Tom Varley facts for kids

Tom Varley was a special collector of old vehicles that ran on steam power. He was famous for his "Tom Varley Collection," which was like a museum filled mostly with steam wagons. People who loved steam vehicles in Britain were very proud of his collection, calling it "a lasting legacy."

Tom ran a business called Todber Caravan Park in Gisburn, a beautiful area in the high Pennines of Lancashire. His amazing steam museum was kept in a barn right next to the caravans. Many people knew about his collection because his wagons were often seen at steam rallies throughout the 1970s and 1980s. You could easily spot Tom's wagons because they had beautiful paint and special names, always starting with Pendle ....

Some of his rarest and most unique steam wagons were brought back from Australia before he carefully fixed them up.

Tom Varley passed away on December 12, 1990. People still remember his important work in saving and preserving these wonderful steam vehicles in the UK.

Tom Varley's Amazing Steam Collection

Tom Varley's collection was truly special. He loved finding old steam vehicles and bringing them back to life. These vehicles were not just old machines; they were a piece of history, showing how things moved before modern cars and trucks.

What Are Steam Wagons?

A steam wagon is like an old-fashioned truck or lorry that runs on steam. Instead of a gasoline engine, it has a boiler that heats water to create steam. This steam then powers the engine, making the wheels turn. They were used for carrying heavy goods a long time ago.

Famous Vehicles in the Collection

Many vehicles were part of Tom Varley's collection over the years. After he passed away, some of them were sold to new owners and sometimes even got new names. Here are a few of the most interesting ones:

Pendle Queen

This was Tom's second steam wagon, a 3-ton Yorkshire model from 1917. He rebuilt it in 1970. Today, it belongs to Tom's son, David Varley, and is painted red.

Pendle Prince

This Fowler steam wagon from 1931 was rebuilt by Tom from parts he found in a scrap pile! It's now owned by Tom's other son, Terry Varley, and run by his grandson, Jason Varley.

Pendle King

An 11-ton Sentinel DG6P steam wagon from 1931. It was a very powerful machine for its time.

Pendle Maid

This was a 2-ton Yorkshire steam wagon from 1905. Tom rebuilt it in 1973 from just a bare frame he found in Wales. It's now called Denby Maiden.

Pendle Laddie

A unique Yorkshire WG Tractor from 1927. Tom rebuilt it from parts found by another collector. This vehicle was originally used to carry cables for electricity!

Pendle Knight

This was a Robey & Co. 'Express' steam tractor from 1929. It later got modern pneumatic (air-filled) front wheels. It's now known as Kernow Knight.

Her Majesty

An Atkinson steam wagon from 1918. This is the very last known Atkinson steam wagon still existing! Tom found it in Western Australia and brought it back in the 1970s.

Pendle Princess

A Garrett showman's tractor from 1919. It was first a regular tractor, then changed into a showman's tractor (used for pulling fairground rides). It's now in a museum in Japan!

Pendle Witch

This Aveling & Porter road roller from 1916 was bought by Tom in 1969. He used it to build the roads around his caravan park!

Images for kids

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  Tom's Pendle Queen

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  The Pendle Prince steam wagon

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  The powerful Pendle King

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  Pendle Maid after restoration

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  Pendle Laddie, a flexible six-wheeler

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  Pendle Knight, a steam tractor

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  Yorkshire Lad / Queen Anne

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  His Lordship, a showman's road locomotive

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  Pendle Princess in Japan