Torbay Steam Fair 2011...
Hi everyone. Now, I joke you not, but I'm not really a Steam Rally kind of person. I enjoy going to them, but I would normally put a railway first. However, I'm so glad that I didn't today, as I would have missed a fabulous display. The 2011 Torbay Steam Fair took place over August 5th-7th at its site near Churston, only a few miles from Brixham (Devon). As we were leaving for home today, I only had around 3 hours to check out the Rally which I thought would be more that enough time. But, again, I was very wrong! I did see everything but more time would have helped; there were just so many exhibits! It was a huge site, spread over around 4 fields if I remember rightly, not to mention the car parking too. At £6 per Adult for entry it was a bargain. I haven't featured all of the exhibits in this post, due to the sheer number of them(!), but I have included a good few pictures to give you an idea of the goings-on. The Rally, now in its 25th Year, is held annually. This year, according to the souvenir guide, there were THIRTY-THREE Full Size Engines, including Showmans, Rollers, Road loco's, Lorries and even a Fire Engine. There were also 25 Miniature traction engines of varying types, 88 Classic Cars, 44 Vintage Motorcyles, 54 Preserved Tractors, 39 Commercial Vehicles, 10 Miliatary Vehicles, 61 Stationary Engines as well as countless crafts, models, wildlife displays and even two miniature railways...
Now, just a few pics folks, to keep you entertained. Below, 1919-built "Firefly", a lovely Fowler Tiger Tractor...
Just a few of the many vintage tractors...
Just a few of the classic cars; a Ford Anglia is amongst them...
What a fabulous machine...
This white VW Beetle really caught my eye...
The Showmans Engines were here in very strong numbers today. This example is "King of the Belgians", a 1916-built Burrell. I must admit, a Steam Rally is a fantastic place to get up close and personal with engines such as these, with very little restriction...
As well as events in the Main Arena, there was a centralised area with a strong gradient, sectioned off from the public. This area seemed to be being used to give engines a good 'test'. The noise of them thundering back up the incline was something to behold indeed. This 1937-built Marshall 'S-Type' Roller made for a fantastic display of power on the bank, particularly as the safety valves were blowing! This engine is fitted with Marshall radial valve gear which includes a single eccentric for each cylinder...
Another feature of the Steam Rally, as per tradition, was the faithful Fairground Organ. I reckon there must have been 4 or 5 at least. These noisy examples were very interesting, for around 5 minutes (then I had to walk away!). However, the work that goes into them must be tremendous...
"Chimneys at Dawn"...
Perhaps the smallest engines in steam came from this expensive-looking display of Mamod models. Very nice little display indeed. I had my eye on the vintage car, they are fabulous models...
As well as main arena events, there were selective demonstrations too. Perhaps one of the most historic displays was that of the engine & threshing machine. Once upon a time, threshing engines were common-place on the farms and provided reliable and very useful service. "Attraction"; a Burrell Single Crank Compound engine of 1904; was providing today's display, linked via belt to a lovingly kept threshing machine. A lovely display and a pleasure to see...
Some of the miniatures that were going around were not so miniature in their own right! This Showmans engine in particular was huge...
Inside the craft/model tent there were a few very nice displays. Amongst them was a lovely fairground collection and an N Gauge model railway layout. There was also a collection of locomotives from the Swansea Society of Model Engineers. I had a chat with them for a while, about "Achilles" and CMES amongst other things. The best looking loco on their stand, from my point of view, was this very shiney little 3.5" 'Juliet' 0-4-0...
An Owl gives me the eye from one of the wildlife conservation displays...
1923-built Burrell Showman's Engine "Supreme" was one of only three examples of this type ever built. As you can well guess, "Supreme" is the last survivor of the three sisters...
Most of the line-up of the miniature traction engines which graced the arena. Click to enlarge if you wish! Too many to name them all but the view was fabulous. The huge Showmans model dwarfs its peers in the centre...
"King of the Belgians" and "Nightmare"; what a duo that would have been. "Nightmare" is a Foster A8 Road Loco, built in 1912. I've never seen an engine with such a huge bunker; it was carrying 7 people on its footplate (the entire family of the owner no doubt) thanks to all of the extra room. Not much more info on "Nightmare", only that she was driven to the fair all the way from Billericay (Essex)...in steam(!), hauling a Showmans trailer. Below, the Foster overtakes the Burrell in the arena...
Below we can see a pic of probably half of the full-size line up in the arena. Now, I'll have ONE go at naming them from left to right (click to enlarge the pic). First, Garratt "Lady Sylvia", then Aveiling "Major", Burrell "King of the Belgians", Foster "Nightmare", "Alice", Marshall "Toby", "Supreme" and two more unidentified examples (I tried folks!)...
Burrell Showmans DCC Engine "The Gladiator" (of 1909) chugs around the arena...
A beautifully restored, smokey Marshall...
The next engine in this post is one that really caught my eye; 1913-built "Wallace"; a Garrett Tractor. This is the engines first season in steam for around 50 years, following a full, extensive restoration. The engine is crewed by two youngsters, showing the popularity for steam even amongst the younger generations. This engine has had various new parts machined by its driver in the shot below, a 16-year lad with a fabulous engineering talent no less. Well done guys, fabulous job...
Did anyone ever see that show "Salvage Squad" where old rusting hulks were restored to their former glory? They made a few series of that show, with Madness frontman 'Suggs' as the presenter. The engine below, "Mary" of 1870, was the feature of one episode of "Salvage Squad". She is a Fowler Ploughing engine and looks fabulous. Though not a throughbred traction engine person myself, I love the Ploughers. They've just got something special about them, fabulous machines. "Mary" was a beauty...
More engines in the arena...
A Stanley Steam Car...
Now, another thing I haven't seen before(!). This engine carried trays in the smokebox in which can be cooked your jacket potatoes! I've seen potatoes cooked in a smokebox before, as well as lots of bacon on the shovel and pasties on the pressure gauges but, never in a specially built tray! Great idea!...
Another Plougher in attendence was this fabulously restored Fowler K7 of 1918. For me, her and "Mary" stole the show...
Well, THAT IS IT folks. Apologies for the huge length of the post but there was just so much to see and describe. It was a fantastic show; enjoyable indeed. Well done to all who took part and organised it. Well worth £6 of anybodies money! I hope you have enjoyed this rather different and very long post folks. Good evening!...
Hi everyone. Now, I joke you not, but I'm not really a Steam Rally kind of person. I enjoy going to them, but I would normally put a railway first. However, I'm so glad that I didn't today, as I would have missed a fabulous display. The 2011 Torbay Steam Fair took place over August 5th-7th at its site near Churston, only a few miles from Brixham (Devon). As we were leaving for home today, I only had around 3 hours to check out the Rally which I thought would be more that enough time. But, again, I was very wrong! I did see everything but more time would have helped; there were just so many exhibits! It was a huge site, spread over around 4 fields if I remember rightly, not to mention the car parking too. At £6 per Adult for entry it was a bargain. I haven't featured all of the exhibits in this post, due to the sheer number of them(!), but I have included a good few pictures to give you an idea of the goings-on. The Rally, now in its 25th Year, is held annually. This year, according to the souvenir guide, there were THIRTY-THREE Full Size Engines, including Showmans, Rollers, Road loco's, Lorries and even a Fire Engine. There were also 25 Miniature traction engines of varying types, 88 Classic Cars, 44 Vintage Motorcyles, 54 Preserved Tractors, 39 Commercial Vehicles, 10 Miliatary Vehicles, 61 Stationary Engines as well as countless crafts, models, wildlife displays and even two miniature railways...
Now, just a few pics folks, to keep you entertained. Below, 1919-built "Firefly", a lovely Fowler Tiger Tractor...
Just a few of the many vintage tractors...
Just a few of the classic cars; a Ford Anglia is amongst them...
What a fabulous machine...
This white VW Beetle really caught my eye...
The Showmans Engines were here in very strong numbers today. This example is "King of the Belgians", a 1916-built Burrell. I must admit, a Steam Rally is a fantastic place to get up close and personal with engines such as these, with very little restriction...
As well as events in the Main Arena, there was a centralised area with a strong gradient, sectioned off from the public. This area seemed to be being used to give engines a good 'test'. The noise of them thundering back up the incline was something to behold indeed. This 1937-built Marshall 'S-Type' Roller made for a fantastic display of power on the bank, particularly as the safety valves were blowing! This engine is fitted with Marshall radial valve gear which includes a single eccentric for each cylinder...
Another feature of the Steam Rally, as per tradition, was the faithful Fairground Organ. I reckon there must have been 4 or 5 at least. These noisy examples were very interesting, for around 5 minutes (then I had to walk away!). However, the work that goes into them must be tremendous...
"Chimneys at Dawn"...
Perhaps the smallest engines in steam came from this expensive-looking display of Mamod models. Very nice little display indeed. I had my eye on the vintage car, they are fabulous models...
As well as main arena events, there were selective demonstrations too. Perhaps one of the most historic displays was that of the engine & threshing machine. Once upon a time, threshing engines were common-place on the farms and provided reliable and very useful service. "Attraction"; a Burrell Single Crank Compound engine of 1904; was providing today's display, linked via belt to a lovingly kept threshing machine. A lovely display and a pleasure to see...
Some of the miniatures that were going around were not so miniature in their own right! This Showmans engine in particular was huge...
Inside the craft/model tent there were a few very nice displays. Amongst them was a lovely fairground collection and an N Gauge model railway layout. There was also a collection of locomotives from the Swansea Society of Model Engineers. I had a chat with them for a while, about "Achilles" and CMES amongst other things. The best looking loco on their stand, from my point of view, was this very shiney little 3.5" 'Juliet' 0-4-0...
An Owl gives me the eye from one of the wildlife conservation displays...
1923-built Burrell Showman's Engine "Supreme" was one of only three examples of this type ever built. As you can well guess, "Supreme" is the last survivor of the three sisters...
Most of the line-up of the miniature traction engines which graced the arena. Click to enlarge if you wish! Too many to name them all but the view was fabulous. The huge Showmans model dwarfs its peers in the centre...
"King of the Belgians" and "Nightmare"; what a duo that would have been. "Nightmare" is a Foster A8 Road Loco, built in 1912. I've never seen an engine with such a huge bunker; it was carrying 7 people on its footplate (the entire family of the owner no doubt) thanks to all of the extra room. Not much more info on "Nightmare", only that she was driven to the fair all the way from Billericay (Essex)...in steam(!), hauling a Showmans trailer. Below, the Foster overtakes the Burrell in the arena...
Below we can see a pic of probably half of the full-size line up in the arena. Now, I'll have ONE go at naming them from left to right (click to enlarge the pic). First, Garratt "Lady Sylvia", then Aveiling "Major", Burrell "King of the Belgians", Foster "Nightmare", "Alice", Marshall "Toby", "Supreme" and two more unidentified examples (I tried folks!)...
Burrell Showmans DCC Engine "The Gladiator" (of 1909) chugs around the arena...
A beautifully restored, smokey Marshall...
The next engine in this post is one that really caught my eye; 1913-built "Wallace"; a Garrett Tractor. This is the engines first season in steam for around 50 years, following a full, extensive restoration. The engine is crewed by two youngsters, showing the popularity for steam even amongst the younger generations. This engine has had various new parts machined by its driver in the shot below, a 16-year lad with a fabulous engineering talent no less. Well done guys, fabulous job...
Did anyone ever see that show "Salvage Squad" where old rusting hulks were restored to their former glory? They made a few series of that show, with Madness frontman 'Suggs' as the presenter. The engine below, "Mary" of 1870, was the feature of one episode of "Salvage Squad". She is a Fowler Ploughing engine and looks fabulous. Though not a throughbred traction engine person myself, I love the Ploughers. They've just got something special about them, fabulous machines. "Mary" was a beauty...
More engines in the arena...
A Stanley Steam Car...
Now, another thing I haven't seen before(!). This engine carried trays in the smokebox in which can be cooked your jacket potatoes! I've seen potatoes cooked in a smokebox before, as well as lots of bacon on the shovel and pasties on the pressure gauges but, never in a specially built tray! Great idea!...
Another Plougher in attendence was this fabulously restored Fowler K7 of 1918. For me, her and "Mary" stole the show...
Well, THAT IS IT folks. Apologies for the huge length of the post but there was just so much to see and describe. It was a fantastic show; enjoyable indeed. Well done to all who took part and organised it. Well worth £6 of anybodies money! I hope you have enjoyed this rather different and very long post folks. Good evening!...
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