EXHIBITORS 2026

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STEAM ENGINES  / Section Leader: Steve Ward

 

The engines shown here reflect a period in Britain's history when both practicality and beauty went together. Although built to do a job of work at a competitive price, these engines reflect a confidence and superiority in British engineering that has now gone forever. The First World War saw both the rapid development of the internal combustion engine and the loss of foreign markets, so hastening the end of this brief period of our industrial history.

 

To help you identify each engine the registration number is given first, followed by the builder, type of engine and the maker's serial number. Owners and drivers will be happy to give you more information!

 

1.  Reg No.  BJ5175, GARRETT 4CD STEAM TRACTOR No. 33829, Empress, built 1920.

Owned by Glen Prince of Witham Essex. Ordered on 23rd January 1920 by C Maidwell &co ltd, through G Thurlows for £1205.12.00. Spent all it’s working life in Essex and Suffolk and saved for preservation in 1957 by the Smith family of Inworth, passed to the Prince family in 2022.

 

2.  Reg No. Q48GBV ROAD MACHINES STEAM DUMPER No. 102855, built before 1974.

Owned by David Philpot of Luton. The engine was recovered from a factory in Luton, and fitted to the remains of a dumper truck, the boiler being built new many years ago. An amazing creation, with a canopy from a milk float!

 

3.  Reg No. FU92, MARSHALL COMPOUND ENGINE No. 36258, ‘Punch’, Built 1902.

Owned by Michael Watts of Clifton. New to Gainsborough Council Lincolnshire on 2nd January 1902, and worked for them until 1958. Driven to all rallies and will be driving a Marshall A54 threshing drum and Class bailer.

 

4.  Reg No. CR6645, BURRELL SHOWMANS ROAD LOCOMOTIVE No. 3890 ‘Majestic, built 1921.

Owned by the Saunders Collection. Built for Messrs J.H. Herbert of Southampton. It worked with them until 1940, but remained in the family’s ownership until 1952 when it was purchased for preservation. In 1954 the engine passed to W.Hunt of Birmingham. The present owners purchased it in 1999 from E. Gale.

 

5.  Reg No. CC2753, Fowler B4 3speed ROAD ENGINE No. 7871 ‘Cuchulainn’, built 1897.

Purchased in April 2026 and underwent a 10 year hydraulic inspection, it will be rallied this year after many years of being a static display in a private collection.  Owned by George and Jake Maskell of Harlington.

 

6.  Reg No. AD9069, GARRETT 4CD SHOWMANS STEAM TRACTOR No. 33566 ‘Little Billy’, built 1919.

Owned by the Saunders Collection. Was owned by W Coles of Bristol for transporting and powering part of there fair.

 

7.  Reg No. KC5071, SUPER SENTINEL WAGGON No. 5256, built 1924.

Owned by Barry Weatherhead of Milton Keynes. The ‘Super’ waggons were Sentinel’s second very successful design, the engine being mounted under the body with a quick steaming vertical boiler in the cab. Barry has owned this wagon for many years, and it is painted in the livery of its last commercial operator, The United Africa Co. Ltd of Liverpool, who worked it until 1961.

 

8.  Reg No. BJ3166, GARRETT 3 TON WAGON No. 30826, built 1912.

Owned by the Worbey family of Henlow. The only surviving example of a 3 ton Garrett wagon, it was built for millers Charles Marston a miller of Bungay, Earsham and Harleston on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. The wagon then passed through 3 owners. In 1925 the wagon was sold to Taylor Bros. Wimbish, Essex who used the wagon to cart sugar beet amongst other things. The wagon was used by them for several years and was partially scrapped in the mid-late 30’s with the chassis and rear axle assembly surviving as part of a shed. In 1975 Ken Frost acquired the parts for restoration and in 1998 they passed to Pat Jenkins. Purchased by the present owners in 2002 who embarked on the extensive rebuild and restoration of this unique wagon with much help from friends.

 

9.  Reg No.  KG1123, SENTINEL DG4 BUS No. 8714, built 1932.

Owned by the Saunders Collection.

 

10.  Reg No. BF8138, ZETTELMEYER STEAM ROLLER No. 302 built 1926.

Owned by the Perrins family of Dunstable. This German built roller was transported to the UK in bits and rebuilt over the last four years. There are few surviving Zettelmeyer steam rollers and this is distinctly different in design to the contemporary UK built engines; the firm was later absorbed into Volvo. 

 

11.  Reg No  VL3465, FOSTER TRACTION ENGINE No. 14625 built 1931.

Owned by Josh Markham of Renhold Beds. The last of 7 single cylinder 8nhp agricultural enginesbuilt by Foster’s. Used as their royal show engine at Warwick in 1931. Sold to the Meers brothers contractors from Little Steeping Lincs for threshing, it did very little work and was laid up in the 40’s. Saved for preservation in the 60’s

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12.  Reg No. AMB300, FODEN 'D' TYPE TRACTOR No. 14084 ‘Duchess of Gloucester’, built 1933.

Owned by the Walker family. This tractor is believed to have been the last steam vehicle built by Fodens in 1933 for the home market. Delivered new to James Murch and Sons of Umberleigh in Devon and used for timber hauling and occasional threshing work. Purchased by the Walker family in July 2011 and recently repainted in the livery as delivered to the original owner.

 

14.  Reg No. PH2900, BURRELL GOLD MEDAL TRACTOR No. 4072 ‘The Cranleigh Belle’ (also known as ‘Tinkerbell'), built 1927.

Owned by the Walker family. This well known tractor was built new for the Stemp Brothers of Cranleigh, near Guildford, who used the engine for hauling timber to their saw mill. Sold out of service in 1949, the tractor went through several hands before being purchased in 1976. Since then it has been extensively rebuilt including the manufacture of a new cylinder block, an extremely complicated task carried out successfully by a foundry in 1992. The 'Gold Medal' name was used as a result of Burrell’s winning the 1907 Royal Automobile Club Trials with this design.

 

15.  Reg No. YA1177, AVELING & PORTER ‘BS10’ 10 TON STEAM ROLLER, No. 9370 ‘Bertha’ built 1921.

Owned by Steven Ward of Hitchin Herts. Built new for Clutton Rural District Council for £1,396, then taken over in 1930 by Somerset County Council. Sold for preservation in 1964, having several owners before being purchased by Steven in 1993. Recently it has had a major boiler overhaul and was reassembled with help from Wally Greensmith and Lynn McGill. This engine travels extensively by road under its own steam.

 

16.  Reg No. AH7105, BURRELL TRACTION ENGINE No. 2507 ‘The Pride of  Monewden’ built 1902.

Owned by Paul & Ian Vickery of Harlington. New to S Martin of Monewden Suffolk for thrashing and agricultural work. The engine had a few owners in Suffolk and Norfolk, the last owner was S Sheldrake of Wymondham Norfolk.

The engine then laid derelict in a field near Wymondham until 1975 when purchased for preservation by D Phillips of the Isle of White. The engine was restored and rallied there until purchased by the present owners in 2019, since then a complete overhaul has been undertaken by the present owners to how you see it today.

 

17.  Reg No. HO6139, WALLIS & STEEVENS ROLLER No. 2357, ‘Big Emma’, built 1896.

Owned by the Vickery family of Markyate. Despatched from the works in 1896 to Andover Rural District Council the engine was unusual in the fact that it was fitted with Wallis and Steevens patent Expansion Valve Gear. Around 1932 the engine was sold to Watson and Haig. Purchased by the present owners in 1968 from St Marys Born in derelict condition. Unfortunately the expansion gear had been removed in the 50’s. The engine was restored and rallied. Jonathan and family have recently replaced the boiler, firebox and tender and also remade the expansion gear.

 

18.  Reg No. PP7306, FOSTER WELLINGTON TRACTOR  No. 14378 ‘Iron Duke, built 1920.

Owned by M. Smith of Streatley. This is an example of a light haulage tractor. 

 

19.  Reg No. FJ9904. SENTINEL S4 No. 9087 Built 1934.

Owned by the Smith family of Streatley.

 

20.  Reg No. U7290, FOWLER TIGER TRACTOR No. 15629 ‘John Fowler’ built 1920.

Owner by the Saunders collection. New to an owner in Cornwall, after 3 months the engine was found to be unsuitable foe the hills in the area. It was sold and moved to Scotland where it worked on timber haulage. Purchased in 1956 by the Drage family near Royston and used around the farm, later being exhibited around the area at steam events. Purchased by the present owner and fully restored by their “Agricultual Dept”.

 

21.  Reg No. UR5657, RUSTON AND HORNSBY STEAM ROLLER, No. 158623, ‘Moonlight Magic’ built 1929.

Owned by Simon and Sheila Vickery of Dunstable. Owned by A.T. Oliver of Luton from new until the 1970’s, purchased by the present owners in October 2000. Since then this rare make of roller has been completely rebuilt with a new boiler and firebox by Simon and Jack Vickery

 

22.  Reg No. UE2496, RANSOMES SIMMS AND JEFFERIES tractor No. 36220, built 1920.

Owned by Mat Holman of Cranfield. New to a royal show and attended one for the next 5 years. Sold in 1926 to a farmer for threshing after some years laying derelict it entered preservation. The Holman family are the 3rd preservation owners, acquired in 1991.

 

23.  Reg No. SG8149, FOWLER TRACTOR No. 16008, ‘Shifty’ Built 1923.

Owned by Ian Mackness of Kempston Beds. New to Edinburgh Council as a steam roller, sold for preservation in 1960, purchased in 2012 by the present owner.

 

24. Reg No. CA100, LOCOMOBILE LOCOSURREY. ‘Jean’ Built 1902.

Owned by Justin Hayes of Bishop Stortford. Originally from Canada, brought back in 2000 and rebuilt, one of only 4 left in the world.

 

25. Reg No. NM1250, FOWLER K7 PLOUGHING ENGINE, No. 14248, ‘Sunrise’ built 1915.

Owned by the Saunders Collection. New to J King of Broom, Beds where it worked with its pair No 14247 until 1924 when they were sold to W Snook of Yovil, Somerset and were re registered as YD1268 and YD1269. In 1931 the engines were sold and returned to Bedfordshire in the ownership of C Beefner of Barton-le-Clay, from where they were purchased by the Case Brothers in the early 1970’s who named them. Purchased by the present owner and reboilered including much other mechanical work.

 

26. Reg No. CE7856, Fowell 7NHP TRACTION ENGINE, No. 91, built 1902.

Owned by R Parrish of Shfford Beds. Built for F.J Hunt of Guilden Morden for general farm work. The engine remained in use for many years and is still owned by the family, being restored in the 1960’s by the present owner.

 

 

FAIRGROUND ORGANS   / Section Leader Steve Ward

 

Fairground organs were traditionally a part of the fairground, where they provided cheerful music before the days of the gramophone and loudspeaker.

 

40.  McCARTHY 20 KEYLESS ORGAN, built in 1985.

Owned by Mrs Renee Brice of Watford. A small 20 keyless model built by Paul McCarthy.

 

41.  ‘MELODIA’ 14 NOTE PAPER ROLL OPERATED ORGAN.

Owned by Mrs Renee Brice of Watford. This organ was built in 1898 and some of the original rolls still survive.

 

42.  AEOLIAN 20 KEY ORGAN, Built C.1900.

Owned by Jeremy and Lynn Brice of Aylesbury. A small reed organ built for indoor use.

 

43.  ALAN PELL 28 KEYLESS ORGAN built 1999.

Owned by Jeremy and Lynn Brice of Aylesbury.  

 

44. LEACH & OVERINGTON 89 KEY CONCERT ORGAN, built 2000.

Owned by D. Rundle and J. Honor of Stansted. Thought to be the largest UK built organ.

 

LIVING VANS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT

 

In the working days of the steam engine, it was normal for the crew to remain with the engine during the working week. A living van was usually provided, the design depending on the size of the crew and the work being undertaken; a selection can be seen here today.

 

50.  Showman’s Living van. Built 1925.

Owned by Douggie Williamson. History unknown, but rebuilt by Douggie from the frame upwards over a period of six years.

 

51.  Freelance, Built 1936.

Owned by Mark Fensom. Built by Wiltshire Council in their workshop for use with road roller gang based in Andover.

 

52.Freelance, Built 2017.

Owned and built by Edward Garner.