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Thursday 12 October 2023

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.


23 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos.
    Steam fairs around here are never as big and interesting

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    1. This is quite a small show - though getting larger every year. It is however very varied with lots going on. Les and I reckon it's our favourite of the shows we visit.

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  2. It sounds like a show with something for everyone. You would have to be very hard to please not to find something of interest.

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  3. Fascinating set of photographs, though my favourites are the horses. The tractors are very male dominated, why did women never get round to tinkering with engines?

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    1. You do see some women driving tractors and steam engines, though not many at this show. Often getting one of these huge machines to a show is a family enterprise with everyone lending a hand.

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  4. There is something so addictive to watch people at work and these steam engines.

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  5. Great photos; so much to learn at these events, both from the exhibits and the people. The third photo down sent me off down a bit of a rabbit hole regarding metal wheels, hadn't seen these before. I used to spend ages at the horse stables at the steam fair, you could get close to them, they're magnificent creatures.

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  6. Esos grandes tractores, han sido la base para la explotación de tierras agrícolas, sustituyendo a los mulos, que eran los que araban, en tiempos remotos.
    Hay un pobre tractorista, que de tanto trabajar, se ha quedado en los huesos.
    Un abrazo

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  7. The horses are a reminder that we live in the epicentre of Mennonite culture here where horse drawn ploughs etc are commonly used. I am sure it was a great show. When I see the smoke and imagine the noise it recalls an incident in our local deli recently. I was wearing a tee shirt with a bird on it and a lady asked me if I was a birder. Upon hearing the affirmative she told me that she loved birds too and should have married me. She said, “My husband only like things that you pour diesel into, create stink and a hell of a racket! We call him Chitty -chitty Bang Bang!” Her husband might have been right at home with some of those machines you show. Whether I would have been happy married to her is another matter entirely!

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  8. Lots of great photos of those steam engines. I love seeing the skeleton in one, and those horses are so beautiful.

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  9. What amazing machines...all! Can't pick a favorite, but I learned a bit when seeing the guy stoking the fire. I had just been wondering how long the steam lasts after it's come up...which must depend upon the heat source. Could a farmer plow his whole field without stopping to stoke? Silly question of course...the life of steam powered tractors is relegated to shows and museums these days. Men fearing for their jobs due to industrialization is still alive and well in this year where so many men/women
    union members are striking in the US

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  10. The machines are wonderful but I have to admit that I loved the shots of the horses.

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  11. The machines are great, still work and loved by their owners. Looks like it was a successful and fun event. Thanks for showing us, John.

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  12. Wonderful vintage tractors. Anything powered by steam is fascinating. I never realized until recently that many of the little towns scattered across the American SouthWest started out as locations to service trains. The steam engines needed to take on water on a regular basis. Many (most?) of the little desert outposts have long since disappeared.

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  13. Must have been fascinating photographing that fair!

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  14. I enjoyed seeing the steam engines but the horses won the day!

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  15. Wonderful old machines, its good to see them maintained and in action but I do like the horses and the man I assume made all those lovely hats:)

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  16. Smashing! Just like the old days..... not that I can actually remember the old days. Our local Fall Fair always has a working display of antique tractors and farm equipment, looked after by a similar bunch of farmy characters.

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  17. What an amazing day you have enjoyed with those magnificent machines and horses!

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  18. The colorful, lovely-shaped machines made me imagine the good old days of your country. I like the portraits; the men with the classic wool hunting cap and the hat look so British.

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  19. I have a photo of a thrashing machine my dad took, Newbury is only a few miles from where I live

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