Fairford Steam Show (19th - 20th August, 2023)

The International Steam Pages

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 index for 2023.

The former Fairford show had passed away in a sea of mud in 2015. Of the 11 engines present then, just 2 returned for the show's reincarnation (Marshall 71837 and Wallis and Steevens 8005). A huge amount of work had gone into preparing for the big day. However, Gloucestershire has been very wet for the last month and a half (my runner beans love it) and heavy rain on Friday and again on Saturday evening almost wrecked everything. With just one farm gate into the main site, 'trackway' had to be sourced to guarantee access for the exhibits and then also for the visitors on the Sunday as the car park opposite was, by now, in no state to be used. So when we arrived at 11.00 on Sunday, we found that every spare square inch (including that intended for the grand parade) had been commandeered for parking. The ground was at least damp everywhere and even muddy in parts but we and everyone else got in and out safely. Of course, there was almost no movement possible but I'm sure no one complained. It is after all farmland, I doubt any permanent damage to the surface will have occurred and I look forward to returning next year for a more normal event.

And if the same thing happens again, then there will already be a Plan B in existence and no need to make it up as they went along as they did this year. Please understand that is not a criticism, I thought the organisers and volunteers did a brilliant job in difficult circumstances.

Steam Rollers

Wallis and Steevens 8005 was granted an exemption to the no movement order so it could remove some of the ruts created by traffic entering and leaving.

Maker	Number	Registration	Notes
Aveling and Porter	3430/1894	PB 9801	South Cerney Rally 2018 Picture FFFB Show 2018 Picture South Cerney Rally 2019 Picture Wiltshire Rally 2022 Picture South Cerney Rally 2022 Picture South Cerney Rally 2023 Picture
Aveling and Porter	4660/1900	NR 2393	"Pride of the Road" Bocconoc Rally 2016 Picture Old Warden Rally 2016 Picture Castle Combe Rally 2022 Picture Stoke Row Rally 2022 Picture Banbury Rally 2022 Picture South Cerney Rally 2022 Picture Castle Combe Rally 2023 Picture Stoke Row Rally 2023 Picture Banbury Rally 2023 Picture South Cerney Rally 2023 Picture
Aveling and Porter	5423/1904	NO 3270
Aveling and Porter	10385/1922	HR 7288	"John Bull" Castle Combe Rally 2023 Picture
Wallis and Steevens	8005/1929	OU 2684	Strawberries and Steam Rally 2014 Picture South Cerney Rally 2014 Picture Fairford Rally 2014 Picture South Cerney Rally 2015 Picture Fairford Rally 2015 Picture FFFB Show 2015 Picture Banbury Rally 2016 Picture South Cerney Rally 2016 Picture Banbury Rally 2017 Picture South Cerney Rally 2018 Picture FFFB Show 2018 Picture Banbury Rally 2019 Picture Northleach Show 2019 Picture Banbury Rally 2022 Picture South Cerney Rally 2022 Picture South Cerney Rally 2023 Picture

General Engines

I think that the only traction engine that moved during my visit was the obvious safe choice, the tiny Ruston Proctor tractor. As it had done at South Cerney 2 weeks before if was powering an air hammer for a blacksmith.