For almost a hundred years traction engines and steam rollers played an important role in road transport and construction with their use declining by 1940 as they were displaced by petrol and diesel powered vehicles.
At Bredgar we were custodian of three road locomotives each of which has an interesting history. In 2017 the Showman’s engine and the Road Roller were sold. In 2021 Tony Baker brought his Aveling and Barford steam roller to BWLR. It is now on display during event.
The Garrett traction engine is in full working order and is used on event days and for driving experiences.
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GARRETT GENERAL PURPOSE TRACTION ENGINE 7NHP No.33442 was built by Garretts of Leiston in 1919 it was dispatched by rail on 13 August to Mr. Henry H. Baylis of Hatford Manor near Faringdon in Oxfordshire. The engine was sold through Garrett agents T. Baker of Compton, Berkshire.
The original order was for a 7 nominal horse power single cylinder spring mounted traction engine with winding drum including 50 yards of 5/8 inch wire rope, fitted with an injector for maintaining boiler water levels (£6/4s/0d extra) and finished in standard green. The total cost including discounts and the optional extra injector was £976/10s/0d. Mr. Baylis’ name was to be on a brass plate fixed to the smoke-box door. Included in the price were the services of Garrett’s Demonstration driver for a week to train the local man. All major builders offered this service.
The Garrett was used for driving a threshing machine and hauling trailers. In 1943 it passed to a second owner, Wilcox & Frost, hay merchants of Witney. The use of traction engines declined after 1945 when they were replaced by tractors such as Field-Marshalls, examples of which are also preserved at Bredgar. The engine ended its working life relegated to steam heating greenhouses and sterilising soil at Rose of Carterton/Brize Norton.
In about 1961 the engine was bought by Rowley (Bill) Jackson, despite his father telling him no one wanted steam any more! The engine was kept at the family business premises of R H Jackson, Haulage Contractor, Kilcot, Glos. He worked on it whenever he could and had started up The Ross on Wye Vintage Steam Engine Club with a few mates. By 1965 the engine was ready to show and he named it ‘King of the Road’. The song by Roger Miller was around that year and he ran the family haulage business so it must meant something to him. Bill sadly passed away in 1970.
Royley’s widow sold the engine to a local haulier, Richard Read, who renamed it after his wife, ‘Caraline’. Read sold it to a dealer, John Anderson of Eynsham, Oxon in the mid seventies it is believed. Barry started restoration work and and noted that the smoke box door was incorrect. It went through some other hands but reappeared Chiltern Clubs rally in 1985 – in steam. It was extensively rallied for 3 years.
The engine came to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in 1988. Some restoration work was 
carried out in 1989 but in 1991 a full overhaul was undertaken with a new fire-box, boiler barrel and tubes. Boiler work was done by Bicknells of Liphook and the engine was then rebuilt at Bredgar. Mr. Baylis has confirmed it carried no name during its working life and with the Baylis family help we cast a copy of the smoke box plate to match the original as delivered when new. The engine is now used to haul visitors in the Bredgar Heavy Haulage trailer on open days.