Many thanks for “The Oily Rag” No. 89 which I read from cover to cover. My reason for writing to you is that on page 21, you have a picture of an engine that I knew during its construction - Mr. H.E. Vickers’ “Feldbahn”. Harold Vickers was at one time chairman of the Southampton Society—I believe from 1990-92. Following the death of the previous chairman, Harold was “volunteered” for the job. He had been retired for some time from his profession of pathology, having subsequently spent time in Scandinavia, lecturing before returning to Romsey to live. He moved away again in approximately 1994-95.

The side tanks of the loco were never meant to hold water as Harold had found that with the other engine he built, they became too hot to use and he eventually used a coal/water bunker on his driving trolley. I think that his doctor/science background made him a very thorough man who had the advantage of an open mind.

He used a lathe that he had modified from flat belt, and made a screw cutting gear box for it, using scrap gears. His Milling Machine was a “Sharp”. Nothing was built from full drawings, as he just preferred to sketch out items from G.A. drawings. Please pass this information on to Gordon as a bit of history can be nice to know.

Another of Harold Vickers Locos—an Irish NG model again built from just a GA. Harold is the passenger.

Paul Clarke. (Newsletter Editor of Southampton Model Engineers)

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