On the 21st February 2009, during ‘Showzam’, Blackpool’s annual festival of circus, magic and new variety we attended the Dark Spark – Full Steam finale show. This was the grand finale of the Heat the Streets show which took place on the Saturday night.
The display consisted of orchestred steam whistles, fire horns, pyrotechnic whistles, flying rockets, soulful sirens, pyrophones and balls of fire.
Steam engines present were Len Crane’s Fowler B6 road locomotive, No. 17212 and Mike Priestner’s 1917 Fowler R3 showmans engine No. 14862, Evening Star.
Len’s engine was providing steam for a manifold of various steam whistles including no less than three Fowler whistles of various sizes. There was a microphone just about in the motion which was connected to the loudspeakers so the sound of the engine ticking over could be heard.
The weather was kind to us and thanks to the organisers and to Mr and Mrs Crane for looking after us.
Word can't really describe what it was all about so I have put some photographs and a video below.
Pictures:
Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc1PCbD4lD0
Sam.