Colin Tyson went to see a very special Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies traction engine that has just been restored in Ireland. It is the only surviving convertible engine from this builder, it is the only Ransomes-designed roller built at their Ipswich works – and is a remarkable survivor in itself for it was once left abandoned on a bog.

Above: Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies convertible traction engine No. 19609 of 1907 parked on John Street, Kilkenny whilst in the ownership of Jeremiah W. Paddle, probably in the early 1920s. Photo: Eddie Grant collection.

IIreland is home to many myths and legends but when it comes to steam traction, one engine stands out for both its rarity and the fact that it is even still with us at all. It was one of those engines that made the hairs on the back of the neck stand up when I first saw it in its owner Tom Sheehan’s yard at his garage in Davidstown, Slieverue in County Kilkenny, a few miles north of Waterford.

Road roller No. 19609 of 1907 was the only Ransomes-designed roller built at the Orwell Works, Ipswich and is their only surviving convertible engine. Based on a 7nhp traction engine, the front roll and saddle could be substituted with wheels and steering and a pair of traction wheels replaced the wide rear roll wheels.

The engine was completed on August 15, 1907 utilising a boiler that was built by Fosters which was dated as being completed on August 2 of the same year.
A Kilkenny engine for all of its life, it was built to the order of one Jeremiah W. Paddle of Castlecomer. Order No. 9532 on the Ransomes order book is for a ‘7nhp traction engine with two speeds, steel chimney and compensating gear, disc flywheel and the usual traction engine fittings before listing the special requirements; Engine fitted with special steering shaft brackets for receiving scraper brackets for rollers. Also three bolts and nuts each side of tender for scraper brackets, special smokebox and door with special casting and 10 bolts and nuts for fixing to front rollers’. It is this special casting, still on the engine, that immediately gives the game away that the engine was designed for converting to a roller.

A separate order (No. 6370) lists ‘Attachments for converting 7hp traction 19609 into road rollar’ (sic) and describes the contents of nine parcels, of which the first included ‘1 steel fork with 2 lamp brackets, pin with brass plug for coupling to centre pin, 2 front rollers with angle irons for steering chains and scrapers to back and front and shaft’ – some parcel!

Jeremiah Paddle certainly used the engine in the roller mode that he had asked for, roadmaking throughout the county, and the engine later passed to its second owners, the Grant brothers of Ballyvarig. The Grants – John Joe, Jim, Tom, Willie and Richie were threshing contractors and operated around Kilkenny and the Waterford area.
The Grant brothers were notorious ‘around these parts’ as I duly found out when in conversation with the locals in the bar at my accommodation when they enquired as to the purpose of my visit. The Grant’s always seemed to operate ‘just on the wrong side of the law’ and were renowned for ‘spending more nights in ditches than they ever did in their beds!’ Being threshing contractors, the brothers didn’t use the engine as a roller – they purchased the roll with its roller fittings but left them in Paddle’s yard and never came back and collected them. John Joe, Jim and Tom were the three of the brothers that actually owned engines, and No. 19609 was John Joe’s engine.




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