Newsletter 8

What’s been happening over the last few months, and Christmas is nearly here.

So when we left you last, it was July/August time, I think, and here we are now, the end of November! I’m not sure where the time goes. So let’s start by catching up on what we have been up to over the last few months.
At the beginning of August, we were still at Amberley Museum with the three engines. They had their Retro Wheels weekend where all things bike come along to the museum for the weekend, from Penny Farthings to retro 80’s BMX bikes, its always a good weekend and a great excuse to steam up so we steamed up all three engines over the weekend as this would be the last event here for a while as we were off to do a couple of events outside Amberley.

The following weekend on the Saturday was a cleaning weekend for all the engines, all were ashed out and polished, this is always a big task every couple of weeks and with three of them it takes time. On the Sunday we were out with one of our cars, our Lancia VX Coupe, we had been invited to Goodwood House to their GRRC Garden Party. We have been members of the GRRC (Goodwood Road Racing Club) since the beginning and before that it was the GSA (Goodwood Supporters Association) so we like to try and support a couple of events through the year. Lots of cars there, from million pound super cars down to us and our retro classic along with some Fords, Minis and everything in-between, a nice event.

Then we prepared for an event we have never done before and that was Track Across the Field, held local to our home, it was great to think we were back in Hampshire supporting a local event. The week before we loaded Victoria, Albert, our living van and trailer to the event, we were joined by our friends with their Allchin traction engine and Foden Wagon. The weather was hot and we were cautious about the dryness of the fields and roadside around us so spark arresters were put in just to be on the safe side. Spark arresters are things you put either in the engines chimney or on top of their chimney, this stops the sparks coming our the engine chimney when it is running. Albert had his in the chimney and Victoria has one that sits on her chimney. We arrived on the Friday and set up camp, we had decided to go to the pub for a run on the Friday evening so we steamed up Victoria and our friends steamed up their two engines and off we went, only a few miles to the pub, The Trooper near Petersfield. We had a drink and then steamed back to the field, a great trundle out. Saturday again was very hot but as the morning arrived there seemed to be tractors a plenty, with lots of fields for them to plough there was a vast array of different makes, models, colours and sizes, from the old to the modern. With plenty of room for all us with the engines to make good use of, and we chuffed around most of the day. Again late afternoon we decided to steam to another pub, The Pub with No Name, quite a well known pub locally, so Lloyd and Wendy took Victoria, and Jack and Seren took Albert, a little further for this trip and it was a beautiful evening to be out on the engines. We stayed for a drink, tried to get food but they were all booked up so jump back on the engines, this time Lloyd and Seren on Victoria and Jack and Wendy on Albert, a great trip back to the field. This is what we enjoy doing most, taking the engines for a trip up the road and chatting to people that may have never seen an engine before, what a great few hours it was. We then had soon dinner and Jack and Seren took Albert to the beer tent while Victoria stayed at the living van cooling down; I’m sure she would have gone to the beer tent but I think her crew (Lloyd and Wendy) wanted a rest! Sunday was another nice day although not quite as hot, the fields were busy again with tractors and a large amount of public visiting which was great to see, we had many friends come and see us and the whole event was great. We would like to say a big thanks to the team that put on the show, it was well organised and they were all very welcoming, we can’t wait for next year!

The August Bank Holiday Weekend was another busy one, we had moved Victoria and Albert to our friends yard in Sussex after our previous event and from there we would steam to our next event which was Balls Cross Rally held the last weekend of August this year. So this would be the first time Victoria and Albert would road any distance together for over 20 years. Now we knew it would be much slower than what we are use to with Victoria as Albert is much slower and we felt we ought to wait for Albert and stick together. Our friends left first with their Allchin, living van and trailer, then we followed on Victoria with our living van and Albert with our trailer and water supply. All went well to begin with but after a few miles Albert was just not making steam and his fire was awful, so Jack stopped and sorted it out and before to long he was making steam and off they would go again. But again after a few miles he would have to stop again, eventually we put this down to awful coal and his spark arrester that sits in his chimney, the coal was not the best quietly and sooting everything up and the spark arrester made it so not enough draft was getting through to draw the fire. Victoria on the other hand went well and didn’t miss a beat, she was running on different coal too. We eventually made it and were pleased to arrive, we set up camp and made a plan for getting all our other bits and pieces there, then back home for a rest.

The last weekend of August and the weather was not looking the best, off to Balls Cross Rally we go, although the Friday was lovely so we made the most of getting things ready for the weekend ahead. This rally is always a great event, we have been going for many years and over time it has grown, especially since The Great Dorset Steam Fair has finished, I think many more local people attend now with exhibits and definitely more steam engines attend. The Saturday started as a fine day, but by 2pm the rain started and it wasn’t meant to stop until the following morning, we hoped the forecast was wrong as we had a road run with our engines and friends planned for the evening but by 4pm the rain was getting worse and we retreated into the living van to keep a bit drier. The road run was cancelled and we spent the evening in the van with an early night and our thoughts turned to how we were all going to get out of the field tomorrow. We woke to a dry morning but the ground was wet and the gateway muddy, lucky here they have two entrances, one for all exhibits and public but there is another through the farmyard for the steamers. It was decided as there were 13/14 full size engines on site that we would start trying to get out by about 3pm, well I am pleased to say all the engines got out with Victoria being the last to leave. We decided as the weather was good we would road straight back to Amberley rather than waiting until tomorrow, so we set off with the trailer and living van in tow. We had an excellent run, the weather was great, Victoria went well and we were joined by a friend and their Morris car for some of the journey. Albert would be left in the farmers yard back at Balls Cross over night and be low loader back to Amberley the following morning.

The next couple of weekends we were back at Amberley Museum for some events, tractors and then Miniatures where of course Francois the Foden came out for a lovely weekend. We then had a few days away in our caravan in the New Forest, a great time and the weather couldn’t have been better.

Back to engines and Albert was having a bit of a birthday party for his 130th! Yes, Albert was new in 1895 and this is when he was purchased by Walter Seward to come and join the family business in Petersfield, Hampshire and join Victoria. So we thought we ought to celebrate this, Victoria would also join in as she loves a party! They were also joined by the Langley family’s Fowler Traction Engine “Endurance” who was also 130 this year, and by Amberley Museum’s roller “Joan” she is celebrating her 100th year in 2025. We had a great weekend with lots of visitors, balloons and even cake! Thanks to all who came to celebrate with us.

The following weekend was Amberley’s Steam Punk weekend, again we steamed just Victoria for this event but a good turn out of Steam Punk people and even Chitty Chitty Bang Bang came along for the weekend.

Next was what was our last weekend of all our engines together at Amberley and that was Halloween! We steamed up Albert for this and we had a great evening, lots of scary people dressed up as ghost, clowns, witches making us all jump, with lights adding to the effect and the weather which was chilly and misty, a great evening.

The next day we were back to steam up Victoria and head off with our trailer and living van, we were being low loader to our friends yard ready for a road run and a drain out do. It was up early and steam Victoria up, we met the lorry in the car park of Amberley as it’s easier to load in there. Always a little sad when we leave Amberley with one engine and leave our other two engines, but it was time to start bringing our stuff home. Victoria was loaded to our friends yard and the living van and trailer carried on their journey back to Hampshire and home. In the week we then went back to Amberley and collected Francois the Foden as he was now sitting out in the museum and we felt it was better for him to be with us back at home and also in this week we had a disaster with our rally gazebo! The rain had sat in the roof and it had just got too heavy and sadly it had bent and broke the gazebo’s frame, and it was no more! We have had this gazebo for well over 20 years so it had served its time but nevertheless it was a sad day – RIP Gazebo.

The first weekend of November and a road run with Victoria, off to a drain out event at The Half Moon Pub in Kirdford, West Sussex. We were going from a friends yard with them and their engines so an early start to steam up and then a lovely run with Victoria, only about 11 miles and she went like a little dream with Lloyd and Jack on her footplate. We arrived at the pub mid afternoon and spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening outside the pub. We had coffee and pizza which was delicious, spent time chatting with friends and visitors, a great way to finish off our Sussex tour for 2025. A couple of days later Victoria made her way back to Hampshire and home, she left home in June so about 5 months away so it was lovely to have her back home and on the drive. Now the cleaning starts!!

As I write this right at the end of November we have just had Francois the Foden out for a run, the weather was so lovely, with the autumn sun and not too chilly he went for a lovely 10 mile trip, most of it with Jack but Wendy also took him for some of the trip which she loved.

As we looked forward and December is here and Christmas of course, we have the next three weekends at Amberley Museum for their Christmas events and as they have asked Wendy to write and create a special storybook for them, which she has done and it is a excellent story which obviously had to include Victoria and Albert, we are hoping, weather permitting that one day per weekend Albert will be out from under his cover to join in at the museum. We are very much looking forward to all the children and adults enjoying the new story from Wendy being read to them by Mrs Christmas. Colin is also hoping to be there and join in the fun.

Now, if you have any budding steam traction engine or steam roller fans the best gift you can purchase this year is a Victoria’s Torton Tales storybook or activity book, I’m sure they will all love them. Please visit our website to purchase yours and don’t forget there are hoodies and T-shirts too.

So as we wrap up this last newsletter of 2025, Wendy would like to thank you for all your support and please tell all your friends about her books…

We wish you a very Happy Christmas and we’ll see you all in 2026.