STEAM SHINES AT ASTLE PARK

Tthe main attraction was the steam engines on display, with around 40 full-sized engines in attendance, reports David Reed. And what a selection there was, with the earliest dating from 1883 and many makes being represented. The highlight of the day had to be the parade around the ring that saw miniatures rubbing shoulders with their larger contemporaries, and large crowds enjoyed the procession.

As already mentioned, there was one engine that was getting on for 140 years old. That was BS 8161, 1883 Wallis & Steevens 7hp general purpose engine No.1169 which spent all its working life on the Isle of Man. It was restored from total dereliction over a 17-year period by Bill Briggs between 1982 and 1999. It wasn’t the only Wallis & Steevens engine on show - also to be seen was 1912 GP engine No. 7269 which was new to F J Dean