I READ Chris Lloyd’s Echo Memories article about traction engines (Echo, Aug 19) and the accompanying tale of Fred Gray who was reported for “speeding”
in a steam roller reminded me of a tale I heard many years ago.
My sister’s friend, Bill Scott, related a story about the time he and a friend, who is unfortunately nameless, were trundling down through Newcastle towards the Tyne Bridge in the late Sixties or early Seventies.
The friend, who was driving along at a sedate four miles an hour, decided that as they were going downhill it would be a good idea to knock the engine out of gear and take advantage of the incline to speed things up.
Bad idea – the weight of the engine really took over and they flew down towards the bridge at a rate of knots, whistle blowing and totally unable to get back in gear.
The top and bottom of the tale was that the driver, when he eventually slowed down enough while going through Gateshead, was stopped and charged by the police for speeding while driving a traction engine.
Unfortunately, I must admit that I have absolutely no proof of it actually happening – just the word of my sister’s friend.
Alan Vincent, Old Penshaw, near Sunderland.
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