What was your first encounter with steam power?

Hi all

Just wondering.

Mine was 1986 when we moved way up north and father got to inspect the loco's down at Strathspey Railway. Then my biggest steam boiler visit was to Wigans Teap paper mill in Fort William and their 175ft tall boiler. Got to climb up the inside of that one.

Before I was born - does that count? Mother was a volunteer on the Talyllyn. Since then I've grown up with miniature steam (Dad was a model engineer before I was born, and I've carried on) and with full size steam be it 2'3" gauge Talyllyn or road steam vehicles.

I built a Stuart Turner D10 steam engine for my "O level" metal work project at school, it was the first thing I was proud to have built, it got me top grades, which I have to say, was a real novilty for me, as I'm not much of an "acerdemic" I went on to build most of the engines in the Stuart range, my favourite being their "Major Beam engine". I still have all the engines dotted around the house, plus a few in boxes, still waiting for me to machine & build. One, which I started but never finished, was a Stuart Compound Marine engine which would power a good size (ie full size) steam launch. Unfortunately I don't have access to machine tools big enough to complete it.
Now I've got used to STW way of doing things, I think it unlikely I'll ever finish it!!!
I need to have more time...............Don't we all!!!
Regards,
Tony

My first encounter was steaming a Wilesco traction engine model with my Grandfather when I was eight years old. Very happy memories!

John

Was probably about 10 years ago or so dunno exact age 5-9 something like that when Grandad had a go on a Steam Train. Never driven anything steam or been up on board when it's moving not including steam trains Although i know someone who has a roller and used to drive one the last twins untill it was taken out of service a few years back but been going to the Bedfordshire steam and country Fayre for quite a few years on and off and will finally get to drive something when the Fodens done

Mine was in 1968, my parents ran a pub in Dorset where we used to hold a steam steam party on or around my birthday in July where the late great Mike Oliver brought his organ, Arthur Field his Fowler roller, "Fippeny Queen", Dave Antell with Fowler single agricultural engine "Dreadnought", his brother John with his Wallis Advance, Steve Hubbock and others. In the early years that followed, we used to do the beer tent at what was then known locally as Bushes Road, near Stourpaine where it all started.
If you have the book written by Steve, "Dorset, 40 not out, there are a few pictures of "The Royal Oak" pub and how we got involved is all in there. It's a fascinating read if anyone gets the chance to pick it up.

I've no idea, I used to get "dragged" round all the steam fairs when I was a kid, together with all the preserved railways and steam ships. My earliest recollection was going on a trip to Weymouth from Southampton on the Waverley, I remember standing for ages watching the engine running, and the trips with the caravan to Stourpaine Bushes (now the Great Dorset Steam Fair) both would have been in the late 1970's & very early 1980's. From there my passion grew, and I was hooked.

Triple Expansion Marine steam engine with exhaust turbine, every pump etc was driven by a small steam engine. This was on a small cargo ship which took 7 days to do a trip which on a modern steam turbine ship did it in 3.

I was given the remains of a Mammod engine in 1955, it took me until 1957 to get it working.

Mike

First memory is of being taken onto Blackburn railway station by one of my Grandads to see the trains, abou 3 years old probably. I always remember it as we seemed to stand very close to the edge as the train arrived and the loco wheels and valve gear towered over me as it went past. Both sets of grandparents encouraged it, one with the raliways and one with the steam rallies so I have always had a liking for both and have veered one way or the other during my life. First engine was a Mamod roller at the age of 9 or 10.

First real hands on experience with railway engines was the Blackburn MES driving a 3 1/2" gauge Rob Roy (0-6-0 tank engine). Progressed to bigger locos in this and bigger gauges including a weekend on the Welshpool and Llanffair during one of the vintage weekend in June. I am also a member of the Stockholes Farm Miniature Railway, a privately owned 7 1/4" gauge railway int he owners back garden.

First Traction Engine experience was steering a full size aveling tractor at a show in Dumfries around 20 years ago after meeting the owner at a pub in the area during a holiday there. Interesting fact is that I recently saw that very same engine in a photo in either Old Glory or Vintage Spirit, it was part of a report on a Steam Museum in a far off country (South Africa possibly) so it looks like the owner sold it to someone for the Museum. The reason I recognised it was the fact it still had the same livery which was the owners own creation, it had New Abbey Steam Cartage or something like that on the canopy and a picture of the old Abbey itself. The pub was in New Abbey village on the Solway coast road between Dalbeatie and Dumfries.

I neve thought I would ever be driving the Steam Yachts fairground ride though, a real privillage. I first rode them in 1988 at the Scarbourough Steam Rally on Olivers Mount and they certainly left their impression on me then.

The traction engine rallies at Woburn Abbey in the 1960's. I had a Mamod traction engine which was taken for walks around the village - an early love of road runs.

Tim

I have two vivid memories of traction engines in the late 1950’s. The first was of a steam roller repairing our road when I lived in Chelmsford. The second was of a pair of ploughing engines working in a field near my grand parent’s house near Bury St Edmunds. I think that it was the ploughing engines that sparked my interest in traction engines. Last year the East Anglian Daily Times published a picture of the ploughing engines I had seen all those years ago. As a result of this article I wrote to the news paper and explained my story. By pure chance I was able to make contact with the owner of the ploughing engine and to have a chat with him. He no longer owns the traction engines as he is long retired but he still lives in the village in a house opposite the field in which I had seen him working with the ploughing engines (Small world) I have since been told that they held Steam Rallies in the village and I have been given some photos.