Steam ploughing Hands-on Weekend in sunny Kent

We report on the Hands-on Weekend organised by the Steam Plough Club, which took place in Kent over a very hot, early-September weekend.

September 9th-10th was one of the hottest autumn weekends in living memory and it was against this sultry backdrop that the Steam Plough Club held its ‘Hands-on Weekend’. The event took place at Goblands Farm in Hadlow, Kent, with nine participants including Charlie Bartlett from Dorset – the only National Traction Engine Trust Steam Apprentice on the course. His family-owned Fowler BB1 Berkshire Lady, Fowler BB1 No.15164 WR7185, is making progress; it has been re-tubed and is having a Dave Eves tender kit assembled at Henwood Engineering in Newquay, Cornwall, as we write this.

Also taking part was Simon Fermin, from Hertfordshire, who helps with the Shuttleworth Collection’s engines at Old Warden. There were two sets of venerable engines, and the students worked on with the Stanier/Pierce Fowler 8hp engines Nos. 2861/3195 which were working together. 

The other set were Paul Ransley’s 1873 Fowler 12hp single No. 1908, The Mistress, with Bob Watts/Richard Wade’s 1914 Fowler BB No. 14213, Bob, which features two-speed ploughing gears, of course. This was looked after by Alan Brice who tutored various students during the weekend, as did others in the Goblands team.

All told it was a very successful weekend with the ground conditions just about right for the occasion.

This report comes from the latest issue of Old Glory, and you can gert a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE