Great Dorset Steam Fair 2019
Steam Ploughing

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 GDSF2019 working areas Index, click here for the GDSF2019 main index and click here for the overall 2019 index.

It was Saturday before I made it properly to the steam ploughing area, by which time it was very hazy. You'll have to look hard to find the steam engines on this page. One of the most relaxing experiences on earth is riding a plough or cultivator as it goes about its business without any seeming effort involved. This heavy cultivator was turning over the soil broken up by the anti-balance plough. The empty spaces in the Blandford car park at midday tell their tale.

The final stage was to use this medium turning cultivator. Its folding 'wings' have been let down, despite all the flints, the ground was easy to work, dry at the top and still a little damp lower down. 

It was lunchtime, the cultivators had both returned to base and the plough was on its way to join them.

The view is a bit restricted but on a hot day, it definitely beat walking back down.

Michael Oliver's last resting place is on 'Steam Plough Hill' with its view of the whole fair. What would he make of it 10 years on?