Traction Engines at the BWLR
Garrett 4 CD Showman's Tractor No. 33305 Reg.No. HT7112 The Mighty Atom
The 4 nominal H.P. Compound Steam Tractor built by Richard Garrett & Sons of Leiston Works in East Suffolk was a popular machine.
Over 300 were built between 1908 and 1929. No.33305 was built for the Ministry of Munitions which was a Government Department started during the Great War (WW1).
The Garrett left the works in July 1918 and was shipped to France for haulage duties on the Western Front. It returned to England after the war and sold as war surplus.
Purchased by David Harrison of Bristol, it was converted to Showman’s Specification and named ‘The Mighty Atom’. The Registration number HT7112 was issued in 1923 as all traction engines had to be registered. At some point it was sold to James Edwards Junior of West Croydon and used with his Gallopers.
In 1941 the showman’s fittings were removed and the engine was used for timber work on Romney Marsh.
In preservation the Garrett had several owners including the well known steam owners and engineers Pegden Bros. of Elham. In 1964 it was sold to Mr. P. Wallis of Dorset who rallied the engine and in 1984 it was completely overhauled with new firebox, tubes, etc., and rebuilt again as a Showman’s Tractor. It returned to Kent wheb purchased by Terry Maynard, who also rallied it.
'The Mighty Atom' was purchased by Bill Best for the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in October 2002 and further restoration was carried out. The engine is steamed on Open Days.
The picture shows the Garrett in Edward’s ownership in 1934. Of interest is the rather odd looking dynamo bracket and the steam generator on the belly tank for powering the road lights.
Garret Agricutural Traction Engine 7NPH No.33442 Reg.No. BL9009
Built by Garrets of Leiston in 1919 it was dispatched by rail on 13 August to Mr. H.H. Baylis of Hartford Manor near Faringdon in Oxfordshire. The engine was sold through Garrett agents T. Baker of Compton, Berkshire.
The original order required a 7NHP Single Sclinder spring mounted traction engine with winding drum including 50yards of 5/8inch wire rope, fitted with injector (£16.4s extra), finished in standard green. The total cost including discounts and the optional extra injector was £976.10s. Mr. Baylis’ name was to be on a brass plate fixed to the smoke-box door. Included in the price were the services of Garrett’s Demonstration driver for a week to train the local man. All major builders offered this service.
The Garrett was used for driving a threshing machine and hauling trailers until 1950. Wilcox & Frost, hay merchants of Witney, became the second owners in 1943. The engine ended its working life relegated to steaming greenhouses at Brize Norton.
In 1964 on passing into preservation it was named ‘King of the Road’ & ‘Caroline’ by various owners. Mr. Baylis has confirmed it carried no name during its working life.
Purchased by Bill Best the engine came to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in 1988. Some restoration work was carried out in 1989 but in 1991 a full overhaul was undertaken with a new fire-box, boiler barrel and tubes. Boiler work was done by Bicknells of Liphook and the engine was then rebuilt at Bredgar. The boiler was retubed in 1999.
The production of agricultural traction engines by Garretts took a ‘back seat’ in favour of the 4CD tractor and steam wagon so the type is fairly rare.
The Garrett is steamed on Open Days and it is a very fine example of the traction engine in its heyday.
Ruston & Hornsby Compound 12 ton Roller No.115023 Reg.No. XM6373.
New on 15 May 1922 to Henry Woodham Contractors, Catford, London, the roller, which was fitted with a ‘Patent Scarifier’, worked on the roads until the 1950s. The scarifier was used to tear up the old road surface so a new one could be laid.
The Ruston was stored until 1978 when it was purchased for preservation. Bill Best bought the roller in 1988. On arrival at the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway it was fully overhauled withh a new fire-box and tender.
The Roller is steamed with the 2 Garretts on Open Days.
Ruston & Hornsby resulted from the amalgamation of Ruston Proctor & Co. of Lincoln with Richard Hornsby of Grantham in 1918. Further evidence, in this later period, of association with other steam builders are the Aveling & Ported safety valves fitted to this roller.
1903 Burrell B Class Road Roller No 2551.
The 2nd Road Roller that is resident at the B&WLR is this 12 ton example, built in 1903 by Charles Burrell and Sons Ltd of Thetford, Norfolk. Burrells built only 400 road rollers from their first in 1891 until their closure in 1932, hence their rarity today. This example is in fact the oldest survivor in the UK. Termed as a B class, Single Crank Compound engine, it differs from other survivors, by way of its features applied specifically for the export market.
Many of the rollers Burrell's built were sold onto the export market and this particular engine was exported to the Meissner and Dietlein agency in Magdeburg, Germany. Although the next part of its history is missing, it is known to have been working in Belgium by 1921. It was rebuilt and re-boilered in 1939 and finally retired in 1957, a working life of 54 years.
Restoration commenced in 2003 and is ongoing. It is hoped to have the roller back to working order for late 2008.
