Owned and restored by Gilbert Armour of Ladyhill, County Antrim
This is a massive restoration of a 3ton steam wagon. Several parts were rescued from a scrapyard in Leeds in the late 1960s by the late Tom Varley, Lancashire. The parts came into the current owner’s possession in 1998 and he basically started with front and rear wheels, rear axle with diff, some engine parts and a wasted boiler.
The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. was a steam wagon manufacturer in Leeds, England. They produced their first wagon in 1901. Their designs had a novel double-ended transverse boiler. In 1911 the company's name was changed to Yorkshire Commercial Motor Co., but reverted to Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. in 1922. Steam wagon production ceased in 1937, and the company was finally dissolved in 1993
The novel double-ended transverse-mounted boiler was used to avoid problems of tilting when climbing hills. Internally it resembled a locomotive or Fairlie boiler with a central firebox and multiple fire-tubes to each end. In the Yorkshire though, a second bank of fire-tubes above returned to a central smokebox and a single chimney.
There are probably only about a dozen known Yorkshire wagons left in the world. There are 8 listed in British Isles 3 of which are 3 tonners including this one.
Completing the bulk of the work himself, on a tight budget, Gilbert fabricated a new chassis which is now bolted up ready for riveting, front axle hubs and some steering gear has been made. Work is currently underway on the engine Gilbert started making these parts back in 1998 and then it was put on hold for about 15 years started again in 2017.
A completely new boiler has to be made, the drawings and submission to insurance company are in progress. New gears, solid rubber tyres, drive chains, flat body, cab and many smaller parts are still to be made, but nonetheless Gilbert is confident of completion by 2022
This is probably 1 of 3 Yorkshire 3ton wagons in the world. The other 2 are not currently in running order. Its restoration is both a credit to the determination and resourcefulness of its owner and thoroughly deserving of a Restoration Award