Between the Lines - Issue Twenty
Wood & Water
A song celebrating John Joseph Henry’s
Clayton & Shuttleworth Steam Traction Engine
The Song
In late 2006 Peter Whiley approached us (Chloe Roweth & myself) on
behalf of our local museum; the Golden Memories Museum here in Millthorpe.
He was obviously excited by the museum’s latest acquisition of a
steam traction engine in near original condition and thought a song might
be in order. After seeing the machine and hearing the stories about the
Henry family, Peter’s enthusiasm began to rub off - we realised
that there was an astonishing wealth of yarns and detail here, more than
we could use, and willingly set to work.
At a cost of £500, the engine was a serious investment, and played
a major role in John Henry’s business. Assuming as a proud new owner
that Mr Henry would have enjoyed telling people about his machine, we
chose to write from this angle, expressing an owner’s pride in this
hefty piece of equipment and what it could do. Behind the power of the
engine was an insatiable need for wood and water, the constants in a world
of steam, and from this we drew our chorus. The museum has incorporated
the song into a DVD display alongside the engine itself.
 The Clayton & Shuttleworth Engine just before it's move to the Millthorpe Museum. |
 The Clayton & Shuttleworth Engine as it was during it's working life. |
The Engine
Clayton & Shuttleworth was established in England in 1842. They began
by making iron pipes before branching out into steam powered farming machinery,
tractors, the first British combine harvester, and then military equipment
including howitzers and aircraft during WW1. By 1870 their workforce in
Lincoln was 1,200, they had developed a thriving export trade and were
highly regarded for their quality. Despite these successes the firm failed
in the 1930’s depression years and was taken over by Marshalls of
Gainsborough.
Engine Number 44128 was manufactured in Lincoln in 1911, and exported
to Australia where it was purchased by Frederic Rowlands of “Werribee”
Waugoola, near Cowra in 1912. John Joseph Henry purchased the engine in
1928 entering into a contract for £500 to be paid in yearly instalments
of £50 (plus interest). The engine was driven across country from
the lagoon on the Cowra side of Lyndhurst to Trunkey Creek in one day.
They started out at 7am travelling from waterhole to waterhole and arrived
at 10pm that night.
The engine had only two gears, first gear could achieve 11⁄4 mph
and second 5mph. All the moving parts on the engine had to be oiled, most
parts having their own reservoir that had to be filled twice a day.
The traction engine was used by the Henry family until the 1960s, at various
times driving their saw mill, carting logs for the sawmill, driving a
number of gold stamper batteries around Trunkey Creek, Junction Point,
Blayney, Barry, Neville, even as far as Millthorpe and Forest Reefs areas
and cutting chaff for about 5 months of the year. The engine was also
very effective at clearing timber by attaching a rope to smaller trees
and circle, just as you would with a dozer today. Bigger trees let the
machine come into it’s own - Hook a rope 3 or 4 metres up the tree,
set the steam on winch, and leave the pressure on until the tree’s
roots gave way. It appears they never found a tree that the machine could
not pull down!
The weight of the engine caused some damage to the local roads and threatened
bridges - John Henry apparently never allowed anyone else on the engine
with him when he was crossing a bridge - just in case.
The engine also had its moments of glory! Some may remember the television
show “Boney” from the early 70s. There was an episode where
a bloke was murdered and burnt in a steam engine – well –
this is the engine! It was also filmed for a segment of the “Bill
Peach’s Gold” series.
To the Museum
An offer was made to Henry Bros in 2003 to purchase the engine and export
it to England. Before an export licence could be granted it had to be
offered to three local organizations - two had declined the offer before
the Millthorpe Golden Memories Museum rose to the challenge. The committee
rounded up support and submitted a strong grant application to the National
Heritage Fund. The submission was successful, and the engine was carefully
transported to the Museum in March 2006.
Thought to be one of very few in the world in basically original condition,
the engine will be preserved in its current state, serving as a reference
example of the Clayton & Shuttleworth traction engines.
So the traction engine and the Trunkey Creek gold battery stamper - old
working mates from 75 years ago - are now back together in the Museum
grounds. Fancy a trip to the beautiful (if presently very dry!) central
tablelands of NSW? The engine will be unveiled in the Museum’s ‘Hands
On’ History day – Saturday 17th March, 10am – 4pm (entry
$5). They have a fantastic day planned – ‘hand’s on’
activities, demos and displays and of course, the mighty Clayton &
Shuttleworth Steam Traction Engine.
Millthorpe & District Historical Society
Golden Memories Museum
Park St (PO Box 27) Millthorpe NSW 2798
Thanks
Thanks to the Golden Memories Museum for the information and images that
went into this article. Thanks also to Chloe Roweth for her help with
the song transcription and compiling the text for the article.
Listen to an
excerpt from "Wood and Water".
Order the CD from
the CD catalogue.
Wood and Water
Words and Music: Chloe & Jason Roweth
(2007).
Step up and see my traction engine
She’s come all the way from Lincoln
And she’s worth the 500 pound I had to pay.
There’s nowhere I wouldn’t take her,
Just give us wood, and give us water.
We come from Lyndhurst down to Trunkey in a day.
She needs a steady heat - not red hot;
Stringybark or brittlejack – not box.
My keeps my boys out chopping when it rains.
Keep the oil up to her moving parts,
And she’ll finish every job she starts,
Seven horsepower – as good as any train.
Wood and water, firebox at your feet,
Wood and water, building up steam.
Just take those pins out of the axle,
She’ll raun a gold stamp or a timber mill.
Give me any tree – we’ll pull that timber down.
And for the lighter scrub you’re clearing,
It’s as simple, boys, as shearing,
Run a chain in to an anchor, circle round and knock ‘em down.
Wood and water, firebox at your feet,
Wood and water, building up steam, building up steam.
But cutting chaff’s the thing that really makes the business run;
20 Tonne of chaff a day – 15 bags to the tonne.
5 Months of the year with the stars bright overhead,
A tarp tied to the engine, and the chaff bags for my bed.
Lyndhurst Council are a battle
As their precious bridges rattle
Under 16 tonne of powerful machine.
As we chew up the road in top gear
I can almost hear them swear
Just like “the Governor” – they’re letting off
steam!
Wood and water, firebox at your feet,
Wood and water, building up steam, building up steam.
Steering is a challenge looking 20 yards ahead,
But if those chains were tighter then you’d lose a thumb instead.
I don’t use the steam brakes much – reverse works down the
slope.
She’s a long, long way from England, but the old girl seems to cope.
Wood and water, firebox at your feet,
Wood and water, building up steam, building up steam.