Road Locomotive Society

The enhancement of education and research into the past history of all types of self propelling steam engines


Welcome to The Road Locomotive Society

Founded in 1937, the Society’s objectives are: The enhancement of education and research into the past history of all types of self propelling steam engines (other than those running on rails) and those types of stationary steam engines known as portable engines, the results of such research shall be made available through the Society Journal and other publications. You will find more information about us in the about, sections and membership pages within our website.

Image of the Month

A 1964 black-and-white photo of a Fowler ‘T3’ steam roller (No. 15970) working on the A4 in Reading. The off-side view shows the machine facing right, with a driver on the footplate. A hose is coiled neatly between the rolls, a brass plate sits on the motion cover, and the rear roll features a scarifier.

Fowler “T3” roller No. 15970 at work on the A4 in Reading on 9th July 1964 when owned by The Mechanical Tar Spraying & Grouting Co Ltd, Reading.


The Major R.J.W. Ind Collection of Historical Photographs 

The Road Locomotive Society have been working on the production of a book covering the Historical Photographs of Major R.J.W. Ind.  This new book will offer high quality digital scans of the original glass plate negatives that were donated to the Society in 1959 when Major Ind passed away.  Additional unpublished images are included and some wider based captions covering the history of the engines and where possible the owners.  

The book will be priced at £30 plus £5 postage.   

We are confident this book will find an enthusiastic home for the discerning collector of the vast collection of images held by the Society and will be in the same format as the earlier Traction Engine Archive volumes. This can be purchased from our online shop.

Image of the spine of the book Major R.J.W. Ind Collection of Historical Photographs by Jeffrey Shackell, Trevor Smallbone and Andrew Smith.

Latest News

  • Presidential Address – James Hervey-Bathurst

    Presidential Address – James Hervey-Bathurst

    My interest in steam started with the railways. At about the same time as the end of steam on BR, my father bought an Aveling roller, an AF, 14 tons, slide-valve compound, formerly owned by Coventry Corporation as No 1. Stan Simmonds, who lived near Malvern, was the seller, and he drove it over.

  • Winter Meeting 7th March 2026

    Winter Meeting 7th March 2026

    Milestones Museum, Basingstoke Dave Wothers will present a selection of photographs and draw on his knowledge of steam boilers giving us a talk on the details of the Medina County Fair boiler explosion and general other ‘interesting’ steam vessels he has encountered.After the tea break, Paul Ransley will present an illustrated talk on the restoration…

  • V765 Procedure Changes

    V765 Procedure Changes

    Over recent months the Road Locomotive Society and the National Traction Engine Trust have been in discussionto rationalise their approach to the recovery of lost registrations and matters concerning age related registrations.To date both bodies have held authorisation to provide relevant supporting evidence. It has been agreed from now on the National Traction Engine Trust…

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