Great Dorset Steam Fair

This last weekend, 22nd August, a private business engagement was held at S.E. Davis and Son to acknowledge the help and support of their business clients, staff and close family friends.

The weather was fine and approx 300 people attended and a good time was had by all. It was indeed a well organised private event and was very much appreciated by all who attended.

From the photograph a small number of steam engines were lit and paraded for all to enjoy. Chris Beale and me were invited to take charge once again with 'Linkey', the Fowler K7 ploughing engine. Mark Jones was not in attendance because of a prior engagement, so entrusted both me and Chris to look after the engine. We both appreciated the trust and hospitality of Mark, who lent us his living van also as accommodation for the weekend.

Now this Sunday 30th August I shall be travelling to Tarrant Hinton, near Blandford Forum, Dorset to exhibit the North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club's stand at The Great Dorset Steam Fair. As chairman of both the National and North Worcestershire Clubs it is my task to promote the merits of this national organisation. We thank the organisers of the GDSF for allowing us to attend. For those who have yet to visit this event, it is without doubt the largest show of its type in the world. A mini town springs up every year on this 800 acre site. It is doubtful whether I shall re post on this blog until after this show, it ends on Sunday 6th September.

NTET APPRENTICE TRAINING WEEKENDS

Our hosts for the Astwood Bank Vintage Gathering, organised by the North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor and Engine of which I am Chairman, are S.E. Davis and Son.

Now the Davis family are excellent hosts for a number of events during a calendar year, and not only that, there is a fantastic selection of vintage memorabilia on their premises. If you get the chance next year on 12th and 13th June come and visit the vintage gathering and have a good look at the Davis collection.

Now one of the events they host annually is the NTET (National Traction Engine Trust) apprentice training weekend. In fact the NTET organise a series of training programmes during the year for people of many ages and both sexes to learn the basic rudiments of the principles of steam motive power and how to drive a traction engine. There are seminars covering all aspects including safety of course, but the hands on of the apprentices includes preparing the engine for work, Check water levels, rake and clear the fire bars and empty the ash pan then light the fire. Cleaning and oiling are all on the list of tasks that have to be done.

This a weekend that only the engine men or owners really get involved in the training, the rest of us sit back, relax and drink tea or coffee (day time that is) whilst later that evening, the nature of the beverage changes its texture and becomes stronger.

The photographs are a selection of engines used for training purposes and a engine owner, 'Big Dazza', his lady friend Fiona and 'Little Daz'

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In between steam rallies and other events, I would just like to draw your attention to my love and devotion to steam preservation railways, as previously mentioned.

This locomotive is a British Railways Standard Class 2 2-6-0 built at the Darlington works in 1954. The locomotive worked largely out of Euston before being offered up as scrap at Barry in South Wales.

The Severn Valley Railway recovered the locomotive and in 1998 offered it to the Great Central Railway for full restoration at the Loughborough works. The photograph shows her leaving Loughborough towards Leicester.

During Christmas 2007, Chris Beale and me visited the GCR and we both had the privilege of driving this locomotive (under supervision). Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day I would not only go on the footplate but eventually drive the engine complete with 8 coaches hanging off the tender, or smoke box door depending on which way we went.

Evesham Steam Rally

Saturday 8th August. Chris Beale and me resting and chatting on the front tool box of 'Linkey'.

A Night to Remember

Now just before the Evesham Steam Rally, some of us met on Thursday 6th August at Wick, just outside Pershore in Worcestershire.
Fowler road roller, 'Jessica' was kept at these premises along with the trailer and living van.
The plan was to meet up on Thursday night, socialize for a while then get up next morning and prepare the engine to road direct to Evesham.
As you can see from this photograph, the evening was mixed. However on arrival later on, Big Dazza, Fiona and Little Daz had already eaten so it was time to drink, and drink we did in the rain.
Only in England can we adapt to the weather, so we assembled under a tree and remained there until time for some sleep.
Next morning I cooked the breakfast sandwiches whilst the other boys and girls got the engine ready. All my gear I took down to the rally field earlier and Dazza brought me back in order for me to join the road run from Wick to Evesham.

Lorry MOT

Yesterday, Monday 10th August was a good day, my little lorry, a Mercedes D814 passed its MOT again. It will not pass next year because I have an advisory on the offside king pin. VOSA allow a tolerance of 1.6mm lift, mine just got in with 1.00mm lift. Only paid £1400 for the truck and its does its job very well, and tows the caravan. Bog standard Merc straight 6 cylinder diesel, works its nuts off, nothing fancy, no electronics and all that malarkey.

Photo here is from Belvoir Castle Steam Festival last May, 2008

Evesham Steam Rally

Just to prove that my tractor was present at Evesham, here are a couple of shots taken at the event. Now you can understand why the tractor was not in the line up, it was used for steam crew purposes. The one photograph clearly shows Chris Beale and Darren Wardell off to collect coal and water for the engines. That trailer does have a 300 gallon tank for water in the rear.

These photographs are by kind permission of Matt Bisp from Rubery, Birmingham. Matt is 15 and has a couple of tractors with his dad and takes them to a select number of events.

One of my many tasks as both chairman of the National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club, but also chairman of the North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club is to generate interest in vintage preservation amongst our younger friends. The vintage preservation movement must continue well into the future and young men like Matt are rare but essential to the movement, in order to keep it going.

Thanks for the pics Matt, and keep up the interest.

Evesham Steam Rally

Now this last weekend we all gathered at the Evesham Steam show on the Badsey side of town.

Although I took my tractor, it didn't even make the line up or ring parade, simply because I was fully employed once again with 'Linkey' the K7 Fowler ploughing engine.

The highlight of the event was an impromptu road run organised by the few. Four engines, trailers and a couple of tractors left the rally field and ran up the road to the Wheatsheaf at Badsey.

Now ploughing engines by the nature of them being an agricultural machine are not really designed for road use, especially with metal wheels. Mark Jones the owner insisted that me and Chris Beale take charge and join in the fun. Here we see me and Chris on our way and the other photograph is evidence of some of the motley crew and reprobates having much merriment out side the pub.

A good time was had by all and we eventually returned to the rally field, had a BBQ and several beers and glasses of port.

Welland

Well here they are the two Fowler K7 ploughing engines at Welland complete with the cultivator used between the pair.
It was Sunday morning, the sky grey and leaden again and you can see the Malvern Hills in the distance.
The Weather turned against us later in the day and it was a wet pull off.
Mark Jones's engine 'Linkey' is on the left from camera, Fred Thomas's engine from Nailsea keeps 'Linkey' company.
Next weekend, 7th, 8th, 9th August there will be much excitement because some of us will be at The Evesham Gathering at Badsey, just outside Evesham, Worcestershire. 'Linkey', 'Jessica' (Fowler road roller) amongst other will be there in the mud! Dr. Busker entertains us on Saturday night and beer will be consumed.