The second steam engine selected for an award in 2023 is also a steam roller, and it is also a Marshall. Zulu is currently in a thousand pieces being rebuilt to more or less the state in which it was first delivered to the Isle of Man Transportation Department in 1922.
Owned by Dan Brook from Warrington in Cheshire, Zulu is a notable historic machine which is undergoing a ground up restoration to an exceptional standard.
Marshall 75408 was supplied new to the Isle of Man Transport Board in 1922. Unusually the engine was designed to be used both as a steam roller and a steam tractor, and was supplied with both rolls and wheels. During its working life it spent the winter months as a tractor, hauling timber, whilst in the summer it worked on the Islands roads as a roller. Eventually it retired into preservation in the 1960s but not before it was featured on a Royal Mail postage stamp. It is fair to say that Zulu rolled the roads that countless TTs have run on. Zulu now has both a twitter and a Facebook page, a YouTube channel and is widely followed. It is also true to say that Zulu (in postage stamp form) has appeared in every copy of the magazine “Old Glory” since its inception. Before dismantling, a day driving Zulu was one of the trusts annual raffle prizes, and a fine day it was, although the carrot cake suffered somewhat from the spirited driving of the winners gang!
The engine has been completely dismantled and the original nearly 100 year old firebox, tubes and other damaged boiler plates removed. In order to effect repairs, Dan has decided to do as much as he can himself. This has entailed designing and constructing special riveting equipment, and he has even trained and qualified as a coded welder. Even the rivets and stays are being made by Dan in house.
This project is being recognised on 3 counts. First, it is a rare and probably unique engine. Second it has a very interesting history spent on the Isle of Man. Finally the restoration is being done virtually single handed by a talented young engineer who represents the next generation.