Traction Attraction April '20

Steam test passed, engine cleaned, brasses polished, the LSME Traction Attraction on 4th & 5th April was to be the first steam traction event of the year, and very much looked forward to, but alas, due to current circumstances, it wasn’t to be, however, there are no restrictions on a home  steam up whilst self isolating, so it would have been rude not to!!

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The weather was ideal; sun shining, with a breeze to pull the fire, a head of steam was soon registering on the gauge. The Welsh dry steam coal burned hot and smelt wonderful, and the well-oiled machine ran smoothly.  A run through the park would have been a pleasure, in the sun, with children walking towards you, shouting to draw their parent’s attention to this contraption approaching them, hissing steam, blowing smoke and rattling along the path. Then comes the inevitable encouragement to the driver to blow the whistle, which is always a pleasure, never a chore!!

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The LSME traction event that never was ……….. I was there in spirit!

Traction Attraction April '19

The rails took a back seat over this weekend, as the big and the heavy rolled into the park to take centre stage for a weekend of road runs, haulage and spuds in the smokebox!

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The weather held out very nicely, although most wouldn’t have complained if the mercury had risen a few degrees in the glass! However, that didn’t stop the temperatures increasing in the fireboxes, and much steam was raised.

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Most scales were represented, from 2 inch to the foot, to 12 inch to the foot and all were very well presented, it was an impressive sight to behold.

Collectively, many miles were clocked up, around the park, the obligatory run to Tescos took place and the fact we were running short of coal by Sunday evening, suggests a good time was had by all.