Tom Varley was a collector, restorer and preserver of steam-powered road vehicles, known for the Tom Varley Collection, a
steam museum mostly of
steam wagon
A steam wagon (or steam lorry, steam waggon or steamtruck) is a Steam power, steam-powered truck for carrying freight. It was the earliest form of lorry (truck) and came in two basic forms: ''overtype'' and ''undertype'', the distinction being t ...
s, ''"a lasting legacy of which
ritish steam road enthusiastscan be proud"''.
His business was in running Todber
Caravan Park
Caravan or caravans may refer to:
Transport and travel
* Campervan, a type of vehicle also known as a motor caravan
*Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together
**Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop
* Caravan (tra ...
at
Gisburn
Gisburn (formerly Gisburne) is a village and civil parish within the Ribble Valley borough of Lancashire, England. Historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire, it lies northeast of Clitheroe and west of Skipton. The civil parish had a pop ...
, in the high
Pennines
The Pennines (), also known as the Pennine Chain or Pennine Hills, are a range of highland, uplands mainly located in Northern England. Commonly described as the "Vertebral column, backbone of England" because of its length and position, the ra ...
of
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
. 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 December 12, 1990. His contribution to the preservation of steam vehicles in the UK has been widely recognised.
List of vehicles
: These vehicles have at one point formed part of the Tom Varley collection. Since his death, some have now been sold on to other owners, and may have been renamed.
Notes
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varley, Tom
Steam museums in England
Traction engines
1990s deaths
Year of birth missing