Fowler Steam Roller Restoration - No 16003 Rolls Again

[@robwilde855]

Very very enjoyable. Not least for being reminded of human qualities that seem to be diminishing. Certainly very few these days would undertake such a project like this, mostly in the open, with only hand tools, and no electricity. Very impressive. Thank you.

[@neildelaney5199]

This is true history,,50 years old where have all the years gone? i hope mr Burge is still with us or at least lived to a great old age, many thanks

[@djjudas21]

Arthur sadly died just over a year ago, but he was active in his workshop right up until the end. He gave up working on full-size large steam engines when his children were born 30 years ago, but in recent years he build from scratch a number of smaller steam and electric engines varying between 5" and 12" gauge. The last model he completed before he died was a 5" model of a 1910 London Underground carriage with electric motors, which is now displayed proudly in my living room (I'm Arthur's son-in-law). The incomplete projects (including a 7.25" American 4-4-0 loco and a 12" Union Pacific Big Boy boiler) were sold to people with the skills and time to finish them - nothing was wasted as Arthur would definitely have haunted me for that!

[@neildelaney5199]

@@djjudas21 Thank you very much for the reply, glad to hear Mr Burge lived a long life still interested in steam and tinkering in his workshop, also sad he is no longer with us, i would have loved to have met him , a very clever and interesting man indeed, once again thank you

[@eliotreader8220]

@@djjudas21 this reminds me of the time I looked over someone's old Mamod steam roller. when it was brought over to me it was in a bad state due to being covered in Dust but I cleaned it up and freed up the piston. it was missing the water sight plug but this had been replaced with a bolt. the driving lever was bent but the washers underneath the whistle and safety valve was all right. there was no tender but it did have the burner tray because of this discovery I steamed up the boiler but the engine didn't want to run due to the handle needing replacement but the whistle worked beautifully. the owner was a bit annoyed that it wouldn't go he gave me five euros for the work.

[@zeddboy46]

I found this film fascinating. Arthur shows great skill, confidence and determination in many ways not seen very often these days. I expect the engine is still in good shape today and of considerably increased value, as are the attributes of Mr. Burge. I hope he still enjoys the engine today and I am so pleased that the restoration was filmed so imaginatively. I am very pleased to have discovered it here, many thanks.

[@stephenrice4554]

Very good video , good detail and story . Well done 👍🇬🇧

[@RichardGMoss]

What a labour of love. So glad that he decided to film it.

[@TheGWR0-4-0]

Thanks for uploading this, really enjoyed it

[@celstonesonsvintagemachine6311]

I love this video this is probably the 4th time I’ve watched it over the past few years and it never seems to get old to me thank you for shearing

[@Tubeplate1]

Great film , wish there were more like it . Fowler 16003 still exists today .

[@Burrell871]

an amazing film and an enjoyable 40 minutes. thanks for sharing it!

[@derekferguson385]

A fascinating film. Well done everyone involved.

[@marshall31889]

A gem of a video thanks for sharing it

[@lauriefielder8762]

Thank you for sharing your incredible feat.

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Just found your channel and Subscribed. Very nice work

[@jakecole3072]

Thanks for sharing this Arthur :-) Charlotte

[@thecaptain4829]

He made it look so easy

[@scottwakeling1427]

A pleasure to watch almost 50 years later. I've been looking for a good steam restoration video. Can you recommend any others?

[@trevordeane3940]

Great video with many good references and time taken to explain things to the non-steam person. Arthur was a brave man taking on the restoration without a proper workshop and the main engine outside. Although I suspect from the video that the firebox had already been replaced and the boiler was sound, just about every other part was painstakingly rebuilt by Arthur. I wonder who owns the roller now?

[@djjudas21]

Arthur was my father-in-law. He once explained to me that he fabricated and fitted the replacement firebox himself, did the whole restoration - and then dismantled it again so his friend could film him reassembling it!

[@eliotreader8220]

watching this made me remember the time that someone gave me his Mamod steam roller for me to repair and i spent all the afternoon restoring it to working order while i managed to steam it up and blow the steam whistle the owner of the engine was a bit sad that i could not actually get it working again because the engine needed a new valve handel because the original one was damaged at some point

[@cyrex686]

Nice to see the process. What is the roller's current status? I can't seem to find much about it on the web.

[@foerterfarm]

great video, does the roller still exist?

[@tomlewendon4563]

What is the registration so I can find it on steam scenes

[@tomlewendon4563]

thanks

[@machiningbasics1729]

That’s not it but this is www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/552011

[@tomlewendon4563]

do they still have the roller in there family

[@djjudas21]

supreme steam fair Sadly not- it was sold in the 70s or 80s I think