TRACTION ENGINES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 15

TRACTION ENGINES

Big Rally At Yaldhurst Twenty-one traction engines steamed proudly up in lines four abreast, halted and sounded their whistles in a strident cacophony. This was the climax to a grand parade of engines at a rally held at Yaldhurst on Saturday; Ranging in vintage from 1898 m 1926 the engines were all, in the words of the commentator: "Ready for a full season’s work.” The rally on Saturday was held to help raise funds for the Belfast sub-branch of the Plunket Society. Between 2000 and 3000 attended. Throughout the day the engines paraded and competed in novelty events—the best, a race for engines steered by women—and demonstrations were made with a wooden threshing mill and a chaffcutter. The oldest machine on the ground was a 5 hp. 1898 Fowler single cylinder, owned by Mr P. Padnatz, and an 1899 8 h.p. Burrell single cylinder was brought by Mr W. Topp, of Springfield. An engine built to be pulled by a team of horses was also present and this was powering a saw bench cutting up slab wood into blocks. This engine, a 3 h.p. Garrett steam portable single cylinder, is the property of a seven-year-old steam enthusiast, John Hawkins, of Belfast. His parents are both keen traction engine enthusiasts and his father, Mr R. Hawkins, owns the biggest Burrell engine, a 10 hp. compound, in New Zealand. The portable engine was acquired recently from a Fendalton propert where it had been used for sterilising glasshouses. The engine bad not been used since about 1943 and trees were growing through its wheels, Mr Hawkins said. It was taken to Ashburton where members of the Ashburton Steam Club helped restore it and Mr Hawkins later gave it to his son. With an engine driver’s peaked cap on his head and a pair of stained overalls, John looked an enthusiast and spent the day supervising the firing of the engine and helping carry the slab wood to the men working the saw bench. Mrs Hawkins also took part in the rally. Steering Mr S. Poster’s engine in the woman steerera’ race, she had headed off her mother-in-law on her husband’s engine. The race was won by Mrs E. Penman, steering Mr H. Rainey's engine from Ashburton. An excellent feature of the rally was the grand parade. After the engines had saluted the crowd they remained in position while hundreds of children clambered over , them and other enthusiasts photographed them from every angle. As well as the engines the organisers bad produce stalls and sideshows. A model aeroplane display was cancelled as the wind was too strong.