The Pudsey
Steam Rollers

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The 1921 Fowler Steam Road Roller

The Pudsey Steam Rollers

Pudsey's first steam roller was purchased from Thomas Green & Sons at the Smithfield Iron Works, North Street, Leeds in April 1881. It was a 10 ton single cylinder roller, works number 1081. The engine had some unusual features including a spoked flywheel. The engine worked in Pudsey for forty years until 1921.

Fowlers of Leeds took the Green engine in part exchange for one of their new ones. The new Fowler steam roller was a DN class 10 ton compound roller, works number 15816 fitted with Wood tar spraying attachments. The engine also carried a registration number C2168 which was first registered in 1910. It is thought that the registration could have been transfered from the old Green engine but this was not usual in those days. Vehicles did not need to be registered before 1921. The engine was one of Pudsey's proudest possesions. Local people nicknamed it 'The Potato Squasher'. The Photograph above was taken outside the old Fire Station, where it was kept when not in use.

Around 1954 Pudsey Borough Council sold the Fowler engine to Claude Richardson, a contractor based in Hensall, Goole and replaced it with a diesel roller. The engine was last registered in 1959 and it is belieived that the engine was scrapped soon after.

Many people believe that the Pudsey Park Steam Roller was the 1921 Pudsey Borough engine but it wasn't. Click NEXT to find out how the engine came to Pudsey Park.

Most information on this page supplied by D.A. Rayner, Archivist, Road Roller Association

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