Welland Steam Rally 2015
Putting on a Show

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 Welland index and click here for the overall index.

'All the Fun of the Fair' is integral to the Welland experience. Most of the fairground rides are historic and powered by showman's engines whose sustained power output is often unappreciated by visitors.

Powering the Fair

Some 20 showman's engines were lined up alongside one another, many providing power for the rides behind, the most conspicuous of which was naturally the Big Wheel.

Steam Gallopers

While many of the fairground rides were powered by the showman's engines, the gallopers were again steam powered by Savage centre engine 'John Bull' (638/1895). For more pictures see the 2013 report.

Atkinson's Oktoberfest Organ and Dancers

Graham Atkinson came down from Scarborough and the shows, especially the last one as other offerings wound down, attracted a large and appreciative audience. The engines are Garrett 'Princess Maud' and Burrell 'His Lordship'. A feature of shows like this is the pair of young ladies collecting for charity during their rest phases.

The Saunders Collection

These regular visitors had been moved to near the steam engine parking area and despite being remote from the beer tent, they also attracted good crowds. Their engines this year were Burrell 'Ex-Mayor' and 'Majestic'.