Sold February 2016 Back to Archive

A 10 ton Wallis & Steevens "Advance" roller, supplied new to the Borough of Torquay in 1926. The impressive hills of that district afforded good publicity shots of this engine at work which Wallis & Steevens used in their advertising at the time.

After a long working life, the engine passed into preservation, undergoing a comprehensive overhaul from 1991 to 1994, at which time the boiler was fitted with new firebox, barrel, tubeplate/tubes, smokebox and ashpan. Re-tubed again in 2002, the engine is in excellent condition throughout - it came to us having last been tested in 2005, we believe it have been little, if ever, used since that time.

The engine has been painted and lined in recent years, the previous owner kept it under cover, cleaned and polished regularly. The original corrugated tin Wallis & Steevens canopy has been lined with a finely made planked inner roof.

Boiler has had its ten year inspection with cladding off followed by hydraulic test - it's in good order. We've had it in steam today for the boiler inspector, it's a nice thing to drive, the geared steering and twin cylinder simple expansion engine making for a very easy to handle machine. Boiler feed is by a pair of Gresham lifting injectors.

Complete with an excellent set of canvas sheets, spares and a good deal of history with photographic record of its rebuild and copy of the original maker's handbook.

Nothing really to do by way of work on this one other than book up for a few rallies and road runs for next year and enjoy it!

Hydraulic test @210psi for 140psi working pressure 1-Oct-2015, valid to 30-Sep-2025
Steam test 2-Oct-2015, valid to 1-Dec-2016