A brief History Of The Great Yorkshire Traction Engine Club:
GYTEC: 50 YEARS: Written by David Warren June 2013
The origins of what is now the Great Yorkshire Traction Engine Club go right back to the very beginning of the
traction engine preservation movement in the north of England, when a group of enthusiasts got together to stage a traction engine Derby at Pickering on the evening of Saturday 15th August 1953. This was held on a field in Millers lane, now the site of a housing estate and involved 4 engines which had been on display outside the Black Swan in the town prior to the race. This comprised of at least 3 laps of the field witnessed by good crowds, the eventual result being 1st Clayton & Shuttleworth No 36731 Old Glory, 2nd Marshall No 87003 Surprise, 3rd Marshall No84679 Mary and 4th Marshall No 32092 Black Bess. Spurred on by the success of
this event and the interest it had generated two further Derby’s were staged in 1954 and 1955, by then it had become a bigger affair with around 18 engines involved in a succession of different races, an engine tug-o-war and what had become an annual challenge between Old Glory and 4x Fordson Major tractors, over the best of 3 pulls. The engines + some vintage cars and motor cycles were on exhibition from 2pm, events commencing at 3-30pm and continuing until approx. 8pm, at Burtons field on Thornton Road. A 1956 Derby was planned for the 18th August but was cancelled due to rain thus bringing to an end the Pickering Derby’s.
In 1962 the Pickering Recreation Ground Committee were looking to raise funds, so with the help of local enthusiasts planned the first Pickering Traction Engine Rally, over the second weekend in August, again at Burtons Field. The opening ceremony was performed by Coronation Street stars Harry and Consepta Hewitt, before heading the Grand Parade and taking part in an obstacle race between Jack Hardy’s Aveling & Porter 9228 and Arthur Fearnley’s Fowler 14406 Pandora. On the Sunday they presented awards to exhibitors including a special Daily Mirror Trophy for best engine to Richard Preston [senior] for Lightning II. Other firms providing sponsorship that year included Fodens of Sandbach, Sentinels of Shrewsbury, George Thurlow of Stowmarket and Millers [Oils] of Brighouse who owned Fowler SRL No 14862 Excelsior which was sold soon
after to Monty Thackray and renamed Evening Star. Attending for the first time was a most useful vehicle in the form of Sentinel wagon No 8992 owned by Ernie Liversedge of Doncaster, this had been fitted with a tanker body in 1958 along with a small steam engine from a 1903 Locomobile car to pump water and so was
able to supply engines at this rally, and for many more that followed. It was sold in the 1970s and went to Australia where it remains to this day. 1962 also saw the first steam roller, Fowler No 16851 entered, which had worked for Whitby C.C. Also Herbert Epton was to bring an 89 key Marenghi organ, this involved a mammoth road journey all the way from Lincolnshire behind an old type Fordson Major tractor. Following on from this success the 1963 rally was to be even better with almost 40 engines, two of these, McLaren
Road Locomotive No 1652 Boadicea owned by Steve Neville of Saffron Walden and Burrell No 3657 Morning
Glory belonging to Brian Pitts of Horley, Surrey, making a 3 day road trip from Bedfordshire. Joining Herbert Epton’s organ was the much acclaimed White’s Mammoth Gavioli Show Organ, said to be the largest and finest in the British Isles at the time. This was presented by the Show Organ Preservation Society by courtesy of John Reohorn of Barry Island it is now in private ownership and has been a regular attender at rallies since then. Another smaller Gavioli was to be seen as part of Foster Electric Light Engine No 3643 restored by George Flynn of Durham, this is now part of the Richard Preston’s collection, who is currently the club president. Amongst the ring activities were, setting to a thresher for both tractions and tractors and something that these days might be regarded as rather none P.C., hedge pulling by steam.
Later that year a group of those involved formulated the Pickering Traction Engine Club which was to become what we now know as the G.Y.T.E.C. The principal objects of the club being, to bring together those people who are interested in steam road vehicles and other veteran and vintage vehicles, to preserve steam road and other vehicles and the organisation of rallies for these.
One of the few original members still with us 50 years on is Frank Carrington who was to become the first membership secretary. Monty Thackray who took on that role from him and would later be club president, called up one day asking do you fancy getting yourself an engine? Saying he was going up to Dumfries to see six rollers, four Avelings which as far as he was concerned may as well be cut up, and two Fowlers. Frank said he wanted it down here for a price he could sell it and not lose out; scrap at the time was £10 a ton so said he would pay £70, No16439 was transported to Malton by rail for a further £30 and taken to Monty’s yard. Billie arrived without a chimney so one from an Aveling was fitted. It was filled with water and lit up; the boiler inspector declared he was happy so soon after it was driven home to Pickering. The first part of 1964 saw a club social gathering at Monty’s yard with several engines including Frank’s roller which was still in pink undercoat. The engine can still be seen at rallies today but in showman’s style following conversion in 1986 after Frank had parted with it. The rally programme that year listed over 50 engines including Fowler No14948 Prince of Wales which had worked for threshing contractors Turners of Lazonby, it had been made into a showman’s engine by owner Ted Meadowcroft over the preceding winter for which he would receive the N.T.E.C. award for best preservation work. Attending for the first time following its acquisition by Charlie Byass was Foster SRL Success along with 89 key Gavioli organ. Burrell Scenic No 4030 Dolphin was also listed having attended the previous years; Steve Neville once again made the trip to Yorkshire with Boadicea. One engine brought to the rally so people could see what engines were like before restoration was Fowler Road
loco No 11111 which had stood derelict out in the open in Lincolnshire for 23 years.
In October of that year Jack Falkinbridge bought a miniature traction engine built by Tom Fisher of Reading in 1948,possibly making it the very first of its kind. Jack, who was actively involved in running the rally, fitted a new chimney and smokebox. Now known as Eskdale it is still active with the Preston family and has had some renovation work this winter.
1965 saw the club organise its first Steam Fair at Castle Howard at the end of May as well as the usual rally held at Pickering, notable engines that year included from Parky Bates of Leadgate, two showman’s engines, Burrell No 3118 Dreadnaught and Fowler No 14588 Enterprise which had just gained showman’s fittings, formally being a road loco Victor. Also present was the Cole brothers Mann steam tractor No 1260 of 1917. By that year no less than 13 rollers were entered compared to just 6 the previous year, showing how much the hobby was developing at the time. A special exhibit was Screeton’s Savage three abreast gallopers, not until the following year did they appear steam driven, making it the first set in preservation to be so powered.
1966 was to see another long distance visitor when Edward Hines brought Burrell Scenic No 3938 Quo Vadis from Shaftesbury. The cover picture on the programme that year was of Robey 4 n.h.p. tractor Village Queen owned by Duke Brewer, which attended all the Pickering rallies.
A further Steam Fair was arranged at Castle Howard on 17th & 18th of June 1967, with a good selection of engines and organs plus vintage fairground rides including Harry Lees steam yachts. Membership secretary by then was Philip Ogden who then owned Burrell No 4032 Firefly; he would later become president. At the Pickering rally in early August were four road locomotives, Burrell No 3395 Dalesman recently rebuilt by John Crowther, Fowler No 9381 which was later restored into its showman’s identity as Lady Betty, No 15462 then with John Connor and the Stafford families No 15649 Providence.
1968 saw Old Glory return as a special guest having been completely renovated, also a surprise arrival was Fowler No 19793 King Carnival II, new to Frank McConville of West Hartlepool as a showman’s engine, it had finished its working life as a heavy haulage engine with John Thompson, Wolverhampton Ltd, just acquired by John Conner it was driven to Pickering from Gower’s at Bedford. Unfortunately on the way home to Bridlington the engine dropped into a pothole near Heslerton on the A64 fracturing the back axle, however within 4 days a replacement was made and fitted with the use of a hydraulic trailer on site and the engine moved on to its complete restoration as built. Pickering rallies continued in the established pattern until 1972 ending when the Recreation Club decided that their fund raising objectives had been achieved. What is now known as Pickering Traction engine rally is a commercial event started at a later date and has no connections to the club past or present.
Under the leadership of Monty Thackray the rally was moved to Castle Howard home of George and Lady
Cecilia Howard, events here ran under the title of the Great Yorkshire Steam Fair. The 73 rally held on 11th& 12th August, saw a fine array of almost 50 engines plus 9 organs, included in these were Fowler R3 showman’s engines Renown, then with Ran Hawthorne of Oxfordshire and Bertha from Levens Hall, Kendal. Making its first ever rally appearance was Yorkshire steam wagon No 117 Pendle Maid following extensive restoration by Tom Varley, he also brought along unique Fowler 3 ton wagon and Sentinel DG6 No. 8562. Tom’s efforts are still remembered annually with the awarding of a trophy for best preservation work. In the fairground were Screeton’s gallopers and Gray’s Coronation Speedway.
Many unusual exhibits were to visit over the years; in 1977 Tom Varley again caused great interest bringing newly restored Atkinson steam wagon which was returned from Australia in scrap condition, also Burrell SRL His Lordship, still regularly seen at club rallies, now with committee member Graham Atkinson. Burrell showman’s Princess Mary was also up from Norfolk.
25 years on, the first Derby was commemorated in 1978 with a road run of 12 engines from Pickering; the first stage of the 14 mile journey was led by the Rockliff
family’s Marshall Surprise, some lively running and friendly rivalry ensured primarily between Monty Thackray and Dick Preston. Almost at the conclusion of the run a misjudgement by the steersman on King Carnival resulted in the engine leaving the road and almost toppling over, wire ropes from other engines prevented this and eventually hauled it back on the road. On the 11th of November that year came the sad news of Monty’s sudden death although son Bob would continue to be involved. Steam fairs continued until 1982, but attendance levels were not maintained and George Howard didn’t wish to continue with the event due to increasing cost.
So under the presidency of Charlie Byass who had been a founder member and served on the committee through the transformation to the Great Yorkshire Traction Engine Club, a move was made to a new home at Driffield. For the next 7 years they ran the Great Yorkshire Traction Engine Rally and Steam Working. Unfortunately most of these suffered from poor weather and low attendance. 1989 saw the celebration of 25 rallies organised by the club, the Silver Jubilee programme also recorded the death of their president just three weeks before the rally.
In 1990 with Philip Ogden as chairman the first rally was arranged at Duncombe Park Helmsley with the family home of Lord and Lady Faversham as a backdrop, which is its home to this day. The quick drying nature of the ground means that the rally has never been stopped due to the weather, but 2001 did see a cancelation due to foot and mouth epidemic. The site offers sufficient room to accommodate the increasing number of related exhibits which have grown as the years have gone on, alongside working demonstrations. 1993 was to see the 40th anniversary of the first Derby celebrated by gathering together, for the first time, the same four engines that had taken part. That year saw the first attendance of Burrell No 2696 The Maori which had then recently returned from New Zealand for restoration by John Smith who would be the clubs next chairman. The current
chairman Mike Gaines- Burrill is also restoring an ex New Zealand road engine, McLaren No 1012 having previously owned Aveling and Porter roller No 12088 Margret.
The club continues to go from strength to strength with annual rallies, dinners and special events as it has over the years, and currently has over 400 members. The club is run by a committee of unpaid members, with any profits made being put back into the club and future Rallies.
The Annual Rally which is held at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, in the 1st weekend of July attracting many exibitors and visitors.
