GWR header image


 
Appeal banner

Steam rally


article by: Ian Crowder
posted on: 12 October 2009
updated on: 02 December 2009

/media/100474/engine line up resize_thumb.jpg/media/100481/marshall 61970 resize_thumb.jpg/media/100488/steam ploughing resize_thumb.jpg/media/100593/dsc_0739_thumb.jpg/media/100600/dsc_0740_thumb.jpg/media/100607/dsc_0749_thumb.jpg/media/100614/dsc_0750_thumb.jpg/media/100621/dsc_0755_thumb.jpg/media/100628/dsc_0756_thumb.jpg/media/100635/dsc_0759_thumb.jpg/media/100642/dsc_0764_thumb.jpg/media/100649/dsc_0765_thumb.jpg/media/100657/dsc_0773_thumb.jpg/media/100664/dsc_0779_thumb.jpg/media/100671/dsc_0783_thumb.jpg/media/100678/dsc_0782_thumb.jpg/media/100685/dsc_0784_thumb.jpg

Standing near the top of the showground at Cheltenham Racecoure you could hardly fail to be impressed.  The area was filled with traction engines, cars, commercial vehicles and tractors of every age and description; to say nothing of model traction engines, the fairground, marquees filled with models and crafts.  Beyond a field was slowly being converted from stubble to neat ploughed furrows.  And with the majestic backdrop of Cleeve Hill, it was a stirring sight.

This was the 24th Steam and Vintage Fair, and the second to be held at the Racecourse.  "It was a truly magnificent spectacle," says Andrew Goodman, one of the organisers.  "This is a perfect site.  Plenty of car parking and plenty of hard standing too - with little chance of vehicles getting bogged down if it rains.

"But this year, the weather was generally kind - Saturday was magnificent and the damp start to Sunday didn't seem to put people off.  Around 6,000 people came…and we're already talking about what we do next year!"

As one exhibitor said: "This is the last big event of the year and it's not to be missed.  It just seems to get better and better."

The GWR ran an all-steam train service, with an additional early train to take those deciding to visit by rail from Toddington.  Trains were well filled - hundreds of families opting to combine steam road locomotives and steam railway locomotives in their day!

Here's a gallery of pictures to remind you of a show to remember and if you didn't make it, what you missed!








Comment on this item