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Thoughts from the Editor
Jim Huntley
Hello and welcome to the winter 2025 edition of Raising Steam. A happy new year to you all! I’d like to start by apologising for this edition getting to you late, we were still awaiting confirmation of driving day details and figured it best to hold back from publishing until we had the dates, knowing how important these are to you all!
Unfortunately we’re still waiting on confirmation of details of a couple of them, but just like last year I’m glad to see we’ve got a full calendar of driving days and events planned, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get out on engines. For the couple we’re still awaiting final details of we have included a form to complete to register your interest in attending them.
We’ve been busy planning the various events the SAC will be attending with the pop up display, Lady Sylvia, and the members playpen, so make sure you keep an eye out on social media to find out where we’re heading this year.
As ever, we’re crying out for more help with doing this, we’ve a limited number of people on the committee and a lot of places we’d like to take the display to. So if you or your parents might be able to help out, then please do get in touch!
Down at ‘The Yard’ we’ve been busy with
rebuilding an Aveling & Porter living van, retubing Delilah, as well as all the various maintenance jobs that come in the winter. In between all that we welcomed the Steam Plough Club to an open day in the middle of Storm Bert.
Regarding open days, the NTET and SAC are considering organising visits for club members to private collections like this, probably in the winter period to give you all something to look forward to in those cold months - is this something that would be of interest to members? Do let us know if so…
Anyway, that’s more than enough of my rambling - do enjoy the read, as ever, if you’ve got something you’d like to write about, then please send it in. Here’s to a brilliant year of steam rallies and driving days to make up for the last two! Happy Steaming!
Thoughts from the Chairman Paul Stingmore
Happy New Year everyone - this is my first Raising Steam Editorial as your new Chairperson, with Gareth Ellis also welcomed as Deputy Chair. I should start by saying what an honour it is to be your Chair. A very, very long time ago I went on an SAC Driving Course. Steam wasn’t part of my family, I’d restored a tractor and some stationary engines but that was all. Within a few months I was able to become a regular part of the crew of a pair of Fowler single cylinder ploughing engines, and the rest as they say is history.
I want all of you and many more to get those same opportunities, to learn to drive engines safely and keep them running well into the future.
Currently we are a small but mighty team, I’m hoping we can develop that into a slightly bigger and even mightier group and build on all of the great work Nick has done over the last 5 years ! We’ve got a fair amount of housekeeping work to do over the winter to be ready for next summer so please stick with us. We are working on a few ideas currently which will hopefully see more on our Facebook pages over the winter, a website refresh, updates to logbooks, and hopefully some new opportunities to get onto engines !
We will be publishing where we will be and which driving days are running in the spring so watch this space. We were all very sorry to hear of the passing of Toby Robinson. Toby was a lovely guy, great with helping and training apprentices and a real craftsman. He will be missed by all of us who knew him. As I write, I’m about to head out into a cold shed and work on the canopy for my new engine I’m still getting to know The Leader but I’ll leave you with some pictures and hopefully we will get it out along with the SAC stand to some rallies where you can have a go yourselves next year! final word…thanks so much to Nick, Becky and Louise for all of the work over the last 5 years! All will continue to be involved, as will Louise so fear not you will see many familiar faces next year too.
An Opportunity for Apprentices...
We’ve recently been contacted by a few engine owners who are looking for an apprentice, aged 14+ to become regular crew on their engines.
There are currently three opportunities available based in:
So if you’re near any of these areas and are looking for an engine to crew with, then please contact the SAC Chairman at:
sac.chairman@ntet.co.uk
SAC Annual Awards
At the NTET AGM in Portsmouth we were able to present our various SAC awards to the recipients.
Young Volunteer of the Year: Oliver Forster
This is a new trophy, created to recognise a member of the Steam Apprentice Club who has given time volunteering with other organisations within our hobby. The first recipient of this trophy was Oliver Forster who has spent time volunteering at two museums, running a 1904 Blackstone oil engine and also firing and running stationary steam engines at an industrial museum in Norfolk.
Special Award: Oliver Maunder
A special award was given to Oliver Maunder in recognition of the teaching he has provided to apprentices this year and for achieving his competency certificate at the Bath and West Show.
Steam Apprentice of the Year: Jess Horsler
The JT Beeby cup for the Steam Apprentice of the Year was donated by the Beeby family. It was awarded to Jess Horsler who has attended many events over the summer and shown growth in capability and is now steaming her own 4” Burrell. Unfortunately Jess was unable to attend the AGM but was online via Zoom to her that she had won.
Connie Hutchins Memorial Trophy: Louise Maunder
Purchased with money raised within the committee and inner circle of friends at the as a memorial to Connie Hutchins who had been membership secretary in the early 60s and awarded annually to a lady within the movement. This year awarded to Louise Maunder for her work within the Steam Apprentice club and the issue of NTET disks.
Jack Holloway Trophy: Nick Bosworth
This trophy is presented to someone who has given considerable service to the Trust, and this was the award went to Nick Bosworth who retires as Chairman of the SAC.
Victoria’s Torton Tales
As we head into the New Year, I feel there is a lot for us to catch up on with you from 2024. I think the last time I wrote we had just been to Hollycombe Steam Rally and that was the beginning of June!
So that is where we will begin, in June 2024…
After Hollycombe our main focus was the Amberley Steam Rally where both Victoria and Albert would be back together for the first time in over 20 years. Our first job was to get Albert running better and fix all the little niggles that just needed doing. He had been at our friends’ yard since he had returned from France and was getting plenty of TLC from us. The weekend of the 9th June we had decided we would take Albert on his first road run. We steamed up and with our friends on their engine for support, off we went. Just a short trip for our first time out, about 4 miles with a stop for lunch of course, and all went very well. Albert was a star, and it just made us love him even more. He was then put on a low loader and made his way to
Amberley. This was the first time in over 20 years that Albert had been to Amberley, so it was quite a special moment for him and us. We unloaded him in the car park and Lloyd and Jack drove him back through the gates.
22nd June and time for Victoria and our road train to make their way to Amberley, setting off a little later in the day as we thought it would give the morning traffic time to get out the way, and to be fair it was a little less busy, but on this trip some of the roads are just busy 24/7. Anyway, we had an excellent trip, stopping a couple of times to take water out of our water cube on the trailer and then to top up oil - Victoria is pretty good on water and oil, we can go about 12 miles before we like to check oil and water would last another couple of miles
but we always water and oil at the same time. We had to stop a fair bit to let traffic by, as we like to keep the traffic moving, although there are a couple of places where the traffic builds up but as soon as we can, we pull over. With our packed lunched eaten we were off again; we had made sure that we had enough Welsh steam coal as Victoria only likes the best when she is working on the road! With 26½ miles under our belt we arrived at Amberley where there were Fish and chips waiting for us, thanks to Nick and Hannah for them. It took us about 6 hours, but Victoria was moving just 4 hours of that, the other 2 hours were stops as talked about above. It was an excellent trip, and Victoria went like a dream.
dreamt of this moment for years, it was great to see them together again! Still, we needed to clean Victoria after her long journey last weekend, so it was all handson-deck to get the job done.
July
29th June and time to clean these engines. Francois the Foden had also made his way over to Amberley in the previous week so all we needed to do now was to get them all together! Albert was steamed up and moved from his parking space to come and stand next to Victoria for the first time in about 22 years, to say we all had a little tear would be a lie as we all cried, we had waited and
The first weekend of July and the time had come to get Victoria and Albert out on show together, they were also joined by our little Foden, Francois. It was a wonderful weekend, with many people coming to see them and a big moment for us as this is something we had always thought would never happen, but here we were with the two ex-Sewards’ engines back together with our family, it really was a great moment. The weekend went well, and all the engines went well, lots of steaming around and we took so many pictures. We were staying at Amberley on the Sunday night too as on
the Monday Amberley Museum were having a photo charter and we were steaming up Victoria and Albert for that, so we thought we would put the engines away and have a lovely quite evening, eating our tea and chatting but oh no Albert had very different ideas! On one of the last trips around on Sunday afternoon he decided he didn’t want his tyres on anymore and as we pulled away one of his tyres was left on the road, so after some head scratching, we decided the only option was to take them off. The next 3 hours were spent cutting off the bolts and taking both his back tyres off, we ate tea in the middle of all this and by the end of the evening Albert was back on his strakes and he looked fab. The next day was the photo charter, and we steamed both Albert and Victoria and spent a great day around the museum with the engines and the 30 or so photographers spent the day taking pictures. By the end of the day, we were so tired and looked forward to getting home, having a shower and resting. It had been an busy but excellent weekend for Victoria and Albert’s first time
together in 22 years, one to remember. After all the steaming around with Albert we notice he needed a couple of repairs so for him it was back to our friends’ yard to have some work done.
21st July, Railway Gala at Amberley. Albert was now back after his repairs and we steamed Victoria too. We had a nice day with them and Wally the Wallis Advance also came out and joined us. At the end of the day, we wanted all the engines in one place ready for the following weekend so the one engine that wasn’t in steam was Marshall Roller, “Joan”. We pulled her out the shed and pushed her with Albert up to the other end of the museum. All the engines were together and ready for the following weekend.
27th & 28th 80’s Weekend at Amberley. As it was an 80’s weekend we decided to
just steam up the Marshall roller “Joan” as she was still working in the 1980s for West Sussex County Council, although on the Sunday we did steam Albert. We did also take along our 80’s car to join in the fun, we have a Lancia Volumex Coupe from 1983. Another good weekend.
August
Busy but not so much with the engines in steam. Francois the Foden was due his steam test, so time was spent sorting him for his test. On test day in the morning our boiler inspector came along to do his cold test which went well, and all was good, he then left us, and we steamed Francois up and the boiler inspector returned a few hours later and completed the steam test, and all was good. We spent the rest of the day playing around the museum with Francois. We were getting ready for an event at the end of the month, Balls Cross Rally is a wonderful event and it’s all for charity, so we decided to take all 3 engines for the weekend. On the 25th August we steamed Victoria towing our living van over to the rally, it’s about 12 miles from Amberley so a nice little trip for Victoria.
We arrived in good time, and all went well. In the week Albert was low loader over from Amberley and finally on the Friday before the event we trailered Francois over. We set up camp and looked forward to the weekend. This was the first event outside of Amberley Albert had been to, we hope in 2025 there will be many more. The rally itself was a great success and there was a good line up of engines, I think about 14 full size and a good selection of miniatures.
The following day, the Monday it was a day to move all the engines to where they needed to be. Albert and the living van went back to Amberley on the low loader, Victoria and her trailer were roaded back to our friends’ yard as she needed her tyres welded back onto her wheels as they had come lose, and Francois was also trailered back to Amberley. After a
very, very, busy few days we were home and all engines where they were meant to be.
September
In the middle of September we were back at Amberley for their Miniature weekend. Francois the Foden was in steam for the weekend along with an array of visiting miniatures of all different sizes, this is always an excellent event and well worth a visit, even had a 4” Burrell driving a threshing machine. The following weekend Victoria was ready to come back to Amberley after her tyres had been sorted so with her trailer in tow, we set off for the 17-mile trip. It always seems a little strange Victoria without her living van on the road as 9 times out of 10 she is always towing that. We had a really great day; the weather was excellent, and Victoria went like a dream. A journey of about 3 hours with water and oil stops and we stopped along the way to talk to someone who knows Victoria very well, her previous owner Peter Fagg. We steamed nearly passed his house, so we stopped there for him to check her over and make sure we are still looking after her! We are very good friends with Peter and Shirley so it’s always lovely to take Victoria back for them to see her. Coming to the end of September and all the engines needed a good clean again, so that is what we did. We wanted them looking good for the first weekend of
October where we were at another Amberley event.
October
The Amberly Autumn Gathering. This event is one of the busiest of the year for Amberley, it’s just a one-day event but they get a lot of exhibitors of all shapes and sizes, from steam engines, vintage cars, tractors, stationary engines, commercial and buses. We wanted to be in steam fairly early with all 3 engines, so Lloyd steamed Victoria, Jack steamed Albert and Wendy steamed Francois. The weather was kind for most of the day, so we spent a good part of the day steaming around, everyone loves to see the engines moving around. There were also
some other engines visiting so it was nice to see lots of steam at the museum again. We then had a few weeks off and went on holiday to the Lake District, we had a great time although missed the engines! We were back for Halloween at Amberley, again we steamed all 3 engines, this is an evening event so there was no rush to steam up, but by midafternoon we had all our engines and the 2 rollers in steam. We also put lights on our trailer so we could give trailer rides and by 6pm we were ready for the scary evening events to begin.
The next day the Amberley road steam crew took a trip out to Bursledon Brickworks, we had a great day there, having never been before it was great to finally visit. There were a few engines in steam, large and small, they were also doing trailer rides around the site, there is so much to see and read, we had a great day there.
November Wow November already! Most of the events at Amberley are now finish with just Christmas events through December, so time for Victoria and her living van to come back home. We loaded back home at the end of November, and both were put back on the
drive ready for the winter. Francois also made his way back home to Hampshire.
December
In the middle of December we had a Christmas tractor run coming through our village, so we thought it was a good excuse to steam Francois and take him along to the tractor run. We had an afternoon of running round the village with him and then in the evening found a space to sit and watch the tractor run from the back of Francois. The run was great, all the tractors had lights all over them, some had inflatable father Christmas and reindeers, a lot of effort from our local farmers, we blow our whistle a few times to join in.
Albert was still at Amberley so we spent a chilly Sunday in the middle of the month giving trailer rides to those who had come along to the museum to visit Santa, again a great event with many children
enjoying the museum. Albert and his crew did many trips around the museum. Albert then went off to our friends’ yard on the 19th December where he will be having his 10 year test in January but before that we needed to take all his lagging sheets and lagging off him, but that will be after Christmas. The last weekend before Christmas we were back at Amberley helping Nick and Hannah with their roller (Wallis Advance) Wally doing the duty of trailer rides for more Santa visitors, it was a very busy day and a bit chilly too, but a great way to finish our year at the museum.
We then had Christmas which was a great day, or few days, but Lloyd and Jack soon wanted to get back to the engines and it was over to Albert to start getting him ready for his 10 year test, as I write this he has all his lagging off and been cleaned out and we are waiting for our boiler inspector to come out and give him a once over for his cold test.
Last day of 2024 and what do you do, I know we’ll steam up Francois and take him to our local town of Petersfield in Hampshire for a good road run of about 15 miles, 6 miles each way and then a few trips around the town and to see family! It was an excellent trip. What a great way to spend the last day of the year.
2025
What have we planned for 2025? Our first job is to get Albert through his 10 year test and do a few repairs to him, we also want to fit quad tracks back on his back wheels. At the moment all the engines are drained of water and under their covers, some with heaters on, others with duvets wrapped around them so they are nice and warm in the freezing weather we have been having.
We look forward to our 2025 season with them and hope to see some of you on a rally field somewhere this year.
You can keep up to date with all our news on our social media or our websites.
Don’t forget that John Rex Model Engineers have kindly donated one of their 4” scale water cart kits to the SAC to go behind Lady Sylvia and for the members to build at rallies and events over the next couple of years. Keep an eye out for the SAC display at rallies and be sure to take the opportunity to help out if you can!
John has a number of miniatures and owns John Rex Model Engineers which makes and sells parts and kits for them.
John was so impressed by you apprentices at Bedford rally and by all the effort to get you all involved with steam, that he decided there and then to donate a 4” water bowser kit to the club for use with Lady Sylvia. The kit is currently flat pack, and will need to be assembled and painted. We will aim to get apprentices doing this at rallies from next spring. Hopefully by mid summer it will be painted and assembled and in use with Lady Sylvia!!
If you see John at a show, please do go and introduce yourself as an apprentice and thank him!
John Rex Model Engineers can be found here: www.miniaturesteam.com
New Committee Member: Melanie Fisher
I have been involved with the road steam scene for more years that I care to remember! As a teenager I went to many rallies in the SouthEast with my Dad and our 1926 Austin 20 Breakdown truck (now at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu). But the lure of steam was greater than petrol and I ended up helping with a number of engines including the 1914 Clayton and Shuttleworth “Dusty”, No 46823, then owned by Peter Fagg. I was also lucky enough to join in the London-to Brighton Run in 1970 on the Pierce family’s Fowler Road Loco No 14754 “Endeavour”.
The rally scene was always there and with my husband Simon steam ploughing became part of my life. We were part of
the ploughing team from Kent with the single cylinder Fowlers Nos 2861and 3195 of 1876 and 1877. If you want to learn to drive an engine…..then plough with a single cylinder Fowler! We not only attended local shows but also took the engines to Holland and Belgium. We were involved with the Steam Plough Club, helping to manage many ploughing matches and also organising the SPC 50th Anniversary Display at the Great Dorset Steam Fair in 2016.
Then in 2004 Simon and I were lucky enough to be able to have our own engine: a 1903, 6 NHP, A4 compound traction engine, No 9691. It has to be said she was in a bit of a mess
and it took 10 years to finally get her in steam; major boiler work, a new tender fabricated, new pipe work fitted and a new canopy. It was a very proud day when she made her debut trip to the local pub.
Sharing our Fowler with others was always important, joining in with “Invitation Steering” at the rallies and having our Steam Apprentices who helped over the years. We also helped with Steam Apprentice Driving Days.
However, age takes its toll (on us!) and it was becoming harder work to go to shows and keep up with the usual maintenance so she had to be sold. It was a very sad day.
But, to keep involved with the steam scene we decided to buy a 6” Foden “C” type wagon; a Steam Traction World kit, but already made. What a feisty little beast; half the size but twice the work to actually drive it! She is ideal size for Steam Apprentices though and so once again we are able to share and involve others
I have always believed that we are the
custodians of these machines and it is so important to encourage and enable generations to come to understand and enjoy them. Thereby, keeping them alive and on the road for the future. The Steam Apprentice Club is a vital link in this and when our new Chairman, Paul, asked me to get involved I could hardly refuse, could I! So, if you see us at a rally, please do come over and say “Hello”.
Lady Sylvia
Did you know the Steam Apprentice Club has its own steam engine?
It’s a four inch scale miniature Burrell traction engine named ‘Lady Sylvia’. Our members actually built the engine as part of the ‘Build a Burrell Project’.
Thanks to the invaluable support given to from our sponsors; we were able to get a kit from a company called Steam Traction World. This provided us with the parts to put a traction engine together, with all the heavy and more difficult machine work already done.
Our apprentices got to see and handle many of the different parts of this engine, see how where they were supposed to go and fit them together themselves under supervision.
This gave our apprentices many opportunities to learn and develop their skills.
The project took two years in total, and at the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre, September 2014, the newly completed Burrell Traction Engine was introduced. All our sponsors turned up, alongside apprentices and their parents to see Lady Sylvia unveiled. Although, many of the apprentices had already spent some time with her that day, polishing her up to look her best!
Later in the day, after all the special cakes had been eaten, some of the apprentices took her for a drive around a spacious, quiet area. They all had a turn driving and steering, it was such a fun day for all around.
Two weeks later, Lady Sylvia was given the number one spot at the National Traction Engine Trust’s 60th Anniversary Road Run. She, alongside a few apprentices and SAC volunteers, lead the start of this special run around the roads of Bedfordshire.
Now Lady Sylvia tours the country each year, attending different steam events and driving days. When possible, we ask for apprentices to come and help us steam and look after her. She is used to help apprentices learn how engines work, how they need to be cared for and maintained and how to drive a traction engine! Lady Sylvia is one very special engine; don’t forget to keep a look out for her running around!
Sponsors of Lady Sylvia
Building Lady Sylvia wouldn’t have been possible without the generous help from our sponsors. First and foremost, we have Steam Traction World who provided the kit of parts to build Lady Sylvia, and more recently a replacement perch bracket to replace the damaged original.
The SAC would again like to thank everyone who has contributed to the building, maintenance and ongoing running of Lady Sylvia since her creation in 2014.
With the years rolling on parts of Lady Sylvia will continue to wear out and eventually parts will need replacing: be them fire bars, tubes… this is natural wear and tear that comes from the successes of having her in steam for Apprentices to use. The very reason she was built!
Would you be interested in sponsoring Lady Sylvia? Contact us to learn more about how you can keep her steaming and being used by Apprentices.
List of Sponsors
Member Mail: Joshua Williams
From a young age, I started attending the rallies each year with my family who at the start owned a Ford 83EW truck. Throughout the years the family collection has grown to include a 105e Ford Anglia and a Bedford TK. Each time we went to the rallies, I always enjoyed watching the steamers in the arena, with my grandad. It’s this that sparked my interest in steam engines, getting to watch them have fun in the
ring as well as work and maintain the engines outside of it. One year at Winston rally, I got the opportunity to ride in the coal bunker of an engine called Ebenezer whilst my Dad steered the engine. This was one of the first times I got to ride on an engine and really see what it takes to drive one of them. Ebenezer is owned by the Izzard family of Sussex and at the time the engine was maintained by the late Darren Izzard.
Around 5 years ago, I approached Darren to ask if I could learn the maintenance and working of the engine, to which he immediately agreed. At the Broyle County Show that year, I first helped crew the engine by steering it to the local Chinese takeaway. From there Darren taught me all the foundational knowledge I have about steamers, from lighting it up to putting it to bed for the winter and
everything in-between. I spent many an hour cleaning the engine and was thrilled that Christmas, when I was gifted my own personal Brasso. I enjoyed getting up early, to light up the engine while the sun was rising and clearing out the coal box after it had set. Throughout this time, I got to know other owners of engines and expanded my knowledge of different types of steamers. Within this I introduced myself to the Tinkers Park Trust and Greg Luck
invited me along to volunteer with them. I got to go twice a week to expand my understanding of a wider range of engines including making a big end chock and learning to road run the engines across long distances.
This all lead me to wanting my own engine to expand my expertise within the field. With our family background in commercial vehicles, we wanted to combined the steam and commercial aspects, which lead us to looking into stream lorries. We first saw a Foden lorry at Woodchurch rally, which belonged to the Village people. They were kind enough to let me have a ride and it was here that I knew it was the vehicle someday I wanted to own. My grandad has always enjoyed the rallies and was brought into the idea of owning a steamer. A couple of years later, we were fortunate
enough to purchase a 6 inch Foden steam lorry from Berrybrook. Over the last six months, I have taken the engine to six rallies, where I have got to learn how it works. Before this in 2023, I got to meet another owner of a 6 inch Foden, Melanie and Simon Fisher, who over the last six months have supported me in my recent journey with the engine, showing me the more specific aspects of this type of engine.
Over the last five years, steam engines have become a firm and favourite hobby of mine as I have been welcomed into the steam community. I have made a number of lifelong friends who have mentored and supported me throughout my journey and continue to do so today.
Steam Plough Club Visit
Back in November 2024 we had a visit to ‘The Yard’ from The Steam Plough Club to see the collection of steam engines, tractors and other interesting things! Below are a few photos from their day here. The NTET and SAC are considering organising visits to private collections like this, so if this would be of interest to you, do let us know…
A collection of stationary steam engines.
Fowlers galore!
A hungry team!
Sparkes Steam Sawmills in operation.
SAC Logbook
The log book is a very important tool for an apprentice. The purpose of a log book is to keep a record of your experiences with the different steam engines you have helped with.
Then, when you start with a new steam engine, the engine owner/crew can look through your records and get a good understanding of what you can already do, and what new things they should be teaching you.
Though be warned, although the majority of steam engines work in a similar way, just because something happens one way on a certain make of engine it doesn’t necessarily follow it will be the same on another.
Log books can be bought from NTET Sales. Email Kathy Smith at sales@ntet.co.uk for more information.
We are currently working on an updated and refreshed logbook, so do keep an eye out for that later in 2025!
New Driving Day Co-ordinator: Stuart Gaines
Hi. As I have just taken on the role of Driving Day Coordinator, I thought you might like to learn a bit about me and why I am a keen supporter of the SAC.
Some of my earliest memories are of two events that took place annually in the village square outside my parents’ shop in Hampshire. The annual charter fair and a harvest steam up. For some reason a particular favourite engine of my mine was a roller called “Tilly”, which I later learnt was 1932, 10 ton, Aveling and Porter roller No. 14147. As a family we would often visit a steam rally or two each year, generally at HMS Sultan, Breamore House or Netley Marsh. Several birthday treats took us to Hollycombe.
My first engine was a Mamod overtype stationary engine bought on holiday in Jersey when I was about 7 or 8. Nearly 50 years later I still have it and run it from time to time. By my early teens I had moved on to petrol stationary engines, and exhibited them at a number of rallies, but steam was always my real interest. It was one wet Sunday morning that I got to steer my first engine at the Rushmoor Rally near Aldershot. And of all engines it was “Tilly”!
In my late teens I visited the Model Engineering Exhibition in London and on the NTET stand first came across, and joined, the SAC. Within a few years the then Chairman was encouraging older members to join the committee and myself and two others stepped up. All three of us are now engine owners. We did not come from engine owning families, so I am sure it is what we learnt in the SAC that helped us to do so.
In more recent years the family that I crewed for at the Dorset Steam Fair were always supportive of having apprentices spend time with us (many of the family are also former SAC members, despite engine ownership going back to working days). Since moving to Kent, I have supported several of the driving days at Tinkers Park and as a result now have a former apprentice and a current apprentice as regular crew for my Wallis and Steevens Advance roller “Lucy”.
If you see me at a rally, come and have a chat. Already having an apprentice, I can’t promise you will be able to get involved with Lucy though...
Driving Days 2025
We are happy to announce that we have another full calendar of Driving days planned for 2025! Unfortunately for various reasons, a few of the driving days haven’t been able to confirm whether their event is going ahead or not this year so we’ve added a section to the application form for potential driving days where you can register your interest in taking part in them. Details will be confirmed as soon as we know them, so keep an eye on your emails and on social media for updates.
Overleaf are the driving days that are confirmed as going ahead this year. Interest is always high so please be sure to get your application is as soon as possible to make sure you get a place and to avoid disappointment!
The application form can be downloaded from the SAC website, pulled out from the magazine, or photocopied from the pages in this magazine.
We look forward to seeing you!
2025 Driving Day Dates
Below are listed the dates of the confirmed driving day for 2025…
Location
Fengate Farm, Weeting 12th & 13th April
Stithians (Sat) Cornwall 4th May
Stithians (Sun) Cornwall 5th May
Kate Plant
Mr Parrott has a collection of engines with others also on site. They are running over two days. Camping/Caravanning space is available.
Sam Eastman Two SEPARATE days run by the West of England Steam Engine Society. Being run on the showground at Stithians.
Sam Eastman
Lancashire 30th May TBC A new event in the SAC driving day calendar.
County of Salop (Shrewsbury) 23rd August Doug Milns
Bursledon Brickworks 20th September Douglas Hynd
MSRVS Blue Lias Inn, Southam 24th & 25th May John Kidley
MSRVS Tewkesbury 21st & 22nd June John Kidley
Being run on the Saturday before the County of Salop Steam Rally. Camping available (Book via the steam rally).
Located in Hampshire, it is thought to be the last Victorian steam-driven brickworks left in the UK. Plenty to see and do!
SAC members are invited to attend the MSRVS meet up weekends. You are welcome to attend for the whole weekend, and camping space is available at both events. Both events are free to attend.
Forms for these, plus the driving days with details still to be confirmed can be found overleaf...
NO RALLIES TO GO TO OVER THE WINTER? WHY
NOT
READ THE Engine Owners’ Code of Practice
The NTET Code of Practice; “The Management of Traction Engines and Similar Devices” has for a long time been widely accepted in the Insurance and Boiler Repair and Steam Engineering communities as a 'de facto' reference manual.
The CoP is 200 pages of practical advice on every aspect of engine usage, including Operation and Maintenance, Driving on the Road and in Public Places, Transport, Laying up and Storage, the NTET Written Scheme of Examination, Mechanical Inspection, Repairs, Appeals and Arbitration, and Records and Reports.
Your Steam Apprentice logbooks have been developed based on the information in the CoP to give you a good grounding with steam vehicles, and the CoP provides an excellent addition to further develop your understanding of the usage of steam vehicles.
The Code of Practice can be downloaded free as a PDF from the NTET website (www.ntet.co.uk). Alternatively, you can purchase a hard copy in a loose-leaf folder, with pages in plastic wallets, by sending a cheque for £35 inc. p&p payable to the NTET to the Chairman of the Engine Owners Section (address below). The hard copy includes relevant extracts from British Standards which are NOT available to download.
Bob Siddall
Stud Farm House
Castle Hill
Carlton-on-Trent
Nottinghamshire
NG23 6NX
Steam it Sunday
Steam-It Sunday is a national event based on the idea from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs ‘Drive It Day’.
The National Traction Engine Trust decided it needed an event where we all try and promote Steam on the road in it’s various forms, through a series of improvised and essentially free events organised at grass roots and local level, like in the early days of the road going steam movement.
In short: Steam it Sunday takes place on the first Sunday of October (this year will be 5th October) and is all about steaming up your engines and enjoying our hobby!
Every year there are many gatherings up and down the UK and we are delighted with the response to the idea. Be it at local club level, regional society or just one man taking his for
a trundle, the first weekend in October will be alive the sight, sound and smell of engines doing what they do best – being enjoyed.
We encourage any enthusiast who wants to know more about local activities to contact their own local or regional steam and vintage club, to see what may be happening in your region. We would like to thank everyone who has supported ‘Steam It Sunday’. As you would expect we hope it will take off and become a free for all annual event for everyone to enjoy and to highlight the fact that we are still able to drive steam driven vehicles of various designs on our highways and byways.
Please share your pictures on with the members here in Raising Steam, or on social media, and don’t forget to tag the SAC!
From The Archive...
Elijah Bell has written in to share some more working day photos of traction engines with the SAC members.
The unusual lines of a Garrett Six Wheel Undertype Tipping Lorry. This is No. 35284 new in 1929 to A. Brown & Co. of Manchester. A successful design of undertype wagon but ultimately outclassed by the more popular Sentinel DG6. The Garrett was also slightly more expensive at £1365 new, compared to the £1350 of the Shrewsbury product.
Not a brilliant picture by technical standards, but a fine study of a famous engine in her working days. This is of course Fowler B6 Super Lion Showman’s Road Locomotive 19782 of 1932 ‘The Lion’, pictured working for her owners Anderton and Rowland.
This unflattering angle is of 1930 built six wheel Garrett tipping wagon No. 35372 owned by William Elworthy of Tiverton. In 1932 the fully laden wagon crashed through the bridge parapet at Budleigh Salterton. The driver, mate and their dog all jumped clear. Remarkably the wagon went on to be purchased and repaired by Lynx Motors.
A fine Burrell DCC Road Roller built in 1911 for Thetford based contractors Doran Bros. ‘Scout’ survived into preservation but without her front rolls, she was subsequently converted into a tractor but retained her unique canopy. She is now in showman’s guise and called ‘Yorkshireman’.
Two photographs of haulage engines at work, that in these cases the trailers and loads are of as much interest as the engines themselves! Above is the famous Burrell Road Locomotive ‘Clyde’ owned by Roads Engines & Kerr of Glasgow, hauling a sizeable electrical transformer on a low slung trailer which looks to be purpose built for the job. Below is a much more antiquated set up. A massive Aveling Road Locomotive (Captioned as 5566 belonging to John Thompson of Wolverhampton – but I am not 100% sure!) towing a very basic boiler trailer and Lancashire boiler. The trailer is very primitive and I suspect would have taken some stopping on a steep descent! Of not in both these images is the amount of ‘clobber’ present on both engines – chains, blocks, hooks, scotches, lamps and other trappings of the haulier are hanging wherever there is space! Sometimes missing from the gleaming engines we see on today s rally fields!
Burrell Steam Wagon No. 3843 ‘The Lion’ of 1920, new to Thomas Taylor of Longton, Staffordshire. One of only 15 Burrell wagons known to have been used by travelling showmen. Of note is the very elaborate tool box mounted on the dynamo bracket.
Fowler 8NHP B6 Road Locomotive ‘Lafayette’ has an interesting history. Built for the War Department in 1914, No.14110, Reg. AT 6356 was later converted for showmans use, with a Foster/Openshaw style dynamo bracket and twisted brass. It later passed to boiler hauliers Walter Denton of Hyde and worked alongside 14115 ‘The Lion’ and 10318 ‘Sunny Boy No.2’. Sadly ‘Lafayette’ was scrapped in 1948 and used for spare parts on ‘The Lion’.
In The Workshop...
As ever, we’ve been busy down the yard with various projects...
Fowler 8721 Delilah has had her tubes removed ready for a new set.
Step 1, but them in half with the cutting torch through the manhole.
Step 2, lever and wiggle the tubes out of the tubeplate and lift them out of the manhole.
The tubes were in the scrap bin before I had chance to take a photo, but I’m sure you can imagine what they looked like after 30+ years! Here’s a photo looking in to the barrel though...
We’ve also been busy replacing some rotten corner posts in the little Aveling & Porter living van.
Can you spot the difference between these photos? There are 10 to find. The answers are on the next page.
NTET DRIVER TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS
The NTET is awarding Scholarships to participate in the NTET Driver Training Course which is held in May each year. The Scholarship covers the course fees for one year, NOT incidental expenses such as travelling, accommodation and food.
The scholarships are open to non-engine owners being members of nonengine owning families, who are members of the NTET.
For more details of the Scholarship and Course, visit: www.ntet.co.uk
Applications including a cv and a statement of why you wish to attend the 3 year Driver Training Course should be submitted by 31st January to the General Secretary of the Trust: general.secretary@ntet.co.uk
NTET Driving Training Course
The NTET hosts a driver training weekend once a year for its members. This course consists of both practical hands on driving time and theory sessions and is now open to Apprentices aged 13 years or older.
The course has three levels: foundation, intermediate, and advanced. It is recommended that Apprentices start with foundation and move up each year to get the most from the training.
Each level consists of a mix of both theory sessions with our skilled members and plenty of practical time on a selection of steam traction engines.
NTET Driving Training Course
Foundation Day 1
Introduction to Traction Engines -Boiler construction and Fittings -Motion work drive train and brakes, lubrication and gland packing, drive an engine, clean the engine.
Foundation Day 2
Light up and steer/drive an engine, engine insurance, engine maintenance, clean engines and help load up.
Intermediate Day 1
Light up and drive engine, repacking glands and ring bush renewal, Gauge frames and gauge glasses, Safety valves, cocks and clacks, clean the engine.
Intermediate Day 2
Washing out and preparation for inspection, low loading demonstration, water pumps and mechanical lubricators, boiler management and combustion, drive an engine, clean engines and help load up.
Advanced Day 1
Light up and drive engine, steering chains and maintenance, replacing tubes and stays, injectors, hydraulic testing and valve timing, clean the engine.
Advanced Day 2
Shafts, bearings, axles and wheel bushes, engine insurance, low loader demonstration, boiler management and combustion, drive an engine, clean engines and help load up.
Technical Achievement Award 2025
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 under the instruction of, or apprentices may enter themselves.
Applications to be received by August 15th and 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 September 15th.
Judging will be completed by mid October with the announcement of the winner by the end of October. The award will be presented at the NTET AGM.
Judges will be from members of the SAC Committee plus invited persons form 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 Chairman for guidance.
If you have someone in mind to nominate, contact sac.chairman@ntet.co.uk
Apprentice Of The Year 2025
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 and 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 whatever 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.
Submission 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 September 15th. 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.
If you have someone in mind to nominate, contact sac.chairman@ntet.co.uk
Competition
Thankyou to those who got in touch to guess what the photo was in the last edition, we had one correct answer this time, from Joe Hardwick.
It was a new front tubeplate for an Aveling and Porter F Type roller. It was a fresh pressing that had just been returned from the boilermakers and was marked out ready for drilling the tube holes on the radial arm drill that it was sat on.
For this editions quiz, can anyone tell me what these are or what they are used for (a clue, they’re only used when there is a problem!)
Send in your guesses or answers to sac.raisingsteam@ntet.co.uk and we’ll publish the correct answer in the next edition of Raising Steam.
Then and Now
For this editions ‘Then and Now’ we take a look at the Burrell 6nhp general purpose engine No. 2612 of 1903.
Now: No. 2612 undergoing boiler work at DWS Engineering
Code of Conduct
Keeping everyone safe on a rally field (grown ups this means you too)
Now that the events season is nearly starting we thought it would be useful for everyone to be reminded of how to keep EVERYONE safe when we are at a Steam Apprentice Club driving event – or at any other event where we get to be hands on with an engine.
We are very proud of our apprentices that get to experience hands on working with an engine and we work hard to make these opportunities happen! This means that we must be safe and remember to make people proud to be associated with the Steam Apprentice Club.
It only takes one Steam Apprentice to do something silly or dangerous for Engine Owners to decide that they don’t want to allow young people to go on engines and stop offering their vehicles to driving events. Every engine our apprentices get to go on at an event is volunteered by its owner and crew and we are very lucky that many give their time so willingly.
With Facebook and Twitter news of bad behaviour will spread very quickly and affect EVERY driving day.
Of course we are not just concerned about the behaviour of Apprentices – but
also the engine crews as well!
As enthusiasts we must do everything we can to protect each other.
If you are at an event and see something that you do not think is right and could be dangerous – don’t be scared and tell the rally organiser right away!
Apprentices
• Dress safely
• Ask if you are not sure about something
• Be polite and respectful to both then engine crew and their machine
• Always be sensible when walking around moving vehicles
• Have a great time and remember to say thank you when you finish!
Crews
• It is not your responsibility to physically help a person on to or off an engine. Give advice on where to stand or what to hold on to but it is up to the Apprentice (and their adult) to safely climb on to your engine.
• You have the right to stop immediately, and ask any Apprentice misbehaving or acting unsafely to leave your engine or workspace and return to their responsible adult. You have given your time and
equipment willingly and we realise that as Apprentices we must respect both them and your crew.
Responsible Adults
• It is your responsibility to help your apprentice climb on and off an engine.
Listen carefully to the engine crew as they will give you instructions on how to so safely.
• Do not leave the area where your Apprentice is on an engine or attending a session (i.e. instructional workshops or story time). In the event of a mechanical
or medical emergency you will be required so quickly escort your Apprentice to safety. Unattended children will be removed from the activity and taken to the lost child points for their own safety.
• You are responsible for the behaviour of your Apprentice at all times.
• Please ask before you take photographs of your Apprentice on the engine: some crews are very shy. Others might show you where to stand for a better photograph!
Bursaries
The National Traction Engine Trust encourages and supports road steam by offering financial assistance and bursaries (maximum £500) for those who would like to improve their knowledge and skills so they can help and take part in maintain steam on the road.
These skills can include but are not limited to:
•Boiler maintenance
•Boiler management
•Boiler Inspection
•Signwriting
•Welding
•Fabricating
Lathe and millwork
The list is not exhaustive and any application will be considered which shows that it informs and educates about road steam as described in the NTET mission statement:
“Preserving our heritage with Steam on the Road”
Look in the heritage journals and prospectuses of colleges and schools for suitable courses. Approach people who already have a skill you are interested in to see if they would be willing to share their knowledge then fill out the application form with all the details. An application form can be found by going to:
www.ntet.co.uk/bursaries
Formula Mamod
Formula Mamod gives members the opportunity to test your engine building and driving skills out on the track!
If you have a Mamod and want to modify it to get a faster lap time, remember that:
• The firebox must be standard.
• The safety valve must be standard.
• The fuel burner tray (solid fuel) must be standard.
To ensure a fair competition the SAC provides you with fuel to use a solid fuel burner tray if you don’t have one.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a Mamod as we have been donated standard engines for you to use.
A member of the team will inspect vehicles prior to their racing to make sure they’re safe to use (just like all race cars) and help you set yours up if you are not sure how to.
Remember that Formula Mamod is only for SAC and NTET members so if you have a friend who wants to join in, make sure they are signed up!
We’ll have to wait and see which rallies happen to know if Formula Mamod will be out and about this year, but if we do then with all the time you’ve had to modify and fettle your Mamods in lockdown, we’re expecting to see some very quick times!
Over 18? Nearly 21?
Older Members of Steam Apprentice Club will be delighted to know that from the age of 18 you can receive FREE copies of the National Traction Engine Trust (NTET) quarterly magazine STEAMING.
Once you turn 21 you are eligible to join the NTET for the reduced rate of £15 for your first year: the same you currently pay for your SAC membership!
If you could like to take up either of these offers just contact Clara.
Email: membership@ntet.co.uk
Richard Semple, NTET Membership
Linden Lea, Lydham
Bishops Castle, Shropshire
SY9 5HB
You do not need to be an owner or driver of an engine to be a member of the NTET.
As a member you will receive STEAMING magazine, the quarterly publication. It provides communication from the trust to its members, technical topics, historical articles and photos, information on events and engines around the U.K. as well as free classified adverts available to members.
You will be able to vote at the Annual General Meeting and stand to be part of the committee of volunteers.
The NTET produce an extensive rally list, detailing all NTET authorised events across the U.K. This is issued at the beginning of each year NTET authorised events have paid a small fee and agree to abide by the Rally Organisers Code of Practice, as produced by the Rally Organisers section of the NTET, which if followed ensures a safe and trouble free event.
About the NTET
The National Traction Engine Trust represents owners and enthusiasts alike and is pleased to be regarded as the World’s Premier Steam Traction Preservation Organisation.
Now in its 71st year the NTET aspires to be the Organisation of Choice for the vintage steam enthusiast, engine owner or driver and events organiser working together to meet a common aim:
Preserving our Heritage in Steam on the Road.
The main aims of the NTET are to:
• Encourage ownership and preservation of all forms of steam powered equipment.
• Set and maintain standards in equipment management and operation.
• Provide facilities to teach basic skills in engine management.
• Attract junior members via the Steam Apprentice Club.
• Set and monitor safety and operating standards in rallies and event organisation.
• Secure insurance and other related services for the benefit of members and rally organisers.
• Support the maintenance of records of engine manufacturers, design, livery and colour schemes, history and ownership.
• Administer a ‘rare spares and patterns’ register.
• Monitor and manage the introduction of legislation as it effects the movement.
• Administer a world wide club membership scheme.
• Communicate with members, clubs, organisations via the quarterly magazine STEAMING.
• Affiliate with similar bodies in the UK and World Wide.
• Promote the production and distribution of books, videos, tapes and other related memorabilia.
About the SAC
The Steam Apprentice Club (SAC) is a dedicated club for everyone aged under 21 who has an interest in steam.
Formed 46 years ago 1979, our slogan is ‘The Future Driving the Past’. We firmly believe our members are THE FUTURE and what can be more fun than DRIVING a traction engine: some of which are over 100 years old and are an important link to our industrial and engineering PAST.
Who can be a member?
You don’t have to own a traction engine or even have a traction engine in your family to be a member! Your parents might be members of the NTET or they may not have any interest in steal at all. We don’t mind if you work on an engine every weekend or if you’ve never been on an engine before.
All we ask is that you are interested in traction engine! It could be that you enjoy taking photographs at rallies, or that you want to learn more about the technical side of driving or even how to build an engine yourself. Simple really. Everyone is welcome to join us up until their 21st birthday - after that we encourage you to join the NTET (which is why after the age of 18 years you can ask to receive FREE copies of the NTET quarterly magazine STEAMING).
