THE 10th National Historical Machinery Association rally was held in perfect weather on 11-13 March at Naracoorte, Victoria, Australia, reports Roger Hamlin.

Half-a-dozen full-size engines were in steam on the grass, which had browned under the extremes of temperature. The organisers had been given special dispensation to allow them on the rally field.

A Marshall ‘bitsa’ - this engine has received many parts from other engines, including Fowler and Clayton & Shuttleworth.

Only the second time out from the museum where it is kept, Fowler Z7 ploughing engine No 14660 George William was making an impression. The Cobdogla Steam Friends Society also owns Fowler Z7 No 15852, but it needs a lot of work yet. No 14660 was found by the group in Barmera. Some local enthusiasts had grit blasted it and, when found, the con rods were missing, but were eventually located in the National Trust Museum, which passed them back to the group who were restoring it. In 1990, it was towed by another engine into the group’s workshops. An initial boiler survey was carried out and revealed that no internal repairs were required. The firebox stays were drilled out and replaced and the boiler was tested to 270lb psi. Some plugs and safety valves were replaced, while work continued to the top of the boiler. Work was undertaken on the bearing journals and winch motion, and parts were fabricated in-house for those that were missing.
In April 2004 it was steamed up and taken back to Cobdogla under her own power - the first road trip under her own steam in 81 years. Robbie Osborne has been responsible for the running of the Z7 and the engine did him credit at this rally.
A Marshall road loco of 1923 in attendance was originally a road roller, converted in Wangonella after spending all its working life with a local council. It is now owned by K Lord, who purchased it in 1960. It was low loaded from Hayfield, Victoria for this event. This engine has received many parts from other engines; the front axle is Clayton & Shuttleworth, as is the smokebox, and the front wheels are from a Fowler.

Yorkshire wagon No 35 of 1903, now with the Booleroo Steam & Traction Society – the oldest known-surviving example.

Yorkshire steam wagon No 35 was found at the rear of the premises of BHP Steelworks in Wyella 35 years ago, and is now in the possession of the Booleroo Steam & Traction Society. Dated 1903, it is believed to be the oldest-surviving product of the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co in the world. There is also another, later model, in South Australia but it is believed not to be running at the moment.
The Miles family has a large collection of steam engines in New Zealand and they also have a couple based in Australia, at Lake Goldsmith. They purchased Burrell road loco No 2949 in 1994 and a lot of work was required to bring it up to standard. The three-speed engine only comes out about three times a year.
Flying the flag for Australian-built engines at the rally was a Cowley 6hp traction engine, built at the Eureka Ironworks, Ballarat, in 1916. The last steam traction engine made in Australia, and the only one restored to working order, it was acquired by the Scienceworks Museum of Spotswood, Victoria, in 1988 and restoration was started by the museum group. It was reboilered in 1989.

The Cowley, built at Ballarat in 1916. This was the last steam traction engine to be built in Australia.

Owned by J Bartells of Malden, is a Tuxford 4hp portable engine. Its year of build is unknown. This engine would have originally had the usual type of short firebox, but a longer firebox would have been an advantage for burning wood. Possibly, by 1921, it would have been in need of a new firebox, hence the conversion. Work to the wheels was carried out at the Pioneer Village, Ballarat, and this engine has only ever been out a couple of times.
Fowler 8hp double-crank compound engine No 17210 of 1929 is owned by David Smith. It came to Australia from new and stayed with the agents until sold 10 years later. At the start of WWII, Braybrook City Council purchased it for local work, and after the war was sold on to a contractor, who only used it on the odd occasion. He then sold it to a farmer, who held onto it until just five years ago. All the main parts are still original.
With all of the visiting engines being wood-burners, there was not much smoke created, Red Gum being the preferred choice of enginemen. The Fowler Z7 being quite unique as the back of the wood cage folds down to make loading easier!
A lovely rally – and if you need a fix of traction engines under blue skies in March, then this is the one!

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