Richard Hobbs

A steam engine, Land Rover, motorbike (and more!) web site, blog, photo album and video gallery by Richard Hobbs!
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Browsing Posts in Steam Engines

A day up the steam yard with the Sentinel

March 17, 2012

With the 2012 rally season on the horizon, I have finally made my way to the steam yard again to catch up on progress on the Sentinel steam waggon “Vectis Knight”!

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As you can see above, things are back together and it is in steam!

Back in October, however, the boiler was out. It wasn’t steaming properly and it was time for the boiler to be split and put back together anyway.

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Above you can see the inner part of the boiler which is put inside the outer part, seen below.

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The tubes seen on the inside part contain the water and steam and the fire exists within the inner part of the boiler with the flames going around the outside of the tubes, hence why the water tubes criss-cross on the inside of the inner part (seen below).

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Below you can see how bad the limescale has got after several years of steaming. This obviously hinders the heat transfer, which was the cause for it not steaming particularly well at times.

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So anyway… back to now! As mentioned, the Sentinel is back together again and is in steam!

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You can see here that the front-end is still missing. This was removed because the boiler comes out through the front. Needless to say, it will be put back on shortly.

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You can see below the pressure at 170 psi or so, getting close to it’s maximum, later showing that it is perfectly capable of containing the pressure that is required for it to run!

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Finally, to end this blog post, below is a video of “Vectis Knight” in steam on this day!

If you cannot see the video above, you can watch it on Youtube here: A pre-rally steam-up on Sentinel Super “Vectis Knight”

I will keep you updated on its progress as the rally season approaches as best I can (time permitting, of course)!



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Can you guess what this steam engine owner’s tool is?

March 8, 2012

Here’s a challenge!

What do you think this is for?

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Here’s your first clue…
Its owner also has a Sentinel Super steam waggon… this tool could be useful to other steam engine owners though.

Below is a close-up of one end…

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And here is a close-up of the other end…

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Here’s your second clue…
The threaded part (seen above) is threaded for no reason. The thread was already there before it was converted into the tool it is now.

Any ideas yet?

Here’s your third, and final, clue…
Note the shiny part in the last photo and the tapered end. There’s nothing special about it – just be aware that it’s there!

So… what do you think it’s for?

Post your answers in the Comments Section and I’ll let you know by email or Facebook whether you got it right!



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A Journey On-Board a Steam Roller – 2011 Steam Videos Part 10

February 11, 2012

This is last part of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see a journey on board Darren Swain’s Aveling & Porter Steam Roller “Sally” to and from Great Chesterford Steam-Up 2011.

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – A Journey On Board Steam Roller “Sally” to Great Chesterford Steam Up 2011

If you liked this video, you can also:



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Barco Portable Gasoline Hammer Demonstration – 2011 Steam Videos Part 9

February 4, 2012

This is Part 9 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see a Barco Portable Gasoline Hammer being demonstrated at Kettering Vintage Rally and Steam Fayre 2011.

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Barco Portable Gasoline Hammer and Warsop Benjo Power Rammer at Kettering Vintage Steam Rally 2011

Also in this video is another Warsop Benjo Power Rammer (as seen in Part 3 of this series).

The Barco Portable Gasoline Hammer operated at a much higher frequency than the Warsop Benjo and is therefore more like today’s jack-hammers. It could also be fitted with various implements such as a stamping “foot” or a blade for cutting through tarmac or other surfaces.

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Remote Control Model Tanks and Military Vehicles – 2011 Steam Videos Part 8

January 28, 2012

This is Part 8 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see scaled-down remote control tanks and other military vehicles at Kettering Vintage Rally and Steam Fayre 2011.

This one isn’t strictly steam-engine related, but it was filmed at a steam-event, so here it is!

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Remote Control Model Tanks and Military Vehicles at Kettering Vintage Rally and Steam Fayre 2011

It’s quite hard to tell from this video, but a lot of work goes into these models – they are typically powered by wheelchair motors and wheelchair batteries, I believe, and the tanks are generally way too heavy for one person to lift.

They are all-metal, complete with sound effect units and smoke generators for the exhaust pipes and generally the gun turrets rotate and elevate and either have sound effect units in themselves or small “blanks” which are fired.

If you liked this video, you can also:



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An Evening Road Run the the Pub! – 2011 Steam Videos Part 7

January 21, 2012

This is Part 7 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see an evening road run on Aveling & Porter steam tractor “Margaret” leaving Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre 2011 to pop along to the local pub. “Margaret” had her usual trailer behind her with several of us in it for the journey and the weather was truly awful!

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Road Run To The Pub from Bedfordshire Steam Rally and Country Fayre 2011

Thanks to Bob Jakes for letting us travel on his engine, and thanks to Pete and Michael for driving and steering us there and back!

There’s an interesting article on “Margaret” here: Aveling Tractor Margaret – Old Glory Magazine.

If you liked this video, you can also:



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Steam Ploughing Demonstration – 2011 Steam Videos Part 6

January 14, 2012

This is Part 6 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see ploughing how it used to be done – with steam! This video was shot at Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre 2011, held at Old Warden Park with the Shuttleworth Collection.

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Steam Ploughing Demonstration at Bedfordshire Steam Rally and Country Fayre 2011

For those that don’t know, ploughing engines are different to what you might recognise as a “standard” traction engine in that they are typically much longer, have larger boilers and have a winch mounted in the middle underneath for pulling the winch back across the field.

Ploughing is done by placing one engine at either end of the field, each connected to the plough with a wire rope. One engine pulls the plough across the field towards itself with the winch while the other engine let’s the winch free-wheel out as much cable as needed. The “receiving” engine then blows the whistle briefly to signal that the distant engine can begin to winch the plough back again.

As this process continues, each engine moves forward while the plough is stopped so the plough can be dragged across unploughed parts of the field.

You can read more about steam ploughing or join the club on the Steam Plough Club web site!

If you liked this video, you can also:



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Vintage Road Making and Rolling Demonstration – 2011 Steam Videos Part 5

January 7, 2012

This is Part 5 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see some old-style vintage road making.

Melvyn’s 1927 Sentinel ‘Super’ Tipper Waggon “Vectis Knight” (as seen in Part 2 of this series) is being filled with rubble, driven a short distance to where the new road is being made and then tipping the rubble at a fairly constant rate onto the new surface.

The rubble is then being roughly flattened out by hand by Martin and a couple of others before the Jennings Brothers’ Aveling & Porter roller “Lady of the Manor” rolls over it to crush it down and flatten it out permanently.

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Vintage Road Making and Rolling Demonstration at Haddenham Steam Rally 2011

For those of you who do not know, this is how road rolling works with a steam roller… and i’m writing this because I only actually thought about it at a rally this year and was told by someone else that this is how it works, so it’s time to share what i’ve learned with others! :-)

The large “heavy-looking” front roller primarily serves the purpose of steering the engine. Most of the actual rolling capability comes from the rear rollers. This is because most of the engine’s weight is at the rear and the rear rollers are much narrower than the front, so they put a lot more “crushing” force down onto the surface.

With the assumptions that a roller weighs, let’s say 10 tons (22400 lb) with 70% of the weight over the rear wheels and each rear wheel 16 inches wide, the force being put down onto the surface could be between 245 and 490 psi (assuming the contact area is between 1 and 2 inches x the width of the rear wheels). This works out at between 17 and 34 kg per square centimeter for the metric folk among us!

As the roller drives over the surface for the first time both of the rear rollers flatten out the part they are rolling over. The roller then reverses direction and rolls the surface again with the rear rollers half over the surface they just rolled and half over a new patch. This effectively doubles the pressure put on the new surface, but by only moving half a wheel width to one side it brings the new surface in line with the old surface rather then potentially crushing it below the level of the surface that has just been rolled, thereby overall giving a nice flat surface!

If you liked this video, you can also:



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Dr Busker in the beer tent! – 2011 Steam Videos Part 4

December 31, 2011

This is Part 4 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

As it’s New Year’s Eve it’s time for some musical entertainment!

In this episode you will see Dr Busker and The Wild Rovers performing in the beer tent on Saturday night at Haddenham Steam Rally 2011.

The songs are hilarious, but be warned – there is a little bad language featured in some of the songs…

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Dr Busker and The Wild Rovers Playing at Haddenham Steam Rally 2011

You can read more about the group here: Dr. Busker and the Wild Rovers.

If you liked this video, you can also:



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Warsop Benjo Power Rammer Demonstration – 2011 Steam Videos Part 3

December 24, 2011

This is Part 3 of the 10-part “2011 Steam Videos” series showing you some of the more specific videos I have produced over the 2011 steam rally season, focusing on some particular exhibits, displays and events in or around the steam rallies themselves.

In this episode you will see a demonstration of a vintage trench rammer at Haddenham Steam Rally. This particular model is a “Benjo” made by Warsop and was designed for packing down backfill put into trenches, hence the name “trench rammer”.

If you cannot see the video above, you can view it directly on Youtube here: Youtube – Warsop Benjo Power Rammer Demonstration at Haddenham Steam Rally 2011

You can read a fascinating article about Warsop here: The History of Warsop and its Machines by Donald G. Whiting.

Thanks to Fairport Construction Equipment Ltd., who now encompasses Warsop, for hosting the document too!

If you liked this video, you can also:



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