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Front cover: Burrell Showmans Engine ‘The Masterpiece’ at Welland. Donal O’Callaghan. Rear cover: 1st Prize in the photography competition; a Garrett traction engine. Elliot.
Thoughts from the Editor
Jim Huntley
Hello and welcome to the Autumn edition of Raising Steam!
What a season it’s been! I hope you’ve all managed to get out and about to lots of rallies, driving days and road runs! I think our crew managed over a dozen rallies over the summer. I wonder where next year will take us?!
The SAC had a large presence at the Bedford Steam Rally this year, and it was good to see so many members making use of the miniature playpen, both at Bedford and at other rallies throughout the season.
The competition entries from you members at the Bedford rally were once again absolutely brilliant, and I know the judges all had a very hard time choosing the winners. Do check them out later on in this edition, I’m sure you’ll be just as impressed as we were. Please do enter next year when the time comes!
The photograph on the back cover of this edition is the first prize winner in the photographic competition.
Down at ‘The Yard’, we’ve got a new resident engine; an ex SAC member has just bought his first engine, an Aveling & Porter FType steam roller and has wasted no time in getting stuck in to the restoration. A reminder if ever there was one
that if you want your own engine, never give up on the dream and you one day!
We’ve retubed one of the Fowler BB1s, finished putting the sawing shed up, and continued with all the other projects and day to day maintenance we have going on. In between all the work, we’ve been making sure to find time to go on a road run or two, have a day or two steam ploughing or wood sawing, or just to take an engine for a trundle around the fields before it gets too cold to play steam engines!
Enough from me, I hope you enjoy this edition of Raising Steam. As ever, if you’ve something you’d like to write in about or just send some photos in, please do - it’s much more interesting seeing what you’ve been up to than me! Happy Steaming!
Thoughts from the Chairman
Nick Bosworth (Acting Chair)
Welcome to the Autumn edition of Raising Steam
Despite some wet weather earlier in the summer, we have seen some great rallies over the past few months. The SAC has attended several events, and a couple of driving days have taken place.
In August, Louise Maunder visited the West of England Steam Engine Society (WESES) rally at the Stithians showground, where we had a playpen for members to have a go on miniatures, and some of the large steam also welcomed our members aboard.
Over the August bank holiday, we attended the County of Salop rally at Shrewsbury, where we had a small marquee display, and Formula Mamod. The day before the rally was their SAC
driving day, where 13 apprentices took part.
In the middle of September, we attended the Bedfordshire Steam Engine Preservation Society’s rally at Turvey house. This was a 3 day rally where we held one of our largest displays this year. Formula Mamod, and our marquee displays, as well as a playpen. Lady Sylvia also attended.
We were joined by our members who were due to take part in the Bedford driving day in May, which was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather. On the Sunday at Bedford, the summer competitions were judged. The winners are announced later on in the magazine. Congratulations to all who took part.
On the 8th of September, Bursledon Brickworks held their SAC driving day. 13 apprentices took part, and despite some hot weather, all enjoyed themselves.
I would like to say a big thankyou to everyone who has assisted the club over the summer.
As we look towards autumn, the rally season is coming to a close. Many engines will soon be back in their sheds ready for boiler washouts and winter maintenance.. If you are involved with any of these activities, please do send in some photos and a few words for the magazine.
In November, we have the NTET General Meeting, which will be held in Northallerton. We are taking nominations for the Apprentice of the Year and Technical Achievement awards. Please see the descriptions elsewhere in the magazine.
Happy Steaming, Nick
Bedford 2023
Bedford Rally, held at Turvey House, was our largest attendance at a rally this year. A three-day event from the 15th to 17th of September.
We took Formula Mamod, a marquee display, and also ran a members miniature playpen outside. Where possible, we also placed members out to help with full size engines.
Friday began rather quietly, as it was a school day, with all but a few members not arriving until Saturday.
On Saturday we were joined by the members of the SAC who were booked into the Bedford driving day earlier in the year. Unfortunately the day had been cancelled due to bad weather, so the BSEPS invited those who had booked in to attend the rally, and spend some time on engines there instead.
Formula Mamod must have completed hundreds of laps around the Formula Mamod track and our playpen was well attended with miniature engines, with dozens of apprentices taking turns to drive laps around the pen.
Sunday was a broadly similar day to Saturday, with apprentices placed out on full size engines as well as spending time in the playpen. We also judged the various competition entries, a very difficult task for all of the judges as yet
again, all the entries in each of the categories were all excellent. The results of the competitions are shown later in this edition so be sure to take a look at the winners!
Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse in the middle of the afternoon, and a downpour put a stop to our activities at around 3pm, however a good weekend was had by all, and we would like to thank the owners of the miniatures and full-size engines, as well as all the helpers who helped us during the weekend and made it such a brilliant weekend for the SAC members!
Nick Bosworth - SAC Chairman.
Summer Competitions - The Winners
We were delighted to be back running our competitions at the Bedford Steam Rally and to receive so many competition entries to our competitions which were judged during the week at the Steam Fair.
Each and every one of you showed such talent and skill that our judges had a VERY hard time deciding who should be the overall winners. And here they are...
The Photographic Competition
A lovely shot of an unusual Savage agricultural engine along with its crew.
A lovely traditional scene of an agricultural engine still on iron wheels.
Daniel
A cracking portrait of a Fowler agricultural engine out on the road.
Jack
The Colouring Competition
First Second Third
Theo
A lovely bright colour scheme for the Aveling with a bright blue sky!
Bertie
A nicely done, authentic colour scheme for the Aveling and living van.
The Model Competition
Emily
A lovely bright colour scheme with a long cloud of smoke in the air!
First Second Third
Emily
A wonderful model of a set of gallopers. Love the signwriting!
Stanley
A very neatly constructed traction engine complete with brass bands!
Corey
A very brightly coloured and well detailed Lego steam roller.
Victoria’s Torton Tales
It’s been a busy season and now with the winter months in sight we look back at what a great few months we have had with Victoria.
Our season started a little late this year due to Victoria having work and 10 year test done, but with all that out of the way we soon got into the events.
We started with our trip to Amberley at the beginning of July and attended their excellent steam weekend, love this event, lots of engines and the site is just perfect with all the lovely roads to trundle round. This was also the first trip out for our new toy, our 6” Foden. On the Monday after the event they hold a photo charter, where lots of photographers come along and they set up pictures for all to take, we try and dress up in period clothing rather than our usual jeans and Victoria’s Torton Tales t-shirts!
We were hoping to go along to Parham Rally the following weekend, which is just a few miles up the road from Amberley, but both of our engines had a couple of issues so we decided to do the right thing and fix them before we went out on the road again.
With the summer upon us, Victoria was now staying at the museum for the season, with not many rallies on around our way in Hampshire, we stay at Amberley to attend their events and head off on the road for a few events around Sussex.
Our next event was at Amberley and their Steam Railway Gala in the middle of July, the weather was not kind to us and on the Saturday it poured down, but we steamed up both engines, Victoria went for a steam round.
By August we were off on the road with Victoria and heading to a few events, our first being The Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton, West Sussex. It was about 16 miles on the road, so a nice little trip. We were up early to steam up, with the trailer hitched to the back of Victoria and then the living van hitched to the back of the trailer we were off. It was a nice trip but very up and down the hills, so lots of fire and lots of water all going in her all the time, with one water stop to fill up her tender from our large water cube on the trailer, we finally made it to Singleton, all in all the trip took us about 4 hours.
The following weekend was the rally at Singleton, the weather before had been a bit wet so the field was a little soft in places. We had our Foden there too; this was the first time Victoria and the Foden had been to a rally together, all went well with both of them, thankfully.
Already at the end of August and off on the road again, this time from The Weald and Downland Museum to a little village called Balls Cross, just North of Petworth in West Sussex. A trip of about 16 miles again, although this time a little less hilly. A good trip and made good time, took us just over 3 hours.
The Balls Cross rally is always a good event, we have supported it for many years with Victoria as its all for charity and always a nice event. This year had an added bonus of a road run, so on the Saturday evening we hitched our trailer to Victoria and loaded it with passengers before Lloyd and Wendy took
them all out to the pub, Jack also brought along our little Foden for its first road run with us and as always both engines did well.
On the Monday morning we were once again on the road heading towards Amberley Museum, both Victoria and the Foden were now ready for the following weekend and their Miniature Steam event. With many miniatures driving around the museum, all different makes, sizes and models, it really is a good event and well worth a visit next year.
We have done a few more steam-ups at Amberley and we have one last event at the end of October, their Halloween night. The museum is turned into a spooky place and the engines will have ghosts and lights on. We’re looking forward to it.
In between all of these events we have be helping a friend reboard his living van, always a long task to take on but we are getting there now.
We hope you have had a good summer and you enjoyed seeing lots of steam. With Christmas just a couple of months away don’t forget to put Victoria’s Torton Tales books on your Christmas list.
To keep up to date with us visit our website www.victoriastortontales.uk or our Facebook page @victoriastortontales.
Member Mail
Toby has written in to show us him helping his granddad with the steam winch at Westonzoyland Pumping Station. Toby tells us that he wants to be a boiler inspector when he grows up!
Bertie Chiverton has been to pay us a visit down ‘The Yard’. He said it was nice to get up on a proper engine like ‘The Masterpiece’ for a change!
My Steam Adventure So Far...
Hello my name is Charlie, I am 14 years old and thanks to Chris and Laura Lawson I help on their 1911 Marshall agricultural traction engine and have been given the title of their apprentice.
I have always had an interest in all things steam but the day I met Chris and Laura my steam dream really came true. I love being covered in coal dust and oil and the smell of the engine is the best smell ever, Not sure my mum likes all the washing though!
I met Chris and Laura in 2022 at The Gillingham and Shaftsbury Spring Show. Their engine was parked in the scaffolding so you could go up and see what it is like being on the foot plate. Laura was on the actual footplate and I was a bit nervous to talk but once I got going I was asking her questions about their engine, Chris invited me up on to the footplate so I could have a closer look and have a go at starting the motion, it was just amazing and my first of many brilliant experiences and opportunities I have had thanks to Chris and Laura.
During our conversation Laura told me about SAC so as soon as I got home I looked at joining, this was one of the best things I could have done as thanks to SAC I have been to some great events in the last year. Had Laura not told me about the club I would never have known and I’d be missing out on so much.
I was invited to join Chris and Laura Abbey Hill steam rally 2022, this my first full day with them at a steam rally. I learnt so much from clearing out the firebox and scraping out the ash pan to starting the fire, oiling up and maintaining the fire and water level to being invited to steer in the arena for the steam parade, I felt so lucky that day.
Since then I have gone on to attend lots of rallies with Chris and Laura, my favourite this year was Road to rail at Swanage, I have been on road runs with them and as I write this I am looking forward to going to my first Carnival with them. Last Winter I felt lucky to have been invited to see how what happened at the boiler inspections, I found this really interesting. Chris and Laura have also been teaching me how to load the engine onto his lorry, this take a lot of work but something I really enjoy.
I have been to two SAC driving days at Bursledon Brickworks where on both occasions I worked alongside Malcom Hudson on his Garrett “Dorothy” these days are such great fun. I also got to have a taster drive on other engines one of my favourites was a Miniature owned by Bryan Girling.
This year I also attend the Driver Training Course at Redditch, this was a full on weekend where I learnt so much and had the best time, even my dad who had to stay with me learnt loads. I am already looking forward to the second year in 2024.
I am sad the season has come to an end but I am looking forward to attending some rallies next year that I didn’t get to this year and I am hoping Chris and Laura might need my help over winter.
Before meeting Chris and Laura t ever really felt I fitted in anywhere as my interests are very different to most people my age but Chris and Laura have made me feel so welcome and included, they are a really special couple who now feel like an extension to my family. I
have also been made to feel so welcome by all their steam friends at events and have even got to go on other engines thanks to them both and the kindness of their friends.
Next season can’t come soon enough but until then I have my Mamods to keep me busy and plans to make on which events I can be at next year.
Thanks for a brilliant article Charlie - Chris and Laura have contacted me and asked me to include the below. It’s clear they think a lot of you!
“Charlie is an amazing apprentice and every time we see him he is keen and helpful. Charlie is truly part of our crew. He takes on challenges and learns so much. If something doesn't go right first time we try again. He has done so well that I've had to add extra sections to his SAC log book! Last weekend alone he steered brilliantly for me on the road, reversed the water cart and steered home after the carnival in the dark. Well done Charlie!”
Unusual Engines
For this editions unusual engine, I’ve found a picture of an early Fowler single cylinder ploughing engine fitted with straw burning apparatus. Most of the large traction engine manufacturers supplied engines for export to the colonies in the British Empire and further afield. In many of these countries, coal was not abundant, or of as good a quality as it is in Great Britain, so the engines were often fitted with larger fireboxes to cope with burning either inferior quality coal, or wood.
In some counties, however, even wood was in short supply, and engines were supplied with apparatus to allow straw to be burnt. This can clearly be seen on the rear of this engine. The fireman standing at the rear of the engine fed straw on to the chute, while a pair of rollers driven by a belt from the crankshaft pulled the straw down into the firebox. The straw would burn away a lot quicker than coal so would have needed feeding almost constantly.
Another unusual feature of this engine is that due to the large amount of space taken up by the straw feeding apparatus on the footplate, the engine has had to be modified to allow the driver to stand at the front of the engine.
In The Workshop
Ryan has been busy down ‘The Yard’ pulling apart his recently purchased Aveling & Porter F-Type steam roller ready for some boiler work. It requires a patch to be put into the barrel in front of the cylinder block, a new front tubeplate, and a new smokebox.
For this editions s
A working day photo hard at work generating for Emerson & Hazard s Super Speedway.
Lightning II was bought for preservation by Richard Preston in 1956. Due to the oil shortage caused by the Suez Crisis at the time meaning the lorries couldn t be used, she
Steam It Sunday!
It was good to see so many people taking part in Steam it Sunday again! Thanks for all the photographs sent in and shared on the Facebook page.
Competition
Thankyou to those who got in touch to guess what the photo was in the last edition, we had just the one correct answer this time, from Charlie Baber.
The illustration showed the differential from a traction engine. It is a set of gearing that allows the two rear wheels of the engine to rotate at different speeds on the same shaft when turning a corner. This makes steering the engine far easier as it means the rear wheels don’t have to skid as the engine turns around the corner.
For this editions competition I wonder if anyone can tell me what this roller is used for that has been fitted to the front forks of an Aveling steam roller?
Send in your guesses or answers to and we’ll publish the correct answer in the next edition of Raising Steam.
