Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Old Glory

John Selby’s family has been involved with steam for well over 100 years. “It all started when my grandfather, Arthur Selby, began his threshing business in 1910, using a 1902 Marshall No. 37173 single-cylinder traction engine.” Based near Epworth on The Isle of Axholme in north Lincolnshire, between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. The business flourished for many years, and continued threshing using steam until around 1948; then tractors took over providing the power. Steam was still an important part of the family’s life, with John’s father Harry buying a 1925 Marshall 7hp No. 79441 FU 4677 single-cylinder general purpose. This was rallied by the family for many years, but by the late 1950s John’s father was keen for the then 14-year-old John to get an engine of his own. “Rallies were…

While The Great Dorset Steam Fair 2020 was yet another victim of the Covid-19 epidemic, the shows Facebook pages were filled up with 100s of pictures and memories of past shows in a special group called “Memories of the Dorset Steam Fair” set up by managing director Martin Oliver. Many of the disappointed took solace by listening in to the special broadcast of Steam FM, and others still made the pilgrimage to Tarrant Hinton says Paul Richie. While the gates remained securely locked the chance to look across the Dorset fields was of some comfort for many people. Not surprisingly some enthusiasts took to their vintage machines to visit and several vintage tractors and trailers were seen, with the Dorset flag flying high. The Mayhew family from Southampton went on…

Sold last autumn to Holland, but only making the trip across the water recently, is 1963 showman’s conversion January 1918 Fowler Russian R class 8hp TE2 No. 14948 Prince of Wales. However before the engine went to southern Holland Will Woodward and his team have fitted a new riveted-seam boiler barrel, tubeplate and smokebox, all to an excellent standard. In the meantime Will from Buglawton is concentrating on his very famous 1913 McLaren road loco No. 1421 Captain Scott, which is in for a good overhaul including new gears, tyres and much more.…

Robey tandem steam roller No 42693 of 1925 Stumbles will soon be back on her wheels again, following the awarding in late June of a grant of £19,705 from the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA), reports Colin Tyson. Boiler work for the 8-ton roller will now be able to start in earnest at the Tavistock-based heritage engineering centre ‘The Works,’ under the umbrella of the Robey Trust. The AIA grant adds to the £5,000 already raised via public donations and other fundraising activities, and funds are now halfway towards the total restoration target of £50,000. With the help of volunteers, the aim is to get Stumbles steaming again within two to three years, pending further donations. The roller has a special place in the history of the charity as it…

Well-known Fowler 8nhp showman’s road locomotive No 15653 of 1920 Renown celebrated her centenary at the height of lockdown on May 8, reports Colin Tyson. Owners the Howard family of Kirk Ireton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, celebrated with a special steam-up and played the organ at the time that, under normal circumstances, Renown would have been at her usual early May bank holiday appearance at the Llandudno Transport Festival and taking part in the street parade in all her glory. Completed on May 8 1920 for showman John Murphy of Co. Durham, it was built with no twisted brass, but fitted with a Thompson & Walton Feast Crane, the first engine to be fitted out in Fowler’s factory with one. Renown and sister engine Repulse were delivered in grey undercoat because they…

Transport Museum Wythall opened in doors on August 8 for the first time since October 2019 and was a resounding success, says Colin Tyson. Over 80 visitors, including many families, enjoyed themselves in the summer sunshine. Many paid the museum complements on its Covid-19 measures. Operating a booking-only system via its website, TMW operates a oneway system through its two main halls enabling visitors to see virtually every exhibit on display on a single tour. A café has been set up within a new marquee in the grounds offering plenty of space to take refreshments in comfort and the shop is open for purchases. “After considerable discussion and planning, our volunteers put in a huge effort to make the site Covid-19 compliant and it definitely paid off,” said TMW spokesman…

It has felt like it’s been a long time coming, but finally classic vehicle events are beginning to take place again. One of the first was the Classic & Vintage Commercials Show at the British Motor Museum, at Gaydon in Warwickshire, over the hot weekend of 8-9th August, having been delayed from its originally-scheduled June date, says Mike Neale. That’s not to say that things have returned to exactly as they were before, as you had to pre-book to attend the event, both as an exhibitor and a visitor, with no on-the-day admissions. Numbers were also restricted, which at least meant that there was plenty of space to walk round and take photos without people getting in the way. I had expected there to be fewer vehicles attending than there…

PART 2 In 2008 Stuart discovered that 1911 Marshall 7hp general purpose three-speed traction engine No. 57304 Challenger was being put up for sale. “Luckily I found out about the Marshall before it was advertised, through word of mouth,” Stuart said, “It was owned by Robin Greenaway of Stoke Row near Reading. “I went to see it with Johnny Johnson of Banks near Southport and the late Roddy Swain,” Stuart said, “We had a good look at it and as it was in pretty good shape with the firebox replaced by Bicknells in 1998, so a deal was done.” As for the history of the Marshall, it was registered TM4430 and named Challenger. “It was supplied new to George Lucas at Shinfield, Berkshire as an estate engine and was used…

Services on the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) were suspended on March 22. Two days later, on March 24, all Indian passenger trains were suspended – trains that normally carry 23 million people a day. Some pre-booked trains across the network have since resumed. Now the world’s third worst-hit country with the figure rising towards three million confirmed cases towards the end of August, the DHR suffered from the monsoon season again when rainfall caused a landslide at Lower Pagla Jhora, severing the route of the adjacent hill cart road. It left the DHR track in place but has been deemed unsafe. Amidst the uncertainty, the UK-based Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society has continued to make funds available for school projects in the area and has just released a…

The 2ft gauge Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth, held its Enthusiasts’ Weekend on August 8-9. The event was initially planned for March, but deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was limited to just 1000 visitors on each day (booked in advance) to enable social distancing measures to be maintained and was blessed with cloudless skies on the Saturday and a mixture of cloud and sunshine on the Sunday, but importantly no rain to be seen anywhere. Three passenger trains and a goods train operated on the low-level railway, with a separate top-and-tailed train running on the high-level line, plus visitors could enjoy a tram ride on the restored Burton & Ashby Light Railway tram No 14 and the Garden Railway was also in operation. Although not all facilities…

The town of Shrewsbury is synonymous with the Sentinel name in road transport terms, as it was here that hundreds of steam and diesel lorries were produced. The history of the firm can be traced back to 1875 when Stephen Alley and John Alexander MacLellan opened the Sentinel Engineering Works in Glasgow, producing a range of valves for industrial uses. In 1903 Alley & MacLellan took over the firm of Simpson & Bibby who were based at Horsehay in Shropshire. They had been working on the development of steam road vehicles, and with production moving to Scotland after their takeover, the first Sentinel steam waggon was produced in 1905. By 1914, lack of space in Glasgow had become a problem, so the firm decided to move to Shrewsbury, with a…

The first use of an internal combustion-engined ‘shunting tractor’ on New Zealand Railways dates back to 1924 but it was not until a batch of six Tr’s arrived in 1936, that NZ’s diesel loco fleet can be said to have truly been ‘born’, reports Phil Barnes. These 0-4-0 machines were supplied by Drewry and built at English Electric’s Dick Kerr works at Preston as NZ loco numbers 13 to 18 and had a 70hp Parsons petrol engine as their prime mover. This drove a 4-speed Wilson gearbox via an Allison torque converter, with the drive to the wheels being via a jack-shaft and coupling rods. Ultimately, the petrol engines wore out and they were replaced between 1958 and 1967 with a 104hp Detroit 4-71 diesels, giving them then a weight…

A recent mention in Vintageworld (OG 366) about the eight steam locomotives which can be seen on display in the Central American country, prompted Bill Read to search out some photos he took of a couple of the 3ft 6in gauge locos whilst there. He came across these on a visit he made to the country in March 2016 outside the headquarters and works of the Pacifico Station in San Jose. In the same place there was also a somewhat aged electric loco plinthed under a tree to one side. The small steam shunter was apparently captured from the Nicaraguans during a border dispute some time ago and the tender loco was the first loco in Costa Rica - hence it bears the number ‘1.’ These two locos were plinthed…

On Saturday 10 July at Bonhams’ excellent Bicester motoring HQ there were two lots to interest Old Glory readers. Although valued at just £1,500 in the pre-value section of the catalogue, the 3in Marshall 3in traction engine that had been featured in Engineering Miniature and which had been repainted in places went on to sell, with buyer’s premium, at £8,437. As for the 1½in Allchin, which looked a little flat paint-wise, that was got away at £3,937. www.kelseymarketplace.co.uk…

The steam roller section listed nine engines and was organised for many years by Arthur Field who exhibited his Fowler 18652 Fippenny Queen new in 1930 to Messrs Sharp of Blandford, later sold to Hine brothers of Gillingham, Dorset for road making, then sold in 1968 to Arthur. An interesting exhibit was Aveling & Porter 11423 Smokey new in 1926 to Kent County Council as a tractor with extra large belly tanks, sold to Chris Lambert of Horsmonden in 1934 then to John Allen & Sons of Cowley, Oxfordshire who converted it to a roller with an Allen patented front roll. It worked as a roller until the 1960s when it was bought by Tom Tilbury of Dartford in 1967 and driven by Smokey Shepard. These days it is rallied…

It was a sad day for 90-year-old Bill Gale when his beloved 1921 Burrell Pride of The Fens/Dragon left Gordon Easton’s fine museum premises in July 2020 at Eastrea, Peterborough, where Bill had the engine based for a good number of years now, says Richard Wade. Bill had taken this famous Scenic to so many of the top shows in the UK over more than 50 years on behalf of the Chamberlain and now the King families. The engine has headed to the south west and has been put up for sale by Berrybrook Steam & Classic, tel: 01392833301 - https://www.berrybrooksteam.co.uk/for-sale/full-size Bill has recently said it had got just too much for him to look after any more, the November 1921 Burrell No. 3912 CO4485 was new to Anderton &…

On August 10th 1910, Richard Garrett & Sons at Leiston, Suffolk, supplied their ‘Light Pattern’ compound 10-ton steam roller No 28408 to its customer, Southend-on-Sea Corporation, writes Derek Rayner The roller worked happily alongside the Aveling special design of roller which the Corporation had purchased in 1904 - No 5646 - and, in addition, because the town was expanding, a further Aveling roller was obtained in 1915 in order to cope with the demand for new roads and their repairs’ this being No 8672, a 10-ton single. All was well until 1917 when a request was received from the War Office stating that since there were three rollers in the council’s ownership, they were required to release one of them to assist in the war effort. As a result, the…

Following Lisa and Richard Pelham’s purchase of Tasker No. 1424 Will O’ The Wisp they put up for sale through Old Glory advertiser Legacy Vehicles Ltd their replica Ruston, Proctor SD tractor Warrior. The deal has been successfully concluded by Legacy and the engine has gone to a collector who has great involvement in Formula One.…

It was great to see the Bressingham Steam and Gardens up and running well on Saturday 9 August when we called in to the Steam In Miniature show, says the editor. Most people were keeping their distance correctly and wearing masks, while three of the railway systems here were all running - the 10.25in Garden Railway, 2ft Fen Railway and 15in Waveney Valley Railway. I witnessed the volunteers cleaning each carriage down when the punters got off before the next set of passengers came on board. The passengers were all wearing face masks when travelling on the trains, but most took their masks off when they got off the trains? The fourth system here of course is the standard gauge line where 4-6-2 Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell ran and…

Owing to Covid-19 the Weald of Kent Steam Rally normally held the first weekend in August at Woodchurch, Kent could not unfortunately take place. However, organiser Bill Giles came up with an ambitious plan to stage three road runs from five to 35 miles long on Sunday 2 August, says the editor. The event was run via the WOKSR Facebook site with three route maps provided that could be downloaded. It’s furthest extreme west was Tenterden and its eastern extreme (passed Ashford) was Alpha Boughton on the Faversham Road and The Flying Horse, Boughton Lees. A number of vehicles made their way here with the lush green being the turning place for those on various routes. These included the Partridge’s superb 1963 Scammell Scarab Dartford Tunnel recovery vehicle which retired…

A special fish and chips supper steam train ride due to operate on Saturday August 8 at the 15in gauge Kirklees Light Railway near Huddersfield was cancelled with just three days’ notice after railway bosses received instruction by Kirklees Council to stop the event happening. With no prior site visit undertaken by council officials, the council insisted that the train would constitute a ‘gathering of over 30 people eating.’ A railway spokesman said “We were informed that the council have powers to shut down anything they feel contravenes current restrictions. We had to comply as we obviously don’t want to do anything that we have been advised not to.” Although the Kirklees Metropolitan Council area is in a Covid ‘second spike’ localised lockdown, the railway sits outside of the known…

Over half the money has now been raised for Amberley Museum’s Bagnall 2ft gauge locomotive Peter’s boiler repairs and overhaul - with total costs expecting to reach over £40,000. As well as many private donations, major contributions have been received from Accucraft, who kindly donated one of their 7/8in/ft scale Bagnall saddle tank models for the museum to sell by sealed bid auction, Cliffe Hill Quarry, where Peter once worked, and the Narrow Gauge Society. The £22,000 raised so far has enabled work to start on the boiler repairs. The boiler barrel that had been condemned has been removed with the new barrel ready to be installed. Work has also been carried out on the firebox and once new boiler tubes have been fitted, the regulator valve will be repaired…

PART 1 In my historical article on Link-Belt cranes and excavators (November 2019 CP&M), I observed that of the more than 100 American crane and excavator manufacturers established in the 20th century, only the names of three can still be found on current machines sold today. The three surviving names are Link-Belt, P&H and Manitowoc. Link-Belt is Japanese owned and P&H machines are manufactured by Komatsu Mining Corporation, a subsidiary of Japanese giant Komatsu Ltd. That leaves Manitowoc, the only American crane and excavator company that survives as an American-owned company and still proudly carries its name on its products. Like many other American excavator and earthmoving equipment manufacturers, the company took its name from the city where it was established, in this case Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Others include Bucyrus, Erie,…

Part 1 I would not have realised this event was on, but for the handwritten letter kindly sent to me by miniature traction engine rally organiser Norman Atkins, who invited me to the event at Bressingham Steam and Gardens near Diss, Norfolk over the weekend of 8–9 August. In his letter he called it a ‘low key’ miniature steam rally – amazingly there were some 37 miniatures chugging about – hardly any of them local – at possibly the only rally for such things this year, writes the editor. “This is normally our busiest weekend, what with the model railway and miniature steam engine rally that are combined together. However, with the Covid-19 situation as it is, the model railway show could not go ahead, but thankfully the miniature section…

When Sandy Buchanan discovered a steam roller at Aliwal North a year or two ago, he didn’t immediately recognise its make. He was somewhat intrigued by the addition, which he felt was rather odd, to the front and back of the rear wheel. He later discovered that the roller was a Burrell and the item at the rear was a Rutty scarifier which was carried on a large diameter ‘strong peg’ attached to the side of the boiler. Subsequently the roller’s works number was ascertained to be No 3957 of 1924 - a ‘Class A’ 10-ton machine. The township is located on the Orange River in the north-eastern corner of the Cape Province. It has a fascinating history, having been founded in 1849 by Governor Sir Harry Smith and is…

Whilst passing through the Wanaka area of New Zealand’s South Island, Phil Barnes paid a visit to this museum, mainly to see the 1914-built Fowler steam roller - but discovered so much much more on this MASSIVE site! Having been made aware of the museum by OG’s Derek Rayner, it also proved to be a very good rainy day venue to visit! The National part of the museum’s title is derived from its sheer size and in New Zealand it’s not necessary to apply to change the name/status of a place - and so this privately-run family museum is therefore given now as ‘National.’ Outside exhibits include a field full of vehicles, aircraft and the Fowler roller to name but a few. There are also four hangars/sheds, the first of…

Well-known South West businessman Malcolm Beaton, based near Frome in Somerset, has decided to dispose of his just superb tractor collection, which features County and other makes. The collection amounts to amazingly some 70 tractors. As he says this will be a sale for ‘everyman’ from the beginner to the seasoned collector and particularly for the many County fans around the globe especially in Ireland north and south of the border. It all takes place on Saturday 10 October. I would agree with Malcolm when he says there are many, original and very restorable Countys and original Ford classics here, especially from the 1000 series that will suit everyone’s pocket. But of course there are many highlights including some fine forage harvesting machinery, including some exciting Teagle trailers that have…

An autojumble in your armchair with OLDGLORY ADvintage reader adverts 5 Easy Ways To Book Your Ad: PHONE: 0906 802 0279 FAX: 01959 541400 We advise not to send photographs via fax. ONLINE: www.kelseymarketplace.co.uk EMAIL: oldglory@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk POST: Old Glory FREE ADS, Kelsey Media Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding Kent, ME18 6AL Your advert will be seen by thousands of readers Terms and conditions for private advertisers 1. The advert copy provided by the customer must be legal, decent, honest and truthful and comply with the code of the Advertising Standards Authority (www.asa.org.uk). ADvintage may amend the advertisement to ensure compliance with these requirements. 2. ADvintage is not able to verify the truthfulness of any statements made by a customer in the advert copy. Accordingly, the customer will be responsible for…

Well, thank you for the many emails and phone calls over various aspects of Old Glory magazine. A number of you phoned and left messages requesting I call back, but you didn’t always include your numbers in your messages. When you phone and I’m not about, please do leave your number, as our phone system doesn’t record it automatically. I’m happy to call you back, but do bear in mind that under normal circumstances I travel about a lot on work projects so please be a little patient, I will certainly phone you when I’m next in the office. I’m delighted to receive your letters, engine news (which apparently you want more of), and so much more! My contact details are: peterlove@madasafish.com - tel: 01323 833125. I was pleased to…

Born in the Wiltshire village of Steeple Ashton, near Trowbridge. Ted Hine from early school days was connected with steam vehicles, his father being in the road-making business. After leaving school he was apprenticed to the Eddison Steam Rolling & Ploughing Co at Dorchester. During the Great War he served with the Dorset Regiment in France and during this time he had ambitions of becoming a haulage contractor in a large way when he returned to England. With his brothers he founded the haulage business of Hine Brothers, Gillingham, Dorset and they used Burrell and Tasker tractors and later going on to a fleet of Sentinel four and six-wheelers. Around this time the company went into sand and gravel along with stone quarry business. Their pits were in Dorset, Hampshire…

It’s good to see 1911 Marshall No. 57375 7hp Annie all coming back together and in steam. This engine went through J Graven of Ely’s hands in 1934 and then to T T Crouch, Sawbridgeworth on the Essex/Hertfordshire border. I suppose the engine is better known for the many years it was rallied by Roger Prior before ending up with James Eatwell in West Sussex who also rallied it for a number of years. In Prior’s time the engine was off the road for a considerable time while the firebox was replaced by Bicknell’s boiler works. However the engine was taken off the road some years ago now as it needed a boiler barrel and top backhead rivets. The firebox was removed by Allison Engineering and the offending items have…

What was probably the first commercially organised event which included traction engines this year - in the North of England - took place at Murton Park on the outskirts of York over the weekend of August 8 and 9, reports Derek Rayner. At the initiative of Craig Benton, its new Managing Director, the Yorkshire Farming Museum was open with appropriate social distancing in place and the adjacent Derwent Valley Light Railway was in operation. However, this was not carrying passengers because of organisational difficulties associated with the present circumstances but shunting movements were demonstrated from time to time which could be watched by visitors. It was Craig who was behind the successful York Steam Rally held at the same location a couple of years ago and he believed that there…

PS Waverley, the LNER-built last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, steamed down the Clyde for the first time in 22 months, on Thursday 13 August, when she set out from Greenock’s Custom House Quay for the first day of sea trails after her new boilers were fitted by the Inverclyde town’s Dales Marine Services, reports Hugh Dougherty. With the pressure holding steady on the gauges of both new boilers, and with the ship in fine fettle after her dry-docking and other routine maintenance, Waverley sailed majestically down the Clyde to allow her compass to be calibrated, before returning to Custom House Quay. Further trials are scheduled to allow other adjustments to be made, and to ensure that the new boilers and their controls, the subject of an urgent £2.3m…

Sunday August 2 saw no fewer than 44 buses descending on Tinkers Park for the Model Rail Plus show, says David Vaughan. This part of the show has been a feature on the Sunday only for the past few years and usually attracts a good few bus enthusiasts who are often fans of model railways as well. It is well organised by local bus enthusiast Paul Llewellyn who owns an ex-Southdown Leyland National dating from 1976. Usually there are several buses that operate free services from the site replicating past local services but, due to the Covid 19 regulations on passengers, the bus services were restricted to the ones linking Buxted railway station and Uckfield bus station which were run by classic vehicles from the Claude Jessett Trust collection. Paul…

Old Glory was invited to Reg Dyer’s farm at South Petherton, Ilminster, Somerset on 18-19 July - we sent Joseph Lewis along to see this ‘once only’ special vintage and classic harvest done the old way. The 2020 wheat harvest here was different as traditional thatcher Chris Packham and George his son, along with farmer Reg Dyer whose land was used, got their old tackle out with Fordson Standard Ns and Massey Ferguson 135 tractors at the head end. They were connected to Chris’ Massey-Harris 6A Sunshine ground-driven binders to cut the crop. Friends Graham Farmer and Malcolm Trott from Ilminster helped out with the quartet of Fordson Standards that all performed impeccably, taking their turn on the binders. The Dunster family of the South Somerset Agricultural Preservation Club provided…

In the last issue of OG, we published some previously unseen photographs of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway’s earliest days, unearthed at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway during a clear out there of old cupboards during the Covid-19 lock-down. In turn, the Cleethorpes line asked supporters of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway (which once operated at Humberston, close to what was then the Cleethorpes Miniature Railway) for any more old photos. Now a new trio has been discovered – this time sent to the CCLR, who in turn have sent them on to the ‘neighbours’, the LCLR, who reopened 42 miles to the south at Skegness Water Leisure Park. The photos were taken by a Michael Prior, now 78, in the summer of 1962 when he took a group of…

The Bluebell Railway reopened to passengers following four months of Covid lockdown inactivity on Friday August 7 – exactly sixty years to the day since the railway first opened as the first UK standard gauge preserved steam railway to be reopened by volunteers. Following a speech by chairman Chris Hunford, SECR O1 locomotive No 65 took a rake of close-coupled Metropolitan Railway compartment coaches with SECR ‘Birdcage’ Brake No 3363 at the rear and formed ‘The Pioneer’ members’ only special train, prior to running public trains later in the day and across the anniversary weekend of August 8-9. The railway remains open to prebooked passengers on weekends only, along with additional various themed catering trains, served with pre-boxed meals. For full details visit www.bluebellrailway.com. The story of the lead-up to…

Forgive me when I constantly mention the hard work that is put into the many working events held around the country which I attend; these events take an enormous amount of effort to prepare beforehand, writes Jeremy Rowland. Andrew Beaulah’s working events likewise entail much work on his behalf and those who help him out, of course it is not just the event that takes the time, but much effort is carried out throughout the year to prepare new items of classic plant to be displayed in action during these events. While I have been busy preparing my own machines for work at these events, I have also witnessed and been privileged to help out where I can to assist in getting some of the machinery ready for action on…

A pair of Z7 engines, Nos 15266 and 15267, were built by Fowlers in Leeds in 1919. They never worked in Britain but were sent directly to France as part of the programme of recompense after the 1914-18 War, writes Martin Clarke. Sold through Fowler’s agent in France at Melun, the original owner was Paul Cugnière of Saint Bandry, a village in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in the north of the country. This lies between Compiègne and Soissons, about 60 miles north-east of Paris. There are brass plates on the boilers of both engines giving his name and address. In 1920, the pair of engines were sold to Pierre Duguet of Soissons, along with all the ancillary equipment and they were used on his ‘betterave à sucre’ (sugar beet)…

Kevin Dennis CLEARANCE SALE! Legendary Lincolnshire haulier, collector and enthusiast Kevin Dennis is, apparently, retiring! He effectively closed the haulage side of his business in April and has now told Old Glory that an onsite auction is to be held at his Wainfleet premises on Saturday October 3. Here, he will be selling almost all his lorries – operational and preserved – along with many spares. With around 50 of Kevin’s lorries on offer, plus the possibility of a number of significant ‘guest’ entries, this promises to be a very major event indeed. What’s more, Kevin is promising that everything in the sale will be offered without reserve, and sold to the highest bidder on the day. In recent years, Kevin’s operational fleet has been, famously, Leyland Roadtrain based, so…

Another sale to change its date at rather short notice was Nixon Auctioneers’ Denis Johnson sale at Ceresco, near Lincoln, Nebraska which was to take place on 25 July, but it took place the previous Saturday! Help! Not everyone twigged this unfortunately, but there we are. The weather was nothing but warm for this live and on-line sale, but as I say some missed out over the date change. The stock was not in the Graham Sellers league, but had some good elements to it and had something for everyone. The highlight was the older restoration of a 1920 Minneapolis 22-44 No. 1730 grade 4.7 tractor that went on to make $46,000 (£35,154). As for the steamers, the highlight was the Aultman-Taylor 25hp side-crank single which features the differential on…