Old Iron Across the Pond

By Josephine Roberts
Updated on November 7, 2024
article image
by Josephine Roberts
A 1922 Ruston steam engine powering a saw bench made a nice working display at the Caerwys show.

One of the good things about living in a small country like the U.K. is that we don’t have to travel very far to get to our vintage vehicle events. There are at least five “vintage rallies” featuring old vehicles, tractors and steam traction engines all within a 60-mile radius of where I live, and there are several county agricultural shows within 30 miles of my home. There really is somewhere to go to every weekend if you feel so inclined.

I must admit, in the summer months, I am increasingly disinclined to travel far on weekends — I like where I live and as a working person, I value my time at home — this new found middle-aged antisocial tendency of mine means I don’t attend as many events as I could. Saying that, I really do enjoy an occasional weekend away at an event where I know I will catch up with family and friends, and the event I’m writing about here, the Caerwys Vintage Rally, is one such show.

I can get to this two-day event in just under an hour, but it’s always worth staying over because the atmosphere at these events at night is quite unique, and it’s always a pleasure to spend the evening sitting having a few beers with friends and family. The public “beer tent” at this event always has some kind of entertainment going on, and while one isn’t going to find the big names in show business appearing at a small event like Caerwys, the acts are all free of charge to see. If you don’t like the singing, you can always sit outside and chew the fat with some like-minded people.

One common occurrence in the evenings at these events is that the people who own the steam engines drive their machines to the bar and leave them parked up but running outside the beer tent. These steam traction engines tick over quietly and seem almost alive as they stand there breathing steam. Very often, the owners of the steam machinery will stand around their engines, and it can be a good time to strike up conversations about the history of these majestic machines.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388