Steam Rally 2010 Page 1

Now who could not buy a programme from these three smiling lassies. A little birdie told me that the girl on the left is Miss Duff ! I don't have her first name or the names of the other girls so please let me know.

The photographs below and on the following pages were taken on Sunday 2nd May.

It was a great day and the rain did not dampen the visitors spirits they just kept on coming. A big hand for all the hard work for Shane's Castle Vintage Steam Group under the guidance of Matthew Hull, Walter McNeill and Ian Duff.

Thanks also to Lord O'Neill for allowing his grounds to be used for the event.

Here the traction engines are starting to come alive, breathing in fire and belching out smoke. That is when I love to smell the air there is nothing nicer.

Heading off to help another Road Locomotive is Glynns of Carlow. It is owned by the Glynn family from Fenah Co.Carlow.

It is a McLaren compound 'Contractors' Road Locomotive, built in 1900, Works No 701, 8nhp. The manufacture of this engine J. H. McLaren of Leeds exported it to their agent in Australia, Gibson, Battle & Co, Sydney on the 18th February 1901. It then spent it's working life in Australia and was imported into Ireland on the 29th January 2001, 99 years after leaving these shores.

Here we have a Foster Single Cylinder Traction Engine 'Pioneer'. It was built 1914 Works No 13111, 8nhp. Supplied new to J.W. Desborough & Sons of Wiggenhill, Kings Lynn. In 1994 William Carsile of Ballynahinch purchased it and over the following six years did an extensive overhall including a new firebox, boiler barrell and backhead and tubes.

On the left and owned by Paddy Denby from Ferns, Co. Wexford we have 'Samson' which was built in 1919 Reg IL64 and is a Gattett Showmans Tractor. The engine was fully restored including new boiler and firebox with all the gears and motion work being overhauled by Paddy himself.

On the right is 'Mave' also a Garrett Showmans Tractor and purchased by Fynn Lynch from Blackrock, Dundalk, Co. Louth in 1995. This engine was built in 1918 and spent four years in France during the 1st World War. When it came back it operated at fairgrounds all over England.

Now this engine which is taking on water you could say belongs here for its name is 'Your Lordship'! It is a Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive built in 1913 Work No 3444, 6nhp. It was bought brand new by George Green who travelled to fairs mainly in Southern Scotland and the North of England. To give it extra power which was required to run his switchback ride the cylinders were bored out to 10nhp. It eventually was bought by Tom Varley of Gisburn in the 1980's, sadly Tom passed away and was then purchased in 1996 by its present owner Graham Atkinson, Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Total concentration amid the hustle and bustle is Caitlan Ellis making sure 'Red Gauntlet's' nameplate is gleamimg. It was built in 1920, is a Fowler Road Locomotive Type A9 and purchased new by Brechin's Timer Contractors of Linlithgoe, Scotland. It is now owned by William Ellis & family from Co. Carlow.