Giant roller of the roads
A Lincolnshire family is united by a passion for a vintage steamroller, which looms large as it slowly moves across the landscape
in the flat countryside around Coningsby in Lincolnshire, a steamroller makes its ponderous way along a straight, quiet road. The gentle rumble of iron wheels on the road surface contrasts with the birdsong that fills the air. It is many years since this 91-year-old machine rolled any hot tarmacadam. Today, its gleaming brass work is testament to its current role as the passion of the Hurley family. They proudly display the steamroller at fairs, revelling in its sheer presence and mechanical beauty. Keeping this 14-ton engine in working order is an all-consuming hobby for the whole family. Today, husband and wife David and Jo, their 18-year-old son Will, 22-year-old daughter Becky, and Becky’s boyfriend, Nick Bosworth, are crowded onto the footplate. All are enthusiastic about their steamroller, spending hours keeping it going and looking good. David’s love of steam started at the age of eight, when his parents were selling plants at a steam fair. He persuaded his mother to go in for the traction engine steering competition for beginners. She did, and asked if David could have a ride on the engine too. It was only a few short yards, but he was hooked.
Steam community
He met Jo at a steam fair where her parents were exhibiting vintage tractors. They married 26 years ago and, with their children, remain passionate about steam engines. Every member of the family, together with Nick, spend virtually all their spare time running the steamroller or working on it. “The attraction comes from the fact that steam engines seem somehow alive,” says Jo. “There is something elemental about making a vast machine move simply using fire and water.” Both Jo and David are members of the National Traction Engine Trust. Jo is the trust’s secretary, while Will and Becky are steam apprentices, the name for junior members of the trust. They all enjoy the social element. “The steam community is our bigger family,” says Jo. “All the
members of the trust enjoy each other’s company and help each other out.” The Hurleys started out by crewing other people’s engines, before they were left a half share in their current roller. This was in recognition of the time David had spent on the engine over many years. Nine years ago, they were able to buy the other share and are now the sole owners of the Marshall, Sons & Co of Gainsborough-built steamroller. They take it to steam fairs across the country, including the Great Dorset Steam Fair, 240 miles from their home. Once there, they join other steam engines of all kinds, taking part in parades.
Ongoing maintenance
Until 1960, their steamroller was one of three used by Leicester County Council’s Highways Department for rolling out newly-surfaced roads. Abandoned in favour of diesel, the three rollers were saved from the scrapyard by enthusiasts who bought them. David and Jo’s engine has basically never been altered, but a lot of hard work goes into keeping it in perfect running order. “People see the engine looking magnificent at shows,” says David. “What they don’t see is me lying under the engine doing work with ash from the ash pan falling on my face.” It is not just David who does the hard work of maintenance and repairs. Sometimes this involves no more than providing a little care and attention. On other occasions, there is major work to be carried out. In the near future they expect to install a new firebox, which will involve heavy engineering work and welding. Jo is equally competent and does her fair share of the hard work. They have learned their skills over the years, originally by helping out other owners. Becky and Will also get involved, unsurpringly given their upbringing. “Both have been around steam since birth,” David says. “It is not buying an engine that costs the money,” he explains. “A similar engine to this sold recently for less than £10,000. It is the cost of keeping it going. And that, as far as we are concerned, means doing everything ourselves.” It is difficult to calculate the running costs, which depend on many factors, including any repairs needed. The most important cost is the £200 annual boiler test. This involves applying pressure to the boiler to ensure it is safe. If it fails this, the roller is not allowed to move until it is fixed. As well as this, there is the cost of up to 25 bags of coal a year. Fortunately most rallies provide coal for the engines.
The roller has a maximum legal speed of 5mph, but, in practice, on a long run it averages no more than 3mph. The water tank holds just over 100 gallons, which will last for approximately seven miles. An extra 45 gallons can be taken along in a trailer. The longest journey the Hurleys have made was approximately 30 miles. It took 10 hours, and at the end all were exhausted. “We didn’t get down, we fell off,” says David. Shovelling coal and steering a heavy machine takes a lot of physical effort. On top of this, the long journey is spent standing up. The family will drive under their own steam on the Lincolnshire roads to local events. However, if the distance is further than an hour’s drive, the steamroller goes on their 38-year-old low loader. This is kept with the engine at their home near Coningsby.
Attuned to the engine
When they are going to take the roller out, Jo gets up at 6.30am to light the fire. This is done in the same way as lighting a fire at home. The system has to be allowed to warm up slowly, taking approximately 2½ hours to reach working pressure. “For me, this is the best part of the day,” says Jo. “I love being alone with the engine. It speaks to me as it gradually warms up.” “You have to be able to listen to the engine and understand its language,” says David. Just as a pan of water on a stove or a
kettle make different noises as they are heated up, so too does a steam engine. The difference is that, in the engine, a new set of sounds are heard as the pressure mounts. Preparations are at their most intensive at the start of the season. At this time, everything has to be tested to make sure it is all in good working order. Before any outing, there are many hours of work to do. The brasses have to be polished, especially the proud emblem that goes on the front of the engine. All the moving parts need to be oiled, the tank filled with water and the bunker on the footplate filled with coal. The two old oil lamps are brought from storage and fixed in place. Running a steamroller is an expensive and time-consuming hobby, so enthusiasm and passion are needed in huge quantities. More than anything else, the Hurley family are aware they are preserving a precious heritage. Recently, they took part in what was an emotional reunion. At a rally at Quorn, all three former Leicester County Council engines were together for the first time in 50 years. “It put a lump in the throat,” says David. “It just goes to show these old engines are making history, even now.” Thanks to the enthusiasm of families like the Hurleys, they will continue to do so well into the future.