Butchers Arms Easter Steam-up
April 15/16th 2006
by Pat Freeman

A traveller along the road from Chelmsford to Dunmow, Essex, on April 15/16th may well have felt the inclination to stop at the 'Butchers Arms' public house at North End after seeing what was standing in steam on the forecourt.
   There were two magnificent Showmans Engines, four Traction Engines and a Steam-powered Car. In the adjacent field  were several more steam engines, both full-size and scale models. There were also other vehicles involved, including Stanley Chapman's 1956 Ransomes Crawler Tractor. This 600 c.c. petrol-driven machine had been left standing for about 30 years when he bought it in 2003
   What was in progress was an Easter Steam-up, organised by Dave Roberts and Barry Freeman, both EATES members, supported by The Bedford Steam Club.
   As always, the Burrell Showmans Road Loco. Ex-Mayor, No. 4000, weighing in at 19 tons, was an impressive sight. Built in 1925 for George Toby of Doncaster, it is now part of the Saunders Collection at Stotfold, Beds.
   The other Showmans was also a Burrell Road Loco., Margaret, No. 3926, owned by Keith Honour and family.  It was new in 1922 to Henry Thurston, an

     

Amusement Caterer, and worked with a set of Chairplanes. Keith also had his 
48-key  Fairground Organ which can be powered from Margaret or from a separate generator.
   The other steam engines taking part were:-: 
1920 Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Traction Engine Garioch Queen, No 31298, owned by Derek Spearman
1909 Burrell Traction Engine Princess Royal, No.3106, owned by Barry and Matthew Peacock
1907 Burrell Traction Engine Violet, No.2921, owned by Eddie Carr
1922 Burrell  Jessie, No. 3923, owned by Barry Freeman
1935 Fowler Roller Bonny Lass, No.19546, owned by Trevor Ellis
1920 Fowler Road Loco. Sir Douglas, No.15467, owned by S. J. Philp & Son
1914 Ruston, Proctor Agricultural Engine Success, No.50278, owned by the Pumfrey family.
1913 Wallis & Steevens Tractor, No. 7372, owned by Paul Whipps.

      

     

   The steam car was  a Stanley Model 740, No. 23612, made by the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, Newton, Massachusetts, in 1923. The body is a 7-Seat Open Tourer, fitted, as a special, with quick-release wheels. The car can travel well over a 100 miles on a tankful of water. When new it was shipped to Australia and, at some stage, spent a considerable time in a museum.  In September 2004 it came to its new owner, Bernard Green of Ongar, Essex. It was then totally dismantled, refurbished and rebuilt, including fitting a new boiler and pipework.

     

   One of the Commercial Vehicles at the steam-up was a Showmans Tractor aptly named Dick Turpin, as it was a Scammel Highwayman. In 1962 it was with Percy Cole, an Amusement Caterer, and was used to haul his Venetian Gondolas. Since last Christmas, it has been owned by Dave Roberts.
   Both Dave Roberts and Barry Freeman should be congratulated for this event which raised quite a sum of money to go to the Ford End and Great Waltham Church Repair Fund.