Steam Engine buffs?

[Ossie]

Do we have any steam engine enthusiasts in the forum? Any idea where this picture was taken? My great grandfather had this photo taken (although he is not in it) but I would love to know the name of the company on the side of the wagon and the engine.



Any ideas?

[Les]

Well Ossie,
I would say that it said 'Pillgrim' on the side of the traction unit. It was almost certainly a removals outfit because I can make out the word 'Repository' on the side of the trailer,
And as has been discussed recently on another thread Pilgrims were removal contractors.

[savagethegoat]

steam lorry looks like a Fowler to me but im not an expert on railless steamers

[OLDMAN]

I agree with Les, although when blown up I thinks it’s Depositary as the D and R look different

Cannot make out the engine name but there is some lettering on the side by the ‘door’ you can make out R. ?. ?. ?. G.R.R. behind the fellows head.

Sadly my knowledge traction engine friend passed away so cannot ask – anyone remember the one being restored, sat in a garden along the Wokingham rd opposite / just past Earley station, that was his!

[Les]

I have to say that it looks as though that traction unit had seen better days when the photo was taken. It is actually a lorry isn't it?

[driftwood]

I would imagine that my mother-in-law is sat in the front passenger seat

[Les]

[chaspooter]

Fowlers of Leeds did produce overtype steam lorries but they were pretty rare. More likely than not it was a Foden. They built 00s at Sandbach, Cheshire. The book on the subject is Ronald H Clarke's Development of the English Steam Waggon, Wildgoose,Norwich.

[Bam]

I have no ref earlier than 1938/39 when they were called Pilgrim ( Contractors) Ltd. at 76 Pell St and also Katesgrove Lane.

Looking at the state of that steam lorry, it could still have been in use by then but I would not want to stand too close to the boiler.