Steam fair.

[Iain McFadyen]

Yes, I've been! 1973 and '74. Was intending to go in 1985 also but the show was cancelled due to landowner disputes. Almost without exception, all other years I have not been in the UK at the appropriate time.

I grew up in Weymouth, probably no more than 25 miles from the showground at Stourpaine. The event was originally known as the "Stourpaine Rally".

Quite an entertaining event! Rows and rows of engines, some traction and some fixed. A large procession in excess of 150 traction engines some years. Quite vivid memories of the noises and smells (methylated spirit, coal smoke and fuel oil), and the sights of grown men tending to their engines wearing dungarees with the obligatory dirty rag hanging out the rear pocket,... and flat caps or berets, and with faces blackened from the soot. :-) 

Iain   8P6UK


>________________________________
>From: Martin <dcmk1mr2 at gmail.com>
>To: Tacos <tacos at amrad.org>
>Sent: Monday, September 5, 2011 12:49 PM
>Subject: Steam fair.
>
>This came up at Tacos, but didn't have a reference, so here it is -
>http://www.gdsf.co.uk/attractions.aspx
>
>Aficionados claim this is Woodstock for the steam world.  Has anyone
>been?  Reviews?
>
>Martin
>KB3UJQ
>
>
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