Lest We Forget!

What happened on Sunday 30 July 1950 sowed the seeds of the steam rallying era that lead to the preservation of some 3,859 or so engines in the UK and Republic of Ireland according to the new TER. It also lead to the formation of the National Traction Engine Club that would later become a Trust. All this at Bridge Farm, Long Meadow, Appleford, Abingdon, Oxfordshire just over from the GWR line.

Sadly the 25 July 70th anniversary Appleford Traction Engine Rally that Jeff Shackell has worked tirelessly to set up during the last two years cannot take place owing to Covid-19, but it’s now planned to take place in July next year, God willing. Nevertheless we cannot let this anniversary of the foundation of our road steam traction preservation movement pass by.

It was in 1949 that he saved the engine from the scrapman for the then going rate of £45.