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

Fowler 6HP single cylinder ploughing engine No. 2656 built in 1875 is posed along with No. 2825 built 1876 at the cross roads in Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire . Although not an original pair they worked together in the ownership of Mrs Jane Kinsey, Seabourne House, Sutton St Nicholas. The pair were sold at auction on 9th April 1920.


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  Additional unpublished images are included and some wider based captions covering the history of the engines and where possible the owners.  A limited production run has been printed and will be available to purchase following the official launch at the Societies Spring Visit on May 13th.

The book will be priced at £30 plus £5 postage.  The Society will add to the website shop nearer to its availability in May 2023.  

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

  • Cataloguing the Society’s Archive

    Cataloguing the Society’s Archive

    Michele Goddard  & Andrew Robertson This article has the objective of sharing with Members the work that has been taking place ‘behind the scenes’ on cataloguing our extensive archive. I thought it best to explain how the project came about, those working on it, the benefits to the Society and the way forward. As you…

  • RLS Spring Visit 2023

    RLS Spring Visit 2023

    The Society’s Spring Visit was held at the home of Will Woodward and family at Buglawton, a few miles from Congelton, Cheshire on Saturday 13th May. We have been trying to hold a visit further north for several years but COVID managed to put a stop to that, so it was a case of third…

  • RLS Journal Index

    RLS Journal Index

    We have now added a Table of Contents for all Journals back to the year 1985, you can find this on the updated Journal Page. We intend to add more entries over the next few weeks. You can navigate to a specific year by clicking the year towards the top of the page, or if…

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