I spoke to The Oracle a few minutes ago. He had this information to pass on.
'There were two main contractors in Sittingbourne, Gardeners' and Packhams'. I knew the Gardeners' quite well, very nice people who were devout Salvation Army members. They had a yard on Staplehurst Road, just south of the LCDR main line. If this engine has rubbers (rubber tyres on the wheels) then she is his lightweight Foster Showman's Engine. That was withdrawn in 1937 with a worn out fire box and offered to me for free when I bought Mr Gardeners' Burrell general purpose engine for £10 in 1948 or 9 (I can't remember which), a new fire box would have cost about £40 at the time but I just did not have that kind of money so had to let her go. However if she is on strakes then she is probably one of Packhams engines. They were all single cylinder Aveling that were bought as a job lot from Jesse Ellis in Maidstone. Jesse Ellis used them as "Night Soil" haulers and had bought them new from Aveling and Porter in the 1880's. Throughout the War both Packham and Gardeners had Land Army girls driving the engines all over the area, life had to go on. I do remember that the Girls kept all the engines absolutely immaculate, as did the German POW's that drove the Council Foden steam wagon. I doubt that it would have been a foreign engine from Maidstone, too far to go really, certainly not one from Faversham as that would be much too far to travel.'
Right, I must add that The Oracle is now in his 80's and as such I grab these gems whenever I can. Because of his affection for all things steam he noticed them and thankfully remembers them. I would just like to add that should anyone come up with a time machine, could you drop me off sometime around the end of the war please. I have a shopping list of traction engines, rollers and lorries I wish to buy (I got some Christmas money and could invest it very carefully.....).
S4.
