What it’s November!!! Nearly Christmas and New Year!! Don’t be silly!! Time flies by…
We may be into autumn and the clocks have gone back but we are still busy with all our toys. I think last time we left you we were looking forward to a few more events at Amberley with our engines. Well, we had a great September and October, starting with Balls Cross Steam Rally. What a great event, it’s getting bigger and bigger over the last few years, this year there were around 15 full size engines, from Showman’s engines, road locos, traction engines, rollers and miniatures, an excellent event and one to put in your calendars for next year.
We then made our way back to Amberley with all the engines ready for their miniature event, which was full of steam vehicles of all sizes. It’s great to get these smaller engines together, they make quite a sight. The kids seem to love them too, I think it’s because they can see all the workings of the engines when you are standing on the ground and you can explain how they work as they are looking at them, all good for the steam world. Of course, we had our Foden out for both days and on the Sunday we needed to check yet another repair to Albert so he came out for the day to join in with all his smaller friends.
We had a trip to London for business in the middle of September (Wendy never goes to London, she’s only been a handful of times in her life) but a few days after she had Covid and then it made its way through the house!
Victoria had been at our friends’ yard having a repair to her brake drum, some bolts had come loose, and a few had sheered so it was time to get it fixed. This was done over a few weeks as her back wheel had to come off and some welding done, new bolts made and fitted, she was ready to make her way back to Amberley. The last Saturday of September we were on the road with her and her trailer, the trip went well, 17½ miles in about 2 hours 40 minutes (3 hours 14 minutes including a water and oil stop). Once back at the museum we parked her next to Albert, they were pleased to be back together again.
The following weekend was Autumn Gathering at Amberley and this seems to be one of their biggest events, only one day but the museum is packed with vehicles of all shapes and sizes and the public stream in. It really was a great event. We had a fantastic day with our 3 engines out and the 2 rollers and Finnigan the tractor joined us too, we were hoping to take Delilah the Morris, but we run out of time to get her there, sorry Delilah. The weather was fairly good to us, being dry most of the day but then around 2pm it started raining, and this made a few of the exhibits have a quick exit which is always a shame for the public who have paid to see all exhibits whatever the weather, but many stuck it out till the end.
We then had holiday booked! This was the 3rd time we have tried to take this holiday, delayed from last year due to family illness and then delayed from September when we had Covid, but we finally made it and had a wonderful 9 days in The Lake District in our caravan. As with the Lakes you always pack your raincoat, but we were there in the middle of that storm Ashley, with 70mph winds our caravan stood up well to it and the heavy rain.
After the holiday It was straight back to it, arrived home on the Friday evening, then we were up early Saturday morning back to Amberley and their Halloween event! It was raining which didn’t help our tiredness, but we cracked on with cleaning the engines and then steaming up, we also decorated our trailer as we were to do trailer rides in the evening. This is an evening event and runs from 6pm to 9.30pm, so it was going to be a late night! With Albert on trailer duty and plenty of trailer riders it was a busy evening for Jack and Alice who were on his footplate all evening, Victoria and Francois were sat in steam where many of the public took their pictures with them and the 2 rollers were out in force too. By the time we had put all 5 engines to bed, put the trailer away it was late, we made our way back home, arriving home at 12.15am!
Up the next day and off to Bursledon Brickworks near Southampton for their open day, we had never been to before. Just after them opening we arrived to find the carpark full, so we found a spot to park and walked back to the museum. It was busy, always great to see a museum busy and we had a brilliant time here, lots to see and some steam to look at, a mixture of full size and miniatures, they were doing trailer rides behind the full size and there is a small train ride for an extra cost. The café was busy so the queue for a coffee was a little wait but not an issue.
As we look toward the end of the year we have to get all the engines back to their winter housing and make plans for steam test, repairs and maintenance! Victoria, living and trailer will be making their way back to Hampshire soon, Francois the Foden will also be coming home this winter and Albert is due his 10 year hydraulic test and will no doubt have some TLC before next season. The cars will be out and about until the salt goes down on the roads, and Finnigan the tractor has made his way back to Hampshire.
Keep an eye out for our new christmas advert, with a new Torton Tales song for you all to learn, Wendy is still trying to learn it, but it’s very good. Lloyd is working hard to get it ready.
Please visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/victoriastortontales for more stories and pictures of our adventures. See you next time!
