This book was lodged on top of the children's section of Buckingham Railway Museum's mahoosive second-hand shop, probably because of the image on the front. I picked it up out of curiosity, and quickly realised that it wasn't a heavy engineering publication, but not for kids either.
The text follows the revival of a Foden C-type steam lorry, by Richard Vincent, as told by his friend, Brian Trevis.
Revival seems an odd word. Basically, Richard bought a tatty boiler, and scratchbuilt a Foden steam lorry around it. Quite how much of the original survives is open to debate I think. OK, some of the bits are original, from other wagons, but this is (to me) a new build. And a really good one.
At 90 pages, it's not a long read, but the text flows well, and you can race over those technical details, or terms you don't understand, just enjoying the antics of Richard and his mates. The project is taken from inception, to completion, with several trips out with the lorry.
I was gobsmacked that anyone, let alone an individual, can do this sort of thing. The amount of work required, whilst also running a business, is incredible. The knowledge required, astounding. OK, he recruits several helpers along the way, but even so, this is am amazing achievement.
For proper engineers, this is far too light a read. Someone like me, with a passing interest, can peer through the window, at a world we can't imagine being part of. And that is a great success. It's quite funny too.
Squirrels nuts and flying rivets on Amazon
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