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A taste for steam

This year the Torbay Steam Fair bought together many enthusiasts and novices together, all keen to savour the delights of an age gone by, as steam engines bellowed and whistled around the Churston site, near Brixham.

The powerful metal beasts, brought thrills to the crowds and some visitors were encouraged to have a go at steering the Showman Engines, Road Locomotives and Traction Engines around the arena, whilst other climbed on board the Sentinel Steam Lorry to be power up and down the field.

Having been thwarted by the weather last year, engines and public were not able to get together on such a wet, slippery and muddy landscape, however this year's organisers of the Steam Fair had taken every precaution to ensure they were ready for emergency weather conditions, with a full Health and Safety inspection declaring the new site layout and features, exceptionally good.

Indeed the crowds were not disappointed this year as ‘Gladiator', a Showman Engine made by Burrell for fairground owners Anderton & Rowland in 1909, was presented by owner David Goodwin assisted by Sam Henwood, as they celebrated the engine's 100th birthday. At a recent show in Cornwall, the engine had been hooked up to power fairground rides, the job it had done most of its working life that included being bought by T. Whitelegg & Son in 1932, during which it had powered the new American Radio Cars, the forerunner of the Dodgems.

In 1953, enthusiasts bought Gladiator and founded the Gladiator Club, to rejuvenate and take the engine to rallies. Their chairman Gordon Richards had previously helped the Gladiator during its working life by repairing a back axle , when Gladiator broke down on the road, getting the engine moving again within 48 hours with a custom handmade piece of steel!

David Goodwin took on Gladiator in 1984 and continued the restoration and maintenance that has kept it looking as good as they day the Showman engine was sold, although David suspects that the original engine was probably destined for the agricultural use, due to its sloping sides, but never made it to the fields. David said,” Anderton & Rowland probably requested a lot more engines for their fairgrounds, so Burrell having put this one out to rust, as part of the process of making it into a working engine, took this one and made a Showman Engine instead!”

Talking to other enthusiasts cleaning their engines, as the slight rainfall dulls brasses and muddies wheels, it soon becomes apparent that others engines later on in their lives were adapted from general purpose and agricultural engines to Showman Engines for use on fairgrounds. The Lady Sylvia owned by C Williams for the last three years, was originally a road roller working around London. It was completely transformed with twisted brasses and board. It is now cherished by Mr Williams, having named it after his mother, and he is now a committed enthusiast after just decided to have a go at steam five years ago!

Many of the presenters including the fabulous steam car by Terry Fry were relatively newcomers, being tempted by the aroma of steam, but in this case not so keen to acquire dirty hands. Terry purchased the 1907 Stanley Steam Car and avoids the blackened hands of most of the steam enthusiasts, as the 10hp engine runs on vapourized petrol rather than coal! Nevertheless he explained it was hard work maintaining the brasses and quality of its appearance, but ‘it's a joy to drive' and there are only three of its kind in this country, 31 left in the world!

When a coal lorry arrived at the Steam Fair site the quarter size John Fowler A7 miniature steam engine was eager to collect its bag, with owner Peter Webb admitting he was hooked on steam. He said that the scaled down miniature engine he owns is, ‘a great way to enjoy working with steam and a lot easier way of transporting the engine to shows compared to the full scale steam engines!'