Doort in Stoom
 

Just seen confirmation on a Dordrecht website that, with the final lifting of corona restrictions in the Netherlands, this year's Doort in Stoom (The largest steam event in Europe!) will be going ahead on 20th to 21st May.
Is anyone planning to take any machinery over this year?
I know there has been good support from the UK in the past.
I hope to go - as a spectator - and would like to know who/what to look out for.
Bill.

We were organised to take the Garrett in 2020 before it was cancelled. Sadly, I'm told the problems around recognising UK boiler tests and the paper work around the lorry transport were to great so we are not going now.

I would love to go, we were all booked for 2020 and covid put payed to that. We also lost the local Flybe at Exeter so it just makes it all more difficult to do for us. It would be great to go back some time as it’s a fantastic event.

Mr B: Oh dear, another freedom we've lost - freedom from bureaucracy and red tape when visiting our neighbours. Here in Norfolk I'm nearer to the Netherlands than to you in Hampshire - or 4040 in Cornwall of course.
Bill.

If it wasn't for Mr Vermuyden, most of Norfolk would still be under water. No wonder you feel an affinity for the Dutch.

Martin
Ex Bedfordshire next the fens lad

Works the other way around, too.
Before Covid (I will not mention the B-word) it was easy to visit any rally in the UK. I repeatedly did so for just a weekend (there and back in two days) I was planning to visit rallies again but this year with my miniature but frankly speaking I don‘t think its worth the hassle, and I am not even mentioning any boiler inspection.

Contacted German Customs on how to proceed and it looks like I have to state everything down to a single nut and bolt (literally) which I plan to take along and to bring back, ideally with proof of purchase inside EU. This list is going to be checked on depature and cross-checked as soon as I am coming back. in case I forget to mention anything - I have to pay Customs and VAT on that.

And that is just this side of the border. I tried to get some infomation on that topic from HMRC but failed - no reply so far and reading the website does not make you any wiser. And I absolutely am not willing to pay a forwarding agency to fill out the paperwork and charge me an arm and a leg for that.

To drive with my miniature down the Dorset playpen is a dream but it looks like it will stay a dream, just not worth the hassle.

And BTW as we now have to pay excessive money for Customs,VAT and fees on orders from the UK, I started to look around locally for needed material and parts instead of ordering from the UK.

So all in all I will miss UK Rallies, but so be it.

Cheers

..
 

How does this differ from driving your German car over here if it is road registered?

I have no idea by the way but cant see how it is any different?

We can still get on a ferry and drive in Europe i'm sure :)

Hi Iain,

yes, you would be correct, if the miniature would be road legal, i.e. if I could get it registered here, which is completely out of question - Just a hint: a miniature like mine - built/finished in 2020 - would have to fulfill ALL requirements which a car/farm tactor etc. of same year would have to fulfill - emissions, safety, brakes, lights - the list is almost endless.

So, as it is not and cannot be registered - for Customs it is therefore considered much like, say, an expensive camera equipment, or expensive sports gear - you name it. Imagine you would like to bring your racing car or motorbike to race on Nurburgring. This would be the equivalent. You are not allowed to drive the racing car on the road so you cannot just use the Tunnel or ferry to get over here.

Before you ask: I cannot legally register a miniature (or a normal car) in the UK either as I do not (permanently) live in the UK, could not do before Brexit and surely cannot do now.

So as far as that goes, you are lucky to be able to register a miniature for road use. Out of question here in Germany.

Cheers

Elwood

Should we be relieved that bureaucratic blood-mindedness seems to be a reciprocal arrangement? I.e. it's not just our lot.
Elwood: how about some pictures of your 4ins DCC Road Loco? The one with your profile is a bit small. Always nice to see the results of someone's labour.
Bill.

That's a shame. I didn't realise it wasn't possible. *think

But surely going the other way there should be no difference? Providing you insurance company provides your insurance (including all the boiler insurance) within Europe?

Hi Iain,

good question! In theory it should be like that, as your miniature (or full size) is road registered. Still you might run into problems as by now, EU-authorities might or might not accept 3rd country (here UK-boiler) certifications. But, not being in that position, I never dug into that, so this is only my very personal view, I might be wrong on this ��.

So if you plan to visit, say, Doort in Stoom with your engine, firstly discuss with the organizer and make sure your insurance would cover that. Again only my musings.

Cheers

Elwood

My thoughts would be that the insurance company is the one that must be happy with the boiler inspection as they are the one taking the risk?

Interesting conversation. If you were not going to a rally, but just driving round Europe then there is nobody other than your insurance company that matters? I don't see why it should be different at a rally? That's not to say it isn't as it may be down to their insurance.

:)

Hmmm, AFAIK insurance is not the only one to make happy. I remember talking to guys in UK who had their engines put on a pallet and ashpan removed just to make sure they would not fire it up. They had valid boiler tests issued by a German (at least non UK based) official autority, still they could not be used. Extreme, but yes. That‘s what I also was told when I asked to come to a miniature rally (being a member of said club), no UK boiler test (the complete one) no firing, regardless of any non UK boiler papers - that was before „B“…

First of all I can go to rallies over here (like Doort or others) it‘s just that for a rally at any weekend on continental Europe there is about 25 in the UK at the same time so there are a lot more choices. There sometimes are soet of get-togethers of like-minded people who meet and steam together. If it‘s done on private ground, nobody (well, almost nobody) can stop you.

As for insurance: traction engines and miniatures are a rare breed over here, there is no specialist broker or insurance which takes care of that aspect. My traction engine is covered under my personal liability insurance, as I discussed that with my friendly insurance agent. Just to make sure they know what I am talking about I send the pictures and a copy of the boiler inspection, just to make sure that if anything happens I have my paperwork in due order. And a rally organizer (on one of the few) will possibly ask for insurance and boiler inspection, so better be prepared.

Cheers

Elwood

Getting back to 'Dordt in Stoom'. (Thank you for no-one pointing out that I can't spell Dordt.) The Facebook page for "Mooi Dordrecht" (Beautiful Dordrecht) has a posting today advertising this year's event. There are four photos from previous years - including this well known East Anglian Fowler A9 Road Loco, no. 15467:

https://tractiontalkforum.com/pictur...ictureid=64713

I think the miniature in the background is "one of ours" too. They are going to miss us!
Bill.

Moving engines across the border and back isnt too difficult you just need a carnet and these can be used multiple times for the same price. Officially you would need to put down all tools etc but realistically they don't need to see all that on the paperwork. All you do is pop into the customs office at each end and get the paperwork stamped which is a painless process and no one has even checked what's in my trailer yet.

Silly thing is the trailer is worth £6000 and I was told not to bother putting that on the paperwork as it's the transport so makes bit of a farce of it all and the customs boys no that!

Hi Tom,

sounds interesting and differs from what I was told.

Just a quick question, though: When did you last do that, i.e. pass the border like that? There seems to be a huge difference between pre and after „B“ And was that as a company or as a private person? That also seems to differ very much

Thanks

Elwood