Tom Varley


Tom Varley was a collector of steam-powered road vehicles, known for the Tom Varley Collection, a steam museum mostly of steam wagons, "a lasting legacy of which can be proud".
His business was in running Todber Caravan Park at Gisburn, in the high Pennines of Lancashire. The steam museum was housed in a barn alongside the caravans. The collection was best known from its frequent appearances at steam rallies through the 1970s and '80s. Varley's wagons were recognisable from their fine paintwork and signwriting, each named and prefixed Pendle....
Six of his rarer, and often unique survivors, were re-imported from Australia before restoration.
Tom Varley died in the 1990s. His contribution to the preservation of steam vehicles in the UK has been widely recognised.

List of vehicles

NameMakerTypeYearWorks NºRegistrationDetails
2 Pendle QueenYorkshire3 ton steam wagon1917940U4245 Tom's second steam wagon, rebuilt in 1970. Now owned by Tom's son, David Varley, repainted red and exhibited under his name.
3 Pendle PrinceFowlersteam wagon193119708UB8660 Rebuilt from remains found in scrap pile in Leeds. Now owned by Tom's grandson Jason Varley.
5 Pendle KingSentinelDG6P steam waggon19318562FD6603
11 ton Sentinel DG6P.
7 Pendle MaidYorkshire2 ton steam wagon1905117CA170
Rebuilt in 1973 by Tom Varley. Restored from bare chassis recovered in Wales. Now owned by John Ward and renamed as Denby Maiden.
8 Pendle LaddieYorkshireWG Tractor19272118UA1163 Yorkshire WG flexible six wheeler, 'Pendle Laddie'. Rebuilt by Tom Varley from parts recovered by Walter Fearnley. This vehicle was supplied to the Leeds Corporation Electricity Department as a cable carrier.
9 Pendle KnightRobey & Co.'Express' steam tractor192943388VL983
Later fitted with pneumatic front wheels. Now renamed as Kernow Knight.
12 Her MajestyAtkinsonsteam wagon191872CK209The last known surviving Atkinson steam wagon. Exported to Western Australia and recovered by Tom Varley in the 1970s. Now owned by Preston Steam Services in Kent.
18 Yorkshire Lad / Queen AnneYorkshireWG steam wagon19272128UA1788
Shaft-drive Yorkshire wagon. Originally a chain-drive WG model, this was restored by Walter Fearnley using the shaft-drive gearbox from a later WJ model before being purchased by Tom Varley. The original gearbox and drive was then used for WG 2118. Now owned by M.G. Wines of Somerset as 'Yorkshire Lad'
His LordshipBurrell10NHP Showman's Road Locomotive19133444CK3403
Sold in 1996 to J. G. Atkinson of the Scarborough Fair Collection.
FodenColonial steam wagon19134086M48485 ton "Colonial" steam wagon. Sold new to C H Curtis, Manly, Australia, then to "Glenreagh " Lake Cargelligo. Recovered and restored by Tom Varley in the 1970s. Sold later to Germany, then returned to Mike Plumb, Norfolk.
Aveling & PorterFGPA steam wagon19229282D3777FGPA steam wagon built by Garrett at Leiston. Exported to Australia and recovered by Tom Varley in 1978. Later sold to Peter Rigg of Todmorden.
Pendle PrincessGarrett4CD showmans tractor191933705BJ4788 New to Stone Court Brick and Tile Works, Pembury, Kent as tractor. Converted to showmans tractor in preservation before being bought by Tom Varley. Now in Japan at the Bandai Museum.
Lady BettyFowler8NHP Showman's Road Locomotive19029381WR6770Originally supplied to John Smith's Brewery at Tadcaster with short wheelbase, and converted in working life to showman's engine. Converted back to road locomotive and used for agricultural purposes before being re-converted in preservation.
Pendle LadySentinelS4 steam waggon19349003VE9963
Pendle WitchAveling & PorterClass BTD Road Roller19168727TC2173Exhibited at the 1916 RASE Show, New To Morecambe UDC, later John Ball of Forton, Isaac Ball of Wharles and then to Walton Le Dale UDC. Purchased from them by Tom Varley in 1969 for use building the roadways around his Caravan park. later passed on to Alwyn Rogers, Alan Mountfield and Currently owned by Graham Townsend of Southport.
24Howardtwo-speed traction engine1872201Re-imported from Australia in 1980 Sold, along with the Aveling & Porter, to Peter Rigg of Todmorden.
Foster5 ton steam wagon192114470SV5506The last surviving Foster wagon. Re-imported from Australia by Tom Varley in 1983. Now named William Tritton