventures. I like going to shows and in March I went to a very special show all about classic (old) cars in Birmingham. It was called The Classic Car and Restoration Show.
There were hundreds of cars there: some were very shiny and over 130 different types of clubs that you could join.
One club I had never seen before was there: and they had something VERY special: it was not one but FOUR different traction engines!
The first was a huge traction engine called Talisman. This is being restored and is a B6 engine made by John Fowler & Co. Did you know when it was first built it could pull 100 tonnes? That’s over 8 new double decker buses!
The one on the right is a portable: that means it must be pulled as it can’t drive
itself like the others can. This one was built by Barrows & Stewart. It would have been used for lots of different jobs.
The one on the left is a miniature engine. This is being built from new. Building an engine, even a small one must be lots of hard work!
There was one other very special miniature engine and I was allowed to climb onto it so that I could have much better look at all the levers that make it work. This one is called Lady Sylvia. Have you guessed who the club is? Well done! It was the National Traction Engine Trust. They were also showing people how to build engine wheels during the show and had a special oven to make the rivets so hot they would glow orange. Everyone thought their display was so good they even won an award!
Can you see the Rivet Glowing?
They told me all about Lady Sylvia and how some of you were lucky enough to build her. I think that sounds brilliant. They also told me that if I joined the Steam Apprentice Club they would teach all about steam engines and that if I work really hard one day I might be big enough to drive an engine like Talisman. So I joined up straight away!
I have lots to learn about steam engines and how they work. Shall we learn how to drive Lady Sylvia together? I look forward to sharing my adventures with you. I hope you will share your adventures with me too! Until next time I hope you like my photographs.
New words I have learnt this month: RESTORED: this is where they take an old broken engine and rebuild it so that will work again.
RIVETS: a metal pin that can be made to hold two pieces of metal together. A bit like a staple in a book.
Choosing my name by Bear
I am the newest addition to the SAC team, but I don’t have a name yet! The SAC team would like you to choose a name for me.
If you have an idea for a name, you can email it to sac.publicity@ntet.co.uk.
Or you can send us a message via Facebook. Please include your name and membership number too!
There is a small prize that will be awarded to the person who comes up with the name that the Steam Apprentice Committee think will suit me the best!
Good luck everyone: I look forward to reading your new names for me.
Terms and conditions apply.
This competition is open to all SAC and NTET members. Please provide your membership number so that we can contact you if you are the winner.
All entries must be in by DATE / TIME The prize for this competition has been provided by an NTET member. There is no monetary alternative.
Abbey Pumping Station
by Lisa Crankshaw
Abbey Pumping Station Vintage Festival Weekend, 24 & 25 June 2017
I was asked if I would represent the SAC and NTET at the vintage festival weekend at Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester, in June. I arrived and set up and had a great weekend, including meeting the 4 x great grandson and 5 x great grandson of Charles Burrell! My whole weekend wouldn’t have been so good if it hadn’t been for the main organiser of the event, Emma Atkins. Emma is one of our SAC members and also the secretary for the volunteer group at Abbey Pumping
Station. Emma is only 16 years old, but managed to organise steam traction engines, vintage cars, vintage motor bikes, stalls and lots of other activities for this amazing weekend. I can only say that I was extremely impressed by the work she put in and how she worked with all the other volunteers to put on a fantastic family weekend. So it proves that age sometimes doesn’t matter, you just need to use the skills you have to make things happen. Well done Emma, the NTET and SAC are very proud of you!
Out and about with Lady Sylvia
June is traditionally a very busy and the last weekend of the month saw Lady Sylvia travel to Abbey Pumping Station in Leicester for their annual Vintage Festival. Here she was in full steam and crewed by both past apprentices and some of our younger current members who got hands on from the start helping to light up the engine. They were even able to drive her around the grounds! The
event featured lots of different classic vehicles and other steam engines but the highlight of the weekend has to be the powering up of the original Gimson steam beam engines. These were built in 1891 for the purpose of pumping sewage to a treatment works centre and were in service until 1964 when they were replaced by electric pumps.
Lady Sylvia’s Diary - 2017
South Cerney - 4th - 6th August
Great Dorset Steam Fair - 24th - 28th August
Sutton On Trent Threshing Festival - 2nd & 3rd September
Otley Driving Day - 8th September
Bedford Steam Rally 15th - 17th September
Earlier in July Lady Sylvia attended two rallies in the midlands, Elvaston Steam Rally in Derbysire and Rempstone Steam & Country Show in Leicestershire. She accompanied the new Steam Apprentice Club popup, helping to promote the club.
2017 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 14th August.t
This competition is open to all apprentices up to the age of 14.
Name:.............................................................................
ADDRESS for entries is: (SAC Colouring Competition) Nick Bosworth, 76a Main Road, Smalley, Derbyshire, DE7 6EF.
Our membership secretary will be on holiday from the 5th- 20th August. If you are due to renew during August, please submit your renewal application by the 31st July.
www.ntet.co.uk/sac
Sheffield Steam Rally
by Clara Taylor
Did you go to Sheffield Steam Rally in South Yorkshire? If so you might have seen our new blue pop up tent that will be touring the country this rally season promoting the Steam Apprentice Club. Do come over and say hello if ever you see it!
The Steam Apprentice Club had very kindly been granted permission by the organisers of Sheffield Steam Rally to offer all visiting apprentices the chance to get a full size engine in the large play pen that is positioned away from the main display arena and crowds of the show. We were accompanied by a very rare
visitor to the rally scene a museum piece from The Village Church Farm museum a Richard Hornsby traction engine called ‘Bob’ that was built in 1982 - just a year after the Abbey Pumping Station Gimson engine! Bob was shipped to Tasmania and only returned in 1988. Unfortunately Bob suffered slightly mechanical failure on the Sunday and so we are very grateful to the other engine crews who kindly offered their engines and for instructing the apprentices that got involved.
For more information on Bob visit churchfarmvillage.org.uk
Great Dorset Steam Fair 2017
by Rebecca Hurley
The Steam Apprentice Club will be attending the Great Dorset Steam Fair fron the 24th to the 28th of August and we have a huge selection of activities planned for you!
Competitions
Our usual competitions will be running, see elsewhere in this magazine and on the website for details.
Cavalcade
After a few years without due to poor weather, we are bringing back the Cavalcade on Sunday 27th at 3pm.
Steam Apprentice Club members will have the opportunity to ride on and steer a selection of engines around the heavy haulage arena.
PEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD TO TAKE PART!
If you are attending GDSF and are interested in taking part, please let us know! You can message us on Facebook or email sac.publicity@ntet.co.uk.
Lady Sylvia
Lady Sylvia will be in steam in front of the NTET Marquee or you to come and havr a go. She will be in steam every day at GDSF and we will have a small play pen for driving her around.
Mamods in Steam
Bring along your mamod and have a steam-up with us. (We’ll also have a secection of spare mamods too)!
Just turn up any time during the day. We’ll have a large track to drive your mamods around too!
Tutorials
We have organised a selection of technical tutorials throughout the week. Details will be posted on our Facebook closer to the time. One of our tutorial leaders will be the boiler inspector Dave Wothers.
2017 Model Competition
A quick reminder of this year’s model competition, which is to build a pole trailer, which were used to carry timber.
Your task is to make a pole trailer, that would be a suitable size to be towed by a Mamod. There are more details in the April edition of Raising Steam, and there are some plans on the competitions page of the SAC website.
Here is another photo of a pole trailer for inspiration!
2017 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 2016 and August 2017.
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), 76a Main Road, Smalley, Derbyshire, DE7 6EF. Entries should arrive by Monday 14th August 2017.
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 2017 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.
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.
Tips
Try to plan the setting of the photo, keeping modern equipment and structures out of the background.
Try to take photos when the sun is behind you, as this will illuminate the subject better and the photo won’t be of the side in shadow.
Driving Days 2017 Places Still Available!
We’ve had some brilliant driving days already this year at Fengate Farm, Old Warden and Stithians in Cornwall.
There are still three driving days due to happen this year, and there’s still time to apply to take part.
A driving day application form can be downloaded from our websitewww.ntet.co.uk/sac/events.htm
It contains all the instructions you’ll need to apply.
Driving Days remaining in 2017: 26th August - County of Salop Steam Rally, Shrewsbury
9th September - Leeds 16th September - Tinker’s Park, Sussex.
New Members
Christopher Macdonald - Tamworth, Staffordshire
Dylan Morgan - Evesham, Worcestershire
Ellen Boughton - Maulden, Bedfordshire
Ewan Bennett - Bracknell, Berkshire
Flynn Hutton - Matlock, Derbyshire
George Goddard - Oswestry, Shropshire
Hallam Rolph - Lakenheath, Suffolk
Henry John Dabbs - Stanstead Abbotts, Herts
James Sean Morley - Sheffield,
Joseph Jerzykowski - Swindon, Wiltshire
Logan Pye - Stanley, Louis Howes - Edingley, Nottinghamshire
Luke Ashley - Brixham, Devon
Owen Watkins - Codicote, Hertfordshire
Sophie Ashley-Bloor - Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Taylor-Jade Woolerson - Bedford, Bedfordshire
Thomas Gear - Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Tiernan Richards - Cambourne, Cornwall
William Goddard - Oswestry, Shropshire
www.ntet.co.uk/sac
New Piston Rods for a Garrett
Nick Bosworth
Over the past few years I have been helping with the restoration of my family’s Garrett tractor. When I came time to assemble the motion we noticed that the piston rods were quite pitted and needed replacing.
So two new pieces of steel were ordered, and I set about machining them in a friend’s lathe. The rods consist of the plain middle section, which was a simple turning job on the lathe.
At one end is a tapered section and a thread for attaching the piston. I had to take great care to match the taper inside the piston, which ensured a tight fit.
The thread is cut with a process called screw-cutting, where a special tool is moved along at the correct rate by the lathe as the rod rotates. This thread is 1-3/8” by 6 turns per inch.
The slot milled into the other end lines up to the slot in the cross head. A tapered wedge is hammered into the slot to hold the two together.
