ROLLER RESTORATIONS PART 2

Moving back to Niall’s roller restorations, it was not long before another engine came to Ruabon. This was NX 3974, a 1923 Fowler DN1 10-ton single cylinder road roller No. 15851 Victorious, “It has carried that name since it has been in preservation and possibly before that,” Niall said. This roller was built in 1923 for Leamington Spa Corporation and worked with them until 1963 when it was sold into preservation. Early on, it was bought by dealer J Lambe of Bromsgrove before passing through the hands of a couple of owners during which time it was dismantled and stripped down.

The roller was returned to working order by its next owner, Tom Walker of Hereford who rallied it for a number of years before selling it on to a Mr Boyer of Peterchurch. From there