Rollers & World Record Attempt

World Record Attempt - GDSF 2013

 

The world record was broken for constructing a road and running over it with 102 steam rollers, the previous record being 32.


102 steam rollers took part in the world record attempt as part of the Great Dorset Steam Fair 2013 Roller Special, on a brand new road created in the road making section at the event.  This smashed the previous record of 32 rollers from 31st August 2003, which was also held at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.


The world record attempt has been officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records Ltd and one of the independent witnesses was Colin Tyson of Old Glory Magazine, a well respected figure in the steam industry.


Great Dorset Steam Fair Managing Director Martin Oliver, said: “We are so privileged to be in the presence of so many beautiful engines and to have broken the world record is just phenomenal.  I would like to personally thank everyone involved as well as all our visitors, without whom we could never have achieved this triumph.”

Rollers returning home through Wiltshire
 
I travelled back with these rollers as they travelled through my Village.  I decided to record their journey, through the scenic back lanes of South Wiltshire.
 
We stopped to refill with water in Amesbury from the River Avon near the Queensberry bridge built 1775, this bridge once carried the A303 but now only a minor road. 
 
The engines travelled 26 miles on the Monday following the show, to a stop over in a pub car park.  19 miles the second day, on to a farm near Pewsey, where the rollers stayed for a few weeks.  They then travelled to teh Crofton Pumping Station for their end of year steaming event.
 
Engine Details:
 
Aveling & Porter road roller, 1915. 4 nhp. 8 ton Road Roller. No. 8489. Reg No: OK 58 - 'Albert Webb'
New to G. Kynoch and Co of Birmingham and used to repair the roads on their munitions sites.  This engine worked until the 1960s when it was sold off.  It has been with its present owners for the last 27 years.  It was last used for commercial rolling in October 2004.
 
Aveling & Porter road roller Class F 6 nhp Compound 10 ton no. 10168, Reg TA 2027.  Built in 1921. supplied new to Devon County Council and owned by them all its working life, allocated to Plymouth depot and given plant no 153.
Later it was relocated to the Exeter area, where its last job was on the A38 Exeter bypass in 1961.  It was then abandoned in a lane at Kennford along with another council road roller until it was purchased by R E Edwards, the showman of Swindon in 1965.
 
It was taken to Fairford Gravel pits and joined other engines that the Edwards family stored there at the time.
It was purchased by its present owner in October 1968 and restored.  The roller finally steamed again in 1972.

Contact Details

E-mail address:  dcrh.co.uk@gmail.com

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  • Eleanor firmstone (Thursday, January 23 20 09:20 am GMT)

    Hi, do you have any information on the steam roller ru7342. We now own the roller and wondered what year this was taken.
    Thanks Eleanor

  • Sarah Mitchell (Wednesday, September 11 19 10:31 pm BST)

    Hi there is a wonderful picture you took of a dear friend of mine on his journey to the gdsf this year. It is in the western daily press dated 22/08/19 Carl Brown roading the Marshall to gdsf. I cannot locate this picture on any website to purchase and was hoping i could purchase through yourself many thanks Sarah

  • John Baines (Friday, April 05 19 03:45 pm BST)

    Have you any photogaphs of James & Crockerills yard in Durrington? Their MD Peter Barber owned the Burrell Scenic Road loco 'Prince of Wales@ and other engines including Burrell roller 'Daffodil'

  • Zoe Read (Saturday, March 02 19 07:08 pm GMT)

    I see you already have dates for this one but I wondered if you would consider adding Purbeck Rally to your event list?
    9th -11th August
    worgret road, wareham, dorset, BH20 6AB
    Raising funds for Forest Holme Hospice Charity & other local causes.

  • Andrew Gray (Wednesday, February 20 19 07:55 pm GMT)

    Is that Mr Dimmer and the train made at Durrington Sec Modern, I started there 1963 and left 1968. Mr Dimmer (Regg) was such a great teacher. Wonderful set of images to treasure. p.s we met today at the Boscombe Down Tornado fly past.

  • Jamie (Saturday, September 01 18 01:39 am BST)

    Hi!

    I am Jamie. One of the coalomen from last weeks steam fair. I know you mentioned taking lots of photos of us and it would be lovely to see them. Please get back to me when you can with prices ect i will most certainly purchase a few! In the meantime i will admire wgat you have on your page here already, hope you enjoyed the show! Speak soon

    Regards
    Jamie

  • Don Russell (Friday, August 17 18 08:51 am BST)

    Hullo, found your site when looking for GDSF info. I was wondering if you had any information regarding engines travelling to the GDSF. I read engines will be raising money for cancer on there journey but I cannot find any info regarding route and timings.Thanks

  • Brian Moore (Saturday, August 04 18 12:40 pm BST)

    Thanks David: Brian

  • Peter Freeman (Thursday, May 10 18 09:56 pm BST)

    Fantastic site, easy to read and great pics! Keep up the good work.

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