Happy Birthday Keeling!

This year 'Keeling', a 1909 Burrell traction engine is celebrating her 100th birthday, she is owned by Dave Smith. 'Keeling' has an interesting history, she was the first traction engine to cross the tamar toll bridge.

Happy Birthday 'Keeling'!

Photos from the Newark tractor show will be posted soon.

Severn Valley Railway, Ride on Tornado

Over the half term school holidays brand new locomotive 'Tornado' was in steam at Severn Valley Railway so me, mom and dad, Chris Beale, Peter Waghorn, Chris's Grandad and Chris's mate Jake decided we would have a day out on the railway includeing a ride on 'Tornado', and enjoy it we did.

A little bit about Tornado -

- Tornado's full title is 'Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado'

- Tornado cost £3 million to build.

- The first steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years.

- Tornado was built at Darlington.

We arrived early at Severn Valley and decided to take a trip to Highley (because it was 'highley' likely we were going to get off, Petes bad joke, not mine) on 'Erlestone - Manor' and the views from the bridge at Highley (Right Picture) were fantastic.

Later we boarded 'Tornado' for our trip to Bridgnorth, we travelled in a teak carriage which was nice and comfy for the journey, we all enjoyed ourselves and very much want to go back soon.

Enjoy the photos...

End of Season Steam Run

Once the steam rally season is finished the steam boys have what they call an end of season steam run, or pub crawl i heard someone say by mistake. The steam engines leave SE Davis's Yard where they are kept and make their way to the "Y - Not" for Breakfast with their living vans on tow, then onto the "Green Dragon Pub" at Sambourne, then onto the "Jubilee" where more ale is consumed. It didnt stop there either they then carried on to the "Moat House Inn" at Coughton (incidentally where we stop for half way refreshments on the new years day tractor run). Left Picture: 'Big Dazza' topping his roller up with water. The steamers stopped overnight at the Moat House and then made their way back to SE Davis's yard on the Sunday morning. Around seven steam engines took part on the road run and i was lucky enough to get a seat in the trailer towed by engine "Lucy". A good time was had by all and the weather was quite good to us. Enjoy the photos..., remember to click on them to enlarge them.