HISTORY 

The story of our engine began at the Steam Plough Works in Leeds where it was constructed by the renowned engine builders of John Fowler & Co. Ltd. Official records show that the engine, carrying the works number of 15813, was despatched in April 1921. Although this is the date that it was 'officially' recorded as being built it is likely that many of the components were made before this date, although as time has passed by it would be virtually impossible to document and date everything.

The engine was classed as a DN1, and had a NHP of 6 and a weight of 10tons. Obviously once fully constructed laden with coal and a full tank of water the engine would have weighed more but for official records and classification, 10 tons was its allotted weight.

Once leaving the Steam Plough Works the engine was delivered to Skipton Urban District Council, which is in the West Riding area of North Yorkshire. 15813 enjoyed a good if hard working life here before being sold to a West Yorkshire contractor named Joshua Rodgers who was located at South Crosland in West Yorkshire. We recently reunited the original Owners Plate with the engine thanks to Mr Harry Rodgers.

The engine remained in the West Yorkshire area for a good number of years, moving through a succession of owners. From the Rodgers outfit it moved to EL Wade of Oxspring, then to Regent Diesels Ltd of Leeds and then ending its working life and entering preservation with Keith Collins of Glasshoughton, again in West Yorkshire. It was with Mr Collins that the engine first acquired it's name of 'Elsie', which it still unofficially carries to this day.

With the old girl first being registered in Leeds it is appropriate that she carries the Yorkshire registration number of WR 8965. She also carries the Leeds coat of arms, or 'Owls' as do many Fowler engines. An interesting bit of information I was told concerning the 'Owls' is that only Yorkshire registered engines have them on the headstock. All others, although built in Leeds carry the coat of arms (if at all) on the side of the engine. I am sure if this is fact or folklore, but as Fowlers were proud of their Yorkshire base and workforce I would tend to think that the pride element may well be very true.

After a brief time with the Parrott family 15813 left the beautiful surrounds of North, West & South Yorkshire for the first time and became the property of a Mr Butler of Appleford in Oxon. Unfortunately Mr Butler never actually got the opportunity to get the engine home so to speak and I don't know if he actually ever event steamed it in his ownership or not. What I do know is that he has had a drive though.

He actually approached us at a Fairford Rally one year and told us he was a onetime owner and after telling us he had never actually got it home, we promptly pushed him onto the footplate and took him for a very long spin around the event site.   To say he was overjoyed at this is an understatement. It was a pretty emotional moment for him and his son to say the least.

After being in Mr Butlers brief ownership the engine moved further South to a Mr Francis Titmarsh of Wickford, Essex before finally moving to the South West of England when Roy and Mary MacLellan of Stroud in Gloucestershire purchased the engine.

It was whilst being in the ownership of the MacLellan family that I first became involved with the engine. I used to help Roy and his son Jamie with it, and am indebted to both for teaching me so much about not just this particular machine but working on road engines in general.

It's funny really that for many years I had watched engines all over the place from behind a camera lens (pictures dotted all over this site), but it wasn't until I hit my thirties I actually got the real opportunity to learn and get my hands dirty.

My father had spent many years working with Roy's father Angus 'Mac' on his engines and with Richard Willcox on some of his collection. Dad and Mac spent a few years working in an industrial boiler house together and had a reputation for building models during the nightshift. Someone said once to me "those are the only two buggers I know who go to work with a pile of tin and come home with a steam engine".

After a few years with Roy he decided that he fancied a bit of a change and purchased a 3 speed Burrell from Richard Willcox. As part of the arrangement we purchased 'Elsie' and so the learning curve really did begin.

Since we have had the custodianship of the engine, we have travelled many miles and learnt a lot of things we should have already known, but the best way to learn is on the job and that is exactly what we have done.

Our biggest learning curve was when the engine needed some serious work, which necessitated a complete rebuild, more of which will be added in due course.

For now though that the engines history of owners, past and present. If you have any pictures or stories from any period of the engines time we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Matt S (April 2009)