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Awards and Loans

The Trust offers financial assistance to individuals or groups to carry through restoration or improvement projects to completion. The Trust also invites enquiries about sponsoring one or more Awards.

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Alan Moore Award

1916  Ganges class 0-6-0Ts locomotive

 

Hudswell Clarke built about 50 of its Ganges class 0-6-0Ts for use on the War Department light railways in France but this particular example, No.1238, was acquired by the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in what is now Ghana at its Obuasi mine. (Fig.1) There it worked for about 40 years until a tragic accident in 1948 when a washout caused by a violent rainstorm resulted in the loco and its train sliding into a swamp, killing the driver. (Fig.2) In 1996, a British geologist working for the mining company discovered 1238 still in the swamp and recovered it for display at the mine after some cosmetic restoration. In 2008, it was repatriated and offered to the Moseley Railway Trust whose volunteers have been working on it ever since, using as many original parts as possible, although obviously the deterioration caused by half a century of immersion has necessitated the manufacture of a fair number of components. Fortunately a parcel of the original manufacturers drawings were located in the archive at Statfold Barn. When completed, 1238 will work on the Moseley Trust’s Apedale Valley Railway. (Fig.3)

 

Peter Allen Award

1916 Thornycroft Coastal Motor Boat CMB9

Robert Morley of Bristol for his restoration of Coastal Motor Boat CMB9, a rare survivor of a class of 39 single screw vessels commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1916 to meet the need for a fast light shallow draft “hit & run” torpedo carrier. 40ft long and of double diagonal mahogany construction, CMB9 was built by Thornycroft for the Royal Navy at Hampton-on-Thames. The class carried a single 18in. torpedo launched tail first from a trough on the stern, the up-to-40 knot capability of the vessels being relied upon to steer clear of the torpedo’s path immediately after discharge. CMB9 was decommissioned in 1933 and was then purchased by Sir Malcolm Campbell who is believed to have upgraded the vessel to twin screw. Two other CMBs survive in museums but Robert Morley’s restoration will create the only ocean-going vessel of the Class. (Fig.4)

 

Ron Wilsdon Award

1950 Invicta Black Prince drophead

(Figs.5/6) Makers of prestige cars in the 1930s, Invicta, based in Virginia Water, declined in the immediate pre-war years, virtually its final flourish being the post-war manufacture of 16 Black Prince cars which preceded the company’s liquidation in 1950. The vehicle in question is one of only four of that marque with Jensen bodywork and, like most Invictas, was lavishly equipped with complex engineering combining advanced technology with some obsolete pre-war concepts. Michael Laflin’s project has necessitated extensive and expensive work including a virtual rebuild of the original 3-litre Meadows engine, and the prospect of once again seeing this elegant vehicle at rallies and events is exciting indeed.

 

David Muirhead Award

1885 Horse Tramcar No.23

Edinburgh Horse Tram Trust for its recovery and re-building of Horse Tramcar No.23, built by Edinburgh Street Tramways in 1885. The body had been used as a garden shed for over a century (Fig.7) and, although significant restoration has been necessary, corrugated iron roofing had provided reasonable protection from the elements over the years. Wheel sets, brakegear, etc. were recovered from an ex-Douglas horse tram and the vehicle’s restoration has been carried out at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond where the tram will be on display when work has been completed. (Fig.8)

 

Restoration awards

 

1931 Lyeland Lion LT2 single-decker bus

Three PSV restoration projects were award winners – a Leyland Lion of 1931, a Guy Arab with 1953 bodywork on a chassis built ten years earlier, and a 1962 Dennis ‘Loline’ III. l William Ashcroft of Preston has rebuilt his ex-Ribble Motor Services Lion LT2 petrol engined single-decker with Leyland coachwork over a seven year period from a bare chassis using as much material as could be rescued from its dereliction. Most of the mechanical parts are original but have been refurbished as necessary. (Fig.9)

 

1943/1953 Guy Arab bus/coach

The Provincial Society’s Guy Arab bus/coach is superficially a standard double-decker for general service use but the body by Reading & Co. of Portsmouth has the capability of roof removal and, after the installation of handrails, operating on open-top summer sea front services or similar. (Fig.10)

 

1962 Dennis ‘Loline’ III bus

Ray Le Mesurier-Foster was for many years a driver with Aldershot & District Traction Company (A&D) and, on retirement, set up The A&D Omnibus Rescue & Restoration Society and purchased 462 EOT with bodywork by Alexanders of Falkirk, one of the buses he had driven when working. His meticulous restoration over a fifteen year period has been a virtually singlehanded operation. (Fig.11)

 

1898 Truscott Motor Launch "Z"

Nottingham based Richard Barthrop’s award winning restoration of an extremely rare Truscott Motor Launch of 1898, with the curious name ‘Z’, has only been achieved after a great deal of detective work on his part. The Burnham-on-Crouch Motor Company imported a number of these vessels from the U.S. and this particular vessel is understood to have raced on the River Crouch in the early 1900s. Four or five Truscotts are believed to have survived in their country of origin and there is one in a museum in Munich. Richard purchased Z’s hull, constructed of swamp cypress, in 2005 and, after extensive enquiries, was able to track down and acquire a Lozier single cylinder petrol engine of the same type which originally powered Truscott launches. However, he was unable to source essential spares so his meticulous rebuild of the engine has necessitated replication of some components using an original Lozier catalogue as a guide. (Figs.12/13)

 

1912 25ft gaff rigged yawl White Cloud

Leslie Weeks’ 25ft gaff rigged yawl was built of pitch pine on elm frames at Teignmouth by Gann & Palmer The yawl was acquired in 2007, and its virtually single-handed restoration by Leslie, who is a retired handicraft teacher, is now approaching completion. (Figs.14/15)

 

Rivetted narrowboats Arbour & Gaia

Greg Klaes has a smallholding alongside the Oxford Canal and is restoring a pair of working riveted narrow boats, Arbour (the motorised vessel) and Gaia, its butty, which he intends using commercially to take produce to his customers in London. This is a superb project by a dedicated owner committed to reducing energy consumption, and was considered worthy of an award which will go towards new flooring and a cabin fit-out. (Fig.16)

 

1939/40 Commer/Merryweather Aerodrome fire/crash tender

Brooklands Museum received an award for the return to working condition of its Commer/Merryweather Aerodrome fire/crash tender. Most of its working career was with Vickers Armstrong Supermarine Aircraft Ltd, firstly at Hursley Park, then South Marston and latterly in retirement at Brooklands. Engine and gearbox restoration are awaited while bodywork and electrics will be renewed by the museum’s volunteers. (Fig.17)

 

1914 Bradbury motorcycle

 

Duncan Fish of Minehead is a regular rider at Vintage Motor Cycle Club events and was awarded for his restoration of a rare 1914 Bradbury machine, BE 4586, a 750cc ‘V’ twin which was advanced for its time, having kick start, 3-speed gearbox, chain drive and rear hub brake. Bradburys were based in Oldham and manufactured motorcycles with sidecars for War Department use in the First World War but the company did not survive the post war depression. (Fig.18)

 

19th Century Showman’s Living Van

Built by William Brayshaw & Sons of Yeadon who began as blacksmiths and wheelwrights towards the end of the 19th century and then expanded to become the leading builder of living vans for travelling fairgrounds. Essex based Mark Vine’s van was used for its original purpose until the 1990s and his careful restoration will see the decorative interior authentically restored to its “palace on wheels” quality and the vehicle will be towed to rallies and events behind his Scammell Highwayman. (Figs.19/20)

 

1934 LNER Gresley Restaurant Car

The Severn Valley Railway Rolling Stock Trust’s Restaurant Car No.7960 dates from 1934  The mechanical and bodywork overhaul of 7960 is now complete but the award will go toward the cost of re-instating the pantry and kitchen which will be modern replicas matching original LNER drawings with the modifications required to comply with current health requirements. On completion, the coach will form part of the railway’s Dining Train. (Fig.21)

 

1936 LNER Gresley Trourist Open 3rd class carriage

TTO 60505 belongs to Mark Thompson, Chairman of the Stainmore Railway.Mark Thompson’s vehicle was built at York in 1936 and is thought to be a unique survivor of a slightly shorter-than-standard class of Gresley coach intended mainly for use by day excursion traffic to resorts such as Blackpool. The coach is well on its way to being fully operational but there is a need for completion of internal detailing. (Figs.22/23)

 

1869 GER Horsebox

Mid-Suffolk Light Railway was among the winners for its work on a GER Horsebox of 1869. (Fig.24) The body was rescued from a field and is almost certainly the only surviving example of a pre-grouping horsebox. A suitable underframe has been adapted to the correct dimensions, obtained from original plans supplied by the NRM. The Mid-Suffolk operated two such vehicles in the early 1900s and this restoration accords with its policy of recreating the authentic original atmosphere of the line where possible.

 

1916 Wallis Cub Junior tractor

Three generations of the West family have an impressive collection of vintage tractors at their base near Canterbury and their latest project, to bring back to operational condition a threewheeler Wallis Cub Junior tractor dating from 1916, received an award. There are only three known examples of this U.S. built vehicle in the U.K. and major work has been necessary, including complete overhaul of engine, gearbox and axle assembly and new wheel spokes. The family has itself undertaken as much of this work as possible and has traced and acquired some original components. Their vehicles appear regularly at many events across the country including the Great Dorset Steam Fair. (Figs.25/26)

 

1911 Steam Pinnace 199 

The Pinnace, now the property of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, was built at Cowes in 1911 as a picket boat for HMS Monarch and subsequently became used as an extremely smart Admiral’s Barge. It received the Trusts's Award as assistance towards essential maintenance necessary for continuing operation(Fig.27)

 

1955 sludge vessel SS Sheildhall

A sludge carrying-vessel on the Clyde, built there as late as 1955 but to a 1900's design, she continued a Glasgow Corporation tradition of carrying organised parties of passengers in summer months when not engaged in taking sewage sludge out to sea for disposal. (Fig.28) It is hoped that the Award will enable the vessel to resume its usual seasonal passenger carrying roles on Solent.

 

1935 Tatra T57a Sport Roadster

David Pounder for his outstanding restoration and research into the history of his extremely rare 1935 Tatra T57a Sport Roadster. This car, which is of an unique design with backbone chassis comprising a single tube and full independent suspension, is the only known example in the U.K. and there are very few in the Czech Republic. David, a retired art college lecturer, has put together a fascinating glossy visual diary of his work on the car containing well over 200 coloured photographs, an object lesson for restorers. His research has established that the car’s first owner was Captain Felix Ryl, a Polish diplomat at that country’s Prague Embassy and who in 1940 was Polish Consul in Nice. By some means, he was able to escape to the UK from occupied France with his car which he registered in Blackpool in 1941 as BFV 165. Felix Ryl served with the RAF for the rest of the war, retiring in 1949 and subsequently moving to the USA to work with Pan Am. At that stage, the Tatra was sold and passed through various ownerships until David’s purchase in 1996, the car having lain unused in a garage for the previous 36 years. (Fig.29 – an iconic poster of the period.)

 

Highly Commended Awards

 

1913 Narrow boat Lapwing

Based at Paddington basin and operates as a trip boat on the Regents Canal but owner Robert Shackleford is undertaking major works vital for renewal of its passenger carrying licence for next year. It dates from 1913 and was one of the earliest narrow boats designed for oil propulsion, built by Fellows, Morton & Clayton, boat builders and canal hauliers of Birmingham, with a Bolinder engine (which has now been replaced by a Lister). (Fig.30)

 

1897/8 Daimler

Recognises an outstanding new-build replica by Fairbourne Carriages of Harrietsham who have created an authentic Marseilles Phaeton body mounted an original 1897/8 Daimler chassis, one of the earliest British-built internal combustion driven chassis in existence.

 

The National Transport Trust makes loans to groups, associations and individuals at advantageous rates for the restoration of artefacts - whether mobile or part of the infrastructure.  Applications must be supported by a simple business plan which demonstrates the financial viability of the project. A sample business plan is available on request from the Treasurer.

 

The Trust does occasionaly make Awards for schemes which further the preservation movement. Again if you wish further information please contact the Treasurer.

 

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National Transport Trust, Old Bank House, 26 Station Approach, Hinchley Wood, Esher, Surrey KT10 0SR