Welcome

 
I've created this web space to share our passion of steam and vintage vehicles. Amoungst the pages are photos of the work we have done on our own projects, much of which is ongoing and the history of some of our families engines. 
 
 
The restoration of two M class Avelings will soon be added to the workshop pages. Here they are prior to work being started.
 
Duncan, Janette and Daniel collecting their Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies direct ploughing engine boiler from us today.  To see more photos of what has been done look at the workshop pages.
 
 
We hope to see her returned to steam soon.
 
Sam, on Christmas Eve 2010, with the Marshall portable going to its' new home. What a wonderful Christmas present!
 
 
We have just returned from the Old Warden rally and Malcolm Ranieri has just sent me the fantastic photo of our Burrell 'Taz' in the park. If you are not familiar with his photos he published the 'Traction Engine Album' a few years ago.
 
 
 
The rally is organised by the Bedfordshire Steam Engine Preservation Society. More information about the club can be found HERE. 
 
Work continues on the big 20 hp Marshall - here she is in steam.
 
 
 
 
 
Well this is not 'at home' but the recovery of Steves' 12hp duplex, Marshall Britannia portable engine from its' previous home in Chile. 
Steve and David have been working on it - see the workshop page - and it will be attending the Steam Extravaganza at South Cerney in early August.
 
 
 
 
Find out more about the rally HERE
 
A short trip out into Devizes, past the historic Wadworths building. A few more photos of the trip on the home gallery and 'outings' page.
 
 
 
 
 
Sam has been preparing 'Taz' for the rally season. This was steam test day - all parked up and cleaned.
 
 
Sam has been preparing 'Taz' for the new rally season.
 
 
 
 
David and I have been working on the big Marshall semi-portable - please take a look on her page for a few photos.
 
And I've been cleaning 'Murphy' too.
 
 
 
 
Hopefully the cold weather has gone and we can get on with some of our winter projects. We have progressed with our big Marshall 20hp semi-portable. I have put a few more photos on the engines own page. Do take a look. We hope to be  steaming very soon!!
 
 
 
 
We have been getting the motionwork back together and have started to install the chimney.
 
 
Last steaming of the year . . the Garrett helped to move James' Aveling. It is getting closer to the workshop for its restoration.
 
 
 
 
A few more photos on the home gallery page.
 
Martyn collecting his Aveling 7195 'Bernado' of 1910. Going home now to its' birthday celebrations!
 
 
 
 
Our big Burrell 'Taz' at the Lister Tynedale rally next to another 8hp Burrell 3737 of 1916 'The Laird'.
 
 
 
 
Nose to nose with Burrell 3665 in the background.
 
 
 
I've added several more photos on the outings page. A lovely, relaxing weekend.
 
We have started to get things organised for the rally season now. We do not 'go out' with our engines until june since we are 'busy' with our nursery. However we do 'play' at home if time allows. Here is the Buffalo Springfield roller in steam.
 
 
 
The warmer weather has begun - thank goodness. Sam pulled our big Burrell 'Taz' outside today. Some cleaning, mudlid fitting and filling with water ready to steam Easter weekend. Our first rally will be the Lister Tynedale in June.
 
 
 
 
 
We have been busy at home in recent months. One of our projects is our 20hp semi - portable Marshall. Work has progressed since this photo. Please do take a look at the photos I've added to her individual page.
 
 
 
 
 
The season is rapidly coming to an end - we have been lucky with the weather. We steamed our Garrett portable on Sunday afternoon and gave her a good clean.
 
 
 
 
We imported her direct from Chile - the story of her restoration can be found on her individual page along with numerous photos.
 
 
 
The weather is changing now so we had the final steaming of the Buffalo - Springfield roller before she is drained down and cleaned ready for the winter months. Some new steam friends were here and it was sunny - what could be better !
 
 
The weekend of 26th and 27th September we steamed our Ruston and Hornsby Direct ploughing engine. She is an SCLA class - Steam, Compound, Light, Argentinian.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
She is a great engine. You can see more photos of her in the gallery. HERE
 
Tuesday 1st September - Harry steamed the Buffalo Springfield again. He hitched up the Reeves and moved her so he could do some more stone rolling.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here is Harry Goddard using our Buffalo-Springfield - doing a 'days work'.
 
 
 
He did really well. To see how close he got to the building see the 'Buffalo-Springfield' page.
 
 
 
Here is David driving our Aveling & Porter tandem steam roller 12023 at Kemble airfield last weekend. There was plenty of tarmac to demonstrate Murphys' steam steering. Sam did a great job driving around in the rain on Saturday - luckily there was sunshine on Sunday.
 
 
Thanks to Matt and Rachel for organising a great steam show. Several engines I hadn't seen before too.
 
This is our Reeves steam tractor. A very well engineered and thought out design. Take a look at the detail photos and appreciate the 'trans-atlantic' variety !
 Here she is in steam in the yard. Fantastic whistle!
 
 
 
 
David has been driving her and practicing with the steering of the water cart - a clever bit of design. It has a rectangular platform as the 'join' between the cart and the rear of the engine and therefore requires the wheels of the cart to 'steer' to follow the engine.
 
There is plenty of room on the footplate - until they stopped David was driving, Sam steering and our friends Alec and Marion were on the 'Monach' tender.
 
 
 
 
We were also moving things about in the yard - a bit of a tidy up and a took this shot . Marshalls 8hp and 4hp britannias and the little Geiser 'Peerless' portable.
 
 
 
 
 
Here is a good photo of  a pair of Marshall Britannia engines. Steve Rodenhursts' 12hp engine which he is keeping in our yard to work on at the moment. You can see his progress on the workshop page. The other is our 8hp engine which is for sale.
 
 
 
 
Here is Sam moving her with the International.
 
 
 
  

 

 

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