The Thames Valley Traction Engine Club

For the April meeting on Monday we will have Tristan Leverett returning with part two of his slide show of a selection of images from British cultural institutions historical photography collections.

The AGM is tonight at 8pm. Following the AGM there will be a slide show of engines from Derek Marder.

The 1984 Stoke Row Rally or “Rally around the Well” as it was then known to raise funds for the restoration of the Maharajah’s Well (http://www.stokerow.net/well1b.asp) suffered badly with the weather. As a result the engines were displayed in the Greenaway families yard just up the road. Here are a few pictures from the event. Thanks to Brian Mansergh for the photo’s.

Fowler traction engine “Tommy” when in the ownership of Arthur Napper

Burrell Gold Medal Tractor no. 3631 “Kathleen” when in the ownership of the late Jack Lawrence

Garrett Traction Engine “Mercury” when in the ownership of the late Vic Greenaway

The Barker Family’s Burrell Gold Medal tractor “Defiance” with a young Nick Barker.

Roy Green steers his Fowler traction engine “Jonah”

Jack Wharton’s much travelled Burrell Showmans Engine “King George VI”

Derek and Marion Farrow’s Fowler T3 roller “Susie”

Don’t forget the meeting this Monday. This months show will feature a selection of images from British cultural institutions historical photography collections.

Some great footage from the good old days of the rally at Rushmoor arena. Turn the volume up!

February’s show will feature a selection of images from British cultural institutions historical photography collections. To start, a fascinating collection of photographs of the building of the Forth Rail Bridge during the 1880’s. Followed by the investigation photographs from the 1879 Tay Rail Bridge Disaster, showing a rather mangled up 4-4-0 loco after recovery, it’s rolling stock and bridge structure damage. Also we’ll take a glimpse back into the way of life in one of Britain’s major cities during the 1800’s/turn of the century, Birmingham, the machine shop to the world! Here we will see some road steam in action, possibly an unseen picture of a well known preserved Burrell at work! Bourneville and the steam machines that delivered the chocolate. We’ll take a look at a few interesting factory and street scenes from Birimingham too. Time permitting a few original engine images from around the tun of the century will make an appearance too. Hopefully this should be an interesting show, we look forward to seeing you on Feb 8th.

Work is steadily progressing on the reassembly of Simon Palmer’s Fowler DNA Roller No. 19049 “Bacchus” at Fred Coopers yard following an almost complete new boiler.

The trunk guide and weigh shaft have now been permanently bolted down, the crankshaft will be next.

The old barrell and backhead can be seen in the background

Fred Cooper stands next to the new boiler

This month we will have Alan Steevens showing old steam films. See you on the 11th from 1930.

Brian Mansergh has kindly allowed us to post some of his extensive photograph collection. Here we take a trip back in time to Woodcote Rally 1985. All photo’s copyright of Brian Mansergh

Graham and Stephanie Waite with their Aveling and Barford Roller. Graham bears a striking resemblance to Frank Zappa!

The Hawthorne Family’s Fowler Roller “Busy Bee” and Wallis Advance “Chipchase”

A youthful Simon Palmer on the family’s Wallis Expansion Engine “Wildfrie”

Pete “Nobby” Narraway looking after Aveling 6 Ton Roller when in the ownership of Arthur Hall. The roller was sold to Fred Cooper the following autumn.

Derek and Sandra Marder on Sandra’s Fowler Roller “Victoria”

The late lamented Jack Lawrence on his Burrell Showmans tractor “Kathleen”