The International Steam Pages |
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Grand Henham Steam Rally, (16 - 17th September, 2017) |
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This is one of a series of pages which I have uploaded to illustrate facets of steam rallies we have attended in the UK. Such events occur all over the country in the summer months, they are easily found by using your favourite search engine and may have anything between a handful of steam engines and hundreds (as at the Great Dorset Steam Fair which could probably be fairly described as having an excess of riches). Click here for the overall 2017 index. Continuing our theme of taking every chance to visit some of the smaller steam rallies, we decided to visit Grand Henham as we have friends to stay with nearby and it would also allow a visit to the excellent Long Shop Museum at nearby Leiston. Looking from afar, it might seem strange to 'compete' with the mega show at Old Warden but in fact that is a mere 100 miles away. This rally has been shrinking steamwise in recent years but judging by reports for 2016, this year reversed that trend, very welcome as there aren't too many significant rallies in Norfolk and Suffolk beyond Weeting and Strumpshaw. However, it seems that the 2015 event which was actually held in Ipswich would have been the one to attend as it was a Garrett special with slightly more engines overall than I saw here. Saturday's weather was mixed, there was some sun around midday but as all the engines faced south it was no help as it was more or less head on. Afterwards there was a heavy shower and it remained overcast for some time before the sun returned briefly. By then the crowds had melted away but most engines being parked up together, the choice of angle tended to be limited. My camera did not take kindly to the rain and I was very grateful to Yuehong for lending me her IPhone, the camera function of which more than did the job (80% of these pictures are from it). The grand parade was held under leaden skies and a photographic write off. We were out walking on the Sunday with our (non-steam) friends, there was quite a lot of sun around and equally more showers, I resisted the temptation to take a second bite but I do hope the show got the attendance it deserved, there were plenty of the standard type of other attractions on offer. All the road engines seen are based in East Anglia (the RH roller is a new arrival) and rarely seem to leave, at least to the rallies we have visited. Hence only one had I seen as much as three times before and that only because it had gone to the Allchin gathering at Hollowell in 2016. That, of course, is the pleasure to be got from making such a long journey. Steam Rollers
General Engines Two of the engines were threshing and one working a saw bench. The good light was so fleeting that I didn't attempt to cover this.
Showman's Engines
Wagons
Ploughing Engine
Portable Engine
Centre Engines
Steam Car
If you like this sort of thing then try David Collidge's Steam Scenes http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/ |
Rob and Yuehong Dickinson
Email: webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk