Wallis & Steevens 10 ton roller Winnifred George

[steamboat]

Hello everyone, I'm looking to see if anyone would know how I could contact the owner of the Wallis & Steevens 10Ton Advance Roller "Winnifred George". I restored and operate an identical roller in Canada and would like to obtain very detailed photo's of the paint scheme on the roller. I expect to be in the UK in about 4-5 weeksfor a very short stay before returning home

Cheers Steamboat

[sharpo]

The name board on the roof of the steam roller is B. & M.A. Johnson of Kegworth, which is a good clue.

Looking in the Rempstone Rally Programme from a couple of years ago, there is an e-mail address for a steam & vintage society in that are. Maybe somebody there can help, I will give it a try & let you know the results.

Sharpo

[sharpo]

If the e-mail method of contact fails, I have a contact number for somebody in the society. Give it a few days.

Sharpo

[sharpo]

I'm too clever for words! Got a telephone number for you & will "PM" it rather than print it here for all to see.

I contacted somebody in the East Midlands Steam & Vintage Society, he knows the owner of the roller very well, apparently it is in bits at the moment having boiler work done on it. But that shouldn't stop you getting photos of the paint scheme.

Sharpo

[sharpo]

Now then Steamboat, there must be an interesting story about how you came to be the proud owner of a British built steam roller, in Canada?

When you have a few minutes to spare.......

Sharpo

[steamboat]

Now then Steamboat, there must be an interesting story about how you came to be the proud owner of a British built steam roller, in Canada?

When you have a few minutes to spare.......

Sharpo

Hello Paul and everyone else in the steam world, I came upon the Wallis & Steevens when I joined my club called the Atchelitz Threshermens Association here in Chilliwack B.C. Canada many years ago. When I joined the club we had a portable steam engine one traction engine and two steam rollers as well as a very large 2500 IHP triple expansion engine out of a local railway ship ferry, well of the two steam rollers only the Ruston Proctor was in operation at the time with the "poor old Wallis" being neglected since nobody new exactly what had to be done to get her operational again. Since I'm a Marine Engineer I took on the task with absolutly no knowledge of where the roller came from or her history. So I did my internet research where I met this most wonderful and helpful man named Paul Sharpe. He was of great assistance (and continues to be) in my endevours. My research indicated that the Wallis & Steevens was purchased by the City of Vancouver around 1929 for about $5000.00 and was in operation until sometime in the late 1950's. After that she bounced around from private club to private club until arriving at my club some 25 years ago, I guess this is where my story starts. I completed my visual survey of the boiler and found it to be in good state so I contacted my local Provincial Boiler Inspector to find out where to start, it started off with a complete ultrasound of the boiler and magnetic particle inspection of the riveted joints from there we went on to the hydro test and then getting theboiler registry brought up to date, I put on my "ugly paint job" and went on my merry way until a few comments regarding my paint job came up, back to more research on the the paint job, with my job taking up plenty of time I still found the time to re-babbit the crossheads as well as some other minor repairs but I still found the time to steam her every year ever since and so the story will continue.......

Cheers Everyone

[sharpo]

Thanks, very interesting - looking forward to the next instalment.

I'm sure you've sent me photos of it in the past, not sure where they are at the moment, but when you get home we'll have to make sure some photos of it are posted.

Sharpo