Newsletter number 3, time has ticked past over the last few months, it’s been very busy with one thing and another here at VTT! The weather has finally cheered up although maybe now it’s too hot, I know, we like to moan about the weather, too hot, too cold, anyway enough of that, lets get into what’s been happening here at VTT.
When we left you last it was around May time I think, with our event season about to start it was time to sort the living van; over the winter it does get used as a bit of a shed for all things gardening, mainly chair cushions and extra bedding out of the caravans so we needed to empty it and give the van it’s start of season deep clean. This is where Wendy empties everything out and scrubs every inch of the walls, floor, cupboards, cleans all the brass handles and then very neatly puts everything back. It looks fabulous, always lovely to see it like this, but this is about the only time it looks so nice as when we are off with Victoria everything of hers gets thrown in there, coal, wood, chimney tops, her covers and anything else that is needed, but for a bit Wendy’s living van looks great and is ready for the season.
Beginning of June and we were off to Hollycombe Steam Museum for their steam rally, this year it was held on 1st & 2nd June and commemorated Robert Bance who sadly passed away at a fairly young age. We roaded Victoria there on the Thursday evening as it’s only a few miles away from us and takes about an hour. On the Friday Jack roaded the Foden too as we had no trailer due to it being broken. He had a good run only stopping a couple of times as it’s quite hard firing a 6” Foden going along at speed but he enjoyed the trip and Francois the Foden went well. The weather for the event was strange, windy, cold and rain threating all the time, but it never really stopped us having a good time. There was plenty to see, lots of visiting engines and of course Hollycombe have their railways and fairground. The public came as well, it seemed well attended by the public and all enjoying the atmosphere, Saturday evening they put on a fabulous BBQ and we all had a great time, looking forward to next year’s event.
The following weekend was back to Albert, he had had quite a few bits of work done and we had finally got his V5 through the post so we could take him for a bit of a road run. So we decided we would pop to the locally brewery and café, we were joined by Allchin “Bess” with Jamie Russell and his Mum Kate on the footplate. We had a fab run out with him with Jack and Lloyd taking his controls, although very different to Victoria and a lot slower he went well. We then steamed back to the yard where he was loaded onto the low loader and taking to his new home, Amberley Museum. He was driven into the museum by Jack and Lloyd steering and it was a lovely day and nice to have him at Amberley ready for Victoria’s arrival.
In the middle of June it was Victoria’s turn to make her way to Amberley along with our trailer and living van, the weekend before we had prep everything and we were ready to go, it was a lovely day for weather and not too hot. We left it later in the day to try and avoid some of the early morning weekend traffic which seemed to work well. We had a great trip over, as always Victoria steams well and loves to be out on the road, I think it’s her favourite thing, she makes no issues and just keeps going, it’s the crew who struggle more! After 6 hours on the road (only 4 and half moving) including all our stops for water, lunch and to let traffic by we reached Amberley where there were fish and chips waiting for us thanks to Nick and Hannah who had gone and got them for us, it was very much appreciated. We parked Victoria and the trailer and living van in their normal places and chilled. Victoria and Albert still weren’t together but they are getting closer.
The following weekend was all about making sure engines were clean and for the first time they would both be standing together for more than 22 years! We steamed up Albert and moved him to park next to Victoria, Lloyd and Jack drove him through the museum to bring him up to Victoria and as we could hear him coming the emotions got us, there may have been a few tears from us as they finally got to sit next to each other, it was a fantastic moment and one we will remember forever I’m sure. Both engines were ready for there big event the following weekend.
July and our big event, Amberley Steam weekend where Victoria and Albert would be in steam together for the first time in 22 years. It was busy, there were people everywhere around the engines and people chatting to us. We had decided not to steam Francois the Foden until later as we needed to get Victoria and Albert in steam as well as the museum West Sussex roller, “Joan”. This was all done and soon we were looking forward to our first trundle round with them. With Wendy and Lloyd on Victoria and Jack and Alice on Albert we were off, it was great to see them together, we were all feeling quite emotional. It was lovely to see so many cameras taking pictures, films and even some of Albert’s old friends came to see him, we enjoyed talking to many people. Later in the day we steamed the Foden so we had all 3 engines in steam, it was busy with 3 of them but all good fun. Saturday evening was spent trundling round taking a few pictures and enjoying the engines. Sunday up and another hectic day, many people again to chat to and some stories if their time with Albert and Victoria over the years, always love to hear peoples memories of our engines. Later in the afternoon Wendy had a steer round on Albert with her son Jack and they were having a great time until Wendy notice something about Albert’s back tyre, she showed Jack and he said it looked like the tyre is falling off and we should take him back to the living van and have a look, but 2 minutes late the tyre had already started to full off. So a walk to find Lloyd and what our plan was going to be. Well there was only one option really and that was to take them off, they were well past their sale by date and it was something we were going to do over the winter anyway, so Albert had just made the decision himself! The VTT crew spent the next 3 hours cutting off the tyres and by 9pm Albert was back on his strakes and looking great.
The following morning was Amberley photo charter, this is where Amberley open their doors to some photographers and they set up shoots with the engines and drivers to get some excellent pictures. We steamed Victoria and Albert ready to join in with the shoot, always a good event, with about 50 or so photographers there is always someone pointing a camera either at you or the engines.
It was a fantastic weekend, thanks to Amberley Museum and to Nick Pidgley who organises the event and always puts on a good show. There are plenty more pictures to look through on our Facebook page and while you’re there give our page a like.
The following week Albert was once again on the move, again in need of a couple of repairs, it does seem one step forward, two steps back, with him at the moment, lots of small repairs that seems an ever long list! So he was off again and Lloyd was back at the yard fixing him. But by the weekend we were back out on the road for a short trip to test all was well and yes he was ready to go back to Amberley.
We then had the Railway Gala at the museum, we could only do one day of this as we had a friends party which also involved steam engines but not any of ours! On the Sunday we steamed both Victoria and Albert and spent a lovely day steaming around, we also moved the West Sussex roller out of the shed ready for the following weekend, the roller wasn’t in steam so Albert pushed her through the museum.
End of July and it was 80’s Weekend at the museum, if you loved the 80’s then this was an event for you, from cars, BMX, even a Sinclair C5, retro games and in the Limeburner’s Café was a 80’s menu! We came along in our 80’s car of course, our Lancia Volumex Coupe, we also steamed up Albert and Francois the Foden while Victoria had a really good clean.
That brings us to August, the weekend just gone we stripped down the Foden as this coming weekend he has his cold test and steam test, Albert will be in steam this weekend too, as always with Albert he has had a new gasket made and we just want to make sure he is all ok. Victoria also maybe in steam as we don’t like to leave her out. Then Victoria and the living van are off on the road over the bank holiday weekend, making their way to Balls Cross for the steam rally there; we understand there is going to be as many as 15 full size steam engines there! Albert and Francois will be joining us to.
Car news – we have done a few car shows in the last few weeks, our Lancia has been to the Amberley 80’s weekend, a local show where our little Morris also joined us and then Lancia Motor Club Hampshire evening meet at a local pub. Nice to get out in the car and do a few events. We also took our 1998 Alfa GTV to a evening pub event, sadly it was raining but there were a few cars to look at but all the people were in the pub, so we had a good look round the cars and then back home.
On a last note, it was nice to purchase a copy of Vintage Spirit magazine and to our surprise on opening it there was Victoria and Albert looking back at me. It was an article about Hollycombe Rally in June, a few nice pictures and a good write-up, although it said Victoria was a 5nhp where she is a 6nhp!
Book news – Wendy is still promoting her books, putting all her effort into getting them out to everyone, it’s a very tough job, she gets knocked back and upset some days but she keeps going. She is always asking “how do you get them out there more!” Book 6 is coming along, she also has ideas for many more but we can’t publish anymore until we have enough money in the bank to do the next, so please make sure you tell all your friends about this wonderful book series, we think they are the best!
Well, we hope this has got you all caught up with our last few months and we look forward to what’s to come. With more events and steamings it’s going to be a busy few months.
We will see you next time, don’t forget to see more pictures and keep up to date by following us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/victoriastortontales
