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Route 66 : Steam Road Run
So this update is dedicated to the humble steam roller, we currently have 9 steam rollers booked on the run, so today I thought we would look at the oldest and the youngest.
The oldest Roller on the run owned by EATES members Mathew Garwood is the 1891 Aveling and Porter steam roller, works number 2941, aka ‘The Old Girl’, was sold new to the Weston Highway's department. This later became Bath RDC.
In October 1906 2941 returned to Aveling works for extensive boiler repairs. An entry in the hydraulic test book shows that she had a new boiler barrel with man-hole fitted, tube plate, inner steel fire box, tubes and rings. The boiler was then stamped with boiler number 5190.
Soon after she moved onto Barnes Brothers, Southwick and was No 19 in their fleet. This was possibly around 1906 when they are known to have expanded their business. It is possible 2941 was sold back to Aveling's by Bath RDC, hence the boiler work and Barnes bought her from them. Barnes Brothers continued to expand and in 1918 bought a large number of new steam rollers from Aveling & Porter. It is possibly around this time that 2491 was sold to make way for the new rollers.
By 1921 she had moved to British Tar Spraying Company of Newark, Notts, where she was registered AL9463. However, by 1927 she had moved to Kent, as shown by copies of road tax discs still retained with the engine. It is believed she moved directly to A.G. Lockwood of Westgate on Sea in Kent. Lockwood was a large building company at Westgate on Sea. 2941 was kept in an open fronted shed at Westgate. She remained with Lockwoods for the rest of her commercial life.
In June 1963 she was sold into preservation when bought by the Fred Pegden. Fred and his brothers rallied her until August 1972 when she was to Trevor Lewis Evans of Herne Bay, Kent. She was later sold at the Canterbury Auction to TG Philpott of Hawley Kent in 1975, and in 1989 sold on to Bill Hedges of Faversham, Kent. In 1990 she was sold on to Jim Bates of Ewell Minnis in Kent. In March 2003 she was bought by the present owners Matt Garwood & family and moved to Suffolk. From the first meeting with 2941 she was known as “The Old Girl” and the name has stuck. Despite being in her 131 year The Old Girl is regularly steamed around the roads of Essex and Suffolk.
Our youngest Steam roller on the run and owned by Nick Hanks is the Fowler 18637 8ton t3b road roller
Delivered to Clevedon urban district council on 21st feb 1931 where she worked untill being sold onto well known road contractors WW Buncombe and sons around 1953.
Was a spare engine for Buncombes and saw little use untill being purchased by a team of initially 9 enthusiasts on 1st november 1965 for the grand sum of £250!
She was repainted and cosmetically restored then used for rolling the drive way of the main share holders country home and attending a few early rallies including appleford in late 60s early 70s.
I was lucky enough to hear of the fowler being for sale so arranged a meeting and viewing, steamed her and agreed on a price subject to a hydraulic test. The 1st november 2010 was a day of mixed emotions,firstly the original firebox sprung a leak under pressure and was obviously condembed, but after some renegotiating, i became the next proud owner of the roller.
Once we collected her i commenced stripping,new firebox and tube plate were made by mendip steam and fitted, with some alterations, by local boilermaker steve casey of casey engineering. This meant that the fitting was nice and local to me and i could assist and/or get in the way.
21.6.2018 and after having the rolls rubbered,full repaint, new studs etc etc the fowler successfully passed steam and hydraulic tests and was driven down to the local pub to celebrate.
18637 made its rebuilt debute at the weald of kent steam rally at the begining of august and clocked up just over 200 miles on the road that year.
Jumping to mid august 2019 whilst on the road heading for the weald of kent steam rally the roller was hit by an impatient cement mixer and sustained substancial damage to the front forks and chain sweeps. She attended our wedding looking slightly bruised but still in steam. Since then she has recieved a new cast set of front forks, new chain sweeps, front axle and bearings all cast and machined by local firms and is currently nearing completion.
