Full Steam Ahead

 Further explorations at Stotfold Working Steam Weekend:

Sawing By Steam

There were a couple of different set-ups for sawing huge logs, powered by steam engines. A large part of the art seemed to be in lining everything up satisfactorily. Once this was done the saw cut through the largest timber with ease.

Tractor Ploughing

The field at the end of the showground gets ploughed by any number of different tractors over the course of the weekend. It has to proceed at a leisurely pace to ensure the job's not finished too quickly! You never know what kind of machines you'll see in operation.

A little red Fergie just like the one we used as a general purpose runabout when I worked on a farm. 

But this was definitely a bit before my time! This is an International Harvester 8-16 tractor from just after the First World War - so over 100 years old and still going strong. Many of these old tractors are better preserved than their drivers.....

A Few Portraits

These shows attract some real characters.....

Steam Thrashing

Thrashing (or threshing) machines were introduced into this area in the early years of the nineteenth century and caused the normally peaceful agricultural labourers to riot and smash up the machines which they feared would steal their jobs.

Many were harshly sentenced for their protest, though several men were later pardoned - probably because their labour was still needed on the land. In time a large proportion of the agricultural labour force moved away and found work in the cities and it's also been argued that increasing mechanisation led to cheaper food for the working classes. I've also heard it suggested that the First World War could never have been fought if such a large part of the workforce was still needed to gather in the harvest.

There was no shortage of labour on the thrashing machine today!

More Steam

With a steam engine you can't just jump on and turn the key. The furnace has to heat up and the boiler build up a head of steam before you're going anywhere. An excellent time then for junior enthusiasts to climb aboard and play at engine drivers.

But don't wander too far away or you might get more steam than you need!

A great opportunity for the passing photographer!

In the afternoon I spotted this machine returning to the show towing a tanker of water to keep the thirsty engines running.

This man is stoking the firebox to keep a steam pump running. But this is not just any old pump; it's a horse-drawn steam-powered fire engine. If you had a house fire in Newbury you'd be glad to see it arriving on the scene. A case of fighting fire with fire!

Last But Not Least

So many people seemed to miss Monty and Logie ploughing their lonely furrow in the far corner of the showground.

Apparently the darker horse is a Shire while his companion is a Clydesdale

There's a whole lot more that I haven't shown you: a large marquee selling all kinds of craft items; a fairground with a helter-skelter and roundabouts; a bar; several food vendors; a chance to be photographed holding an owl; a fairground organ belting out cheery tunes; a rock-crushing machine that we never did manage to see working; stalls devoted to selling tools, potted plants and all kinds of junk; various charities and environmental groups: the man selling straw hats......

After all that you might fancy a cup of tea.

Take care.