International Steam at Large 2019
 

Like David Bosworth we journeyed north to Beamish, a long way but well worth the effort.

By Saturday, 4 extra road engines had appeared.

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/...kindexbm19.htm

Trevithick Day 2019
 

We had a long weekend in Cornwall. The weather wasn't wonderful but the least bad day was the Saturday, fortunately.

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/...rollers396.htm

Having got home this afternoon, the report has been thrown together in a bit of a rush...

Abbey Hill May 4th
 

We were in Yeovil on Saturday:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/...kindexah19.htm

35 engines and only 6 were here 5 years ago...

Unfortunately it's a pretty congested show ground which restricts movement for the most part.

Enjoy.

Castle Howard and Carrington 2019
 

We attended these rallies over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. The reports can be accessed through my 2019 index page:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

St. Albans Steam and Country Show 2019
 

We attended on Saturday, there were 30 full sized road steam engines present and it was generally warm and sunny.

What not to enjoy including the Ukulele band playing in the beer tent with a walk in bass player when someone (and maybe an engine or two) got stuck in an enormous jam on the M1.

(So it's not impossible that Sunday may have seen an extra engine or two as there were three 'no shows' in the excellent complementary programme.

Linked as usual from the 2019 index page:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

Wiltshire and Stoke Row Rallies 2019
 

On Sunday we visited the Wiltshire Rally which was a bit of a disaster.

Consequently we also visited the Stoke Row Rally too.

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

Bloxham / Banbury 2019
 

We too got baked in the sun on Saturday:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/...kindexbb19.htm

Wiston 2019
 

We were here on the Saturday and the sun came out eventually as things were winding down around 16.30:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

It was much as before with mainly 'south coast' engines, plenty of movement and 44 engines compared to 34 when we visited 4 years ago. It was well worth what for us is a long journey.

If anyone attended the show and photographed Aveling Barford AC606 which I saw once under the clouds and couldn't find again, I would be grateful for the use of a photograph for the report. There's an email address at the bottom of the report pages.

AC606 was parked up behind the Scammells for a time, but difficult to get a shot of it. Another successful event, and one that grows a bit every year.

Thanks.

It's got a lot going for it with a brilliant setting and it's within easy reach of anyone living along the coastal strip.

Coming from where we live, it's bound to be an occasional pleasure.

Marcle Rally 2019
 

Frankly, this was 'disappointing' with steam engine numbers half what they were a few years back.

The rally desperately needs a 'reboot':

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/...rollers417.htm

Welland 2019
 

My report (mainly Thursday and Friday) is now available via the index page for 2019:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

After all the hard work, the organisers were most unlucky, we live some 20 miles west and we had no rain all weekend, the rally site was right on the western boundary of the rain that caused big problems further north.

Please advise errors and omissions, I'm rather tired after a one day visit to Boconnoc on the Sunday.

Conditions could not have been more different, suffice to say it was well worth the effort.

Boconnoc 2019
 

For our second event of the weekend, we made a long day trip to Cornwall.

It was a superb experience in great surroundings with excellent weather, the highlight being the heavy haulage demonstration with three of the visiting NZ engines.

The report can be accessed from the 2019 index page:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

It's a large site with engines scattered far and wide, it's not impossible that some the 'no shows' were hidden away somewhere.

Weald of Kent Rally 2019
 

We were at Woodchurch for this excellent event on the Saturday and Sunday.

There were quite a few (OK, lots) of A&P rollers but several were new to me and I believe only recently out and about. Not to mention plenty of other engines too.

It didn't rain although bright sunshine was in short supply.

See http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

Enjoy and let me know of any mistakes or omissions, some of the rollers are very similar...

South Cerney 2019
 

On my way to the Weald of Kent Rally, I spent Friday afternoon at South Cerney:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

Almost all the engines were on site and there was plenty of movement, with three saw benches.

However, the weather wasn't very friendly, it didn't matter as I checked what was present, but there was no more than an hour of quite good sunshine later by which time there was less movement. As such the pictures are a mixed bag.

Lincoln 2019
 

Despite the best attempts of the rain gods on Friday, the showground drained well overnight and the fair breeze dried the surface nicely. Plenty of sunshine, especially in the afternoon.

We attended a full day on the Saturday and just briefly on Sunday. Afterwards, we went to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life and while there the heavens opened again. I hope the showground a few miles away escaped it.

We found things much as in 2016 with mainly 'old friends' but a sprinkling of unfamiliar engines.

The usual report is now available, as always the link is here:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

Now to get ready for Dorset...

Onslow Park 2019
 

Having returned exhausted from a hot and dusty GDSF on Sunday we had an early start on Bank Holiday Monday.

The sun took a long time to appear but there was enough of it to get a nice set of static pictures.

I had been told that there would be 20 steam engines which were new to the show and indeed there were 22 which I had not seen there since I started visiting in 2013.

With the returning pair of Shropshire Fosters and the first appearance of 'Talisman' in steam this was another show to remember.

Hopefully not too many mistakes and available as always via the index page:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

GDSF 2019
 

I have now completed my photoreport, plenty of movement here...

Follow the link as usual in:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/...ndexgdsf19.htm

Please let me know of any errors but more importantly any omissions. I have looked through the relatively few pictures on this forum and didn't spot any extra engines. I don't 'do' Facebook where no doubt there are thousands and thousands of pictures.

It was an excellent show but it seems that the numbers were well down compared to 2018. I don't know how they would compare with a 'normal year'. Certainly whether by better organisation or simply reduced numbers, many of the issues that sparked adverse comments last year were not apparent.

My one main criticism is that heavy playpen users were allowed to destroy the surface to the extent that by Saturday afternoon there was dust flying everywhere. Yuehong and I had enjoyed Friday's spectacle but we stayed only a short while and then moved on. It's easy to see in the report which pictures were taken on which day!

We were not present on Sunday or Monday, so more engines may have turned up then.

Northleach 2019
 

A small but friendly rally in an attractive part of the country.

Heaven forbid there should be any mistakes this time!

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

Stoke Prior Steam Rally 2019
 

We had a cultural day out in the North Cotswolds and on the way we popped into this small show.

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm

The good news is that 'the show will go on' and the family will pick up the reins following Keith Shakespeare's passing.

Grand Henham 2019
 

We made the long trip to Suffolk to visit some friends and take in the rally.

It was blessed with perfect weather on Saturday and the late running Grand Parade made for perfect photography to boot.

As always please let me know of any errors:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/.../ukindex19.htm