Torbay Steam Fair - Friday

[Steam Scenes]

I went down to Torbay Steam Rally on Friday, to attend the rally but also to see the engines travel through Brixham and tackle the sharp incline to the green above the town where the fair was historically held. This recreates the job showman from Anderton & Rowland, Whitleggs and Hancock's had to tackle each time the fair came to town.

Burrell's Gladiator, and Princess Marina tackled the hill with two trailers and McLaren Collossus took a trailer on it's own.

You really had to be there to appreciate how steep it is, how tight the corner is and the anticipation before they climb the hill. Proper impressive. One of those times when still pictures just don't cut it, so I took a video:



We are used to seeing heavy haulage in playpens like at GDSF, but when you have narrow streets with tricky twists and turns plus such a steep hill it really does add another dimension. One can only imagine how difficult it most have been with engines during working times with a full load, on strakes and possibly in the wet.

Well done to the engine owners/drivers and the rally organisers for coordinating road closures without which it could have never happened. If they do it again I shall be there without doubt.

Some more pictures of the run through the town:




















The decline was almost as impressive as ascent, as these pictures of Collossus demonstrate:












Then the big load came very slowly next:










And some more pictures taken earlier in the day at the rally: