Chelford Traction Engine Rally

I first attended this rally back in the late '60s when it was organised by the local Parish Council. It's still a major event on the steam buff's calender and today Mike Hyslop, Graham Robertshawe and myself went along.

An Aveling & Porter roller leaves the display ring

The weather was lovely, and the smell of coal smoke among the beautiful parkland of Astle Park brought back memories of these rallies of decades ago.

Not much has changed!

Coal smoke and steam among the Cheshire parkland at Astle Park

Two of several fairground organs at Chelford. These use continuous punched card rather like a Jacquard loom to produce the music. The organ in the lower picture gave a lovely rendition of 'The Battle of Britain' march!


These magnificent steam-driven 'gallopers' have been attending the Chelford rally for as long as I can remember


There were miniature engines, like 'Helen' here, as well as full size


Stanley Steam Car (last of its type) among the big engines


A 'big engine' in the display ring


This delightful small-scale 'Case' tractor has some novel (by British standards) features which are also exhibited by its full size counterpart. The valve gear (see picture below) is of a type I have never seen before, using a 'sliding block' to vary the valve timing. There is a friction clutch in the flywheel to transmit the drive to the wheels instead of the dog clutch or simple gear-engagement seen this side of the Atlantic. The boiler, smokebox, and firebox are 'one piece' and un-lagged, and the live steam take-off is external from the top of the dome.

The unique valve gear of the 'Case' traction engine. The selector lever is just out of shot, in the quadrant middle right, with a green rod connecting it to the 'sliding block' and determining the position of that block in the rocking 'channel', centre of the picture. The thicker green rod from the 'sliding block' that leaves the picture on the left drives the valves. If the 'sliding block' is in the centre of the rocking channel, the engine is in neutral. The bock being positioned at the top or the bottom of the channel puts the engine into forward or reverse gear.


A final look at the 2011 Chelford Rally, as 'Little Mac' leaves the ring. Driving home from Barton Airfield to Congleton (where we then lived) one Friday evening in August 1978 I had just completed my first solo flight during my pilot training. I was still metaphorically 'up in the air' with the euphoria of flying an aeroplane on my own for the first time. On the straight part of the A34 south of the 'Davenport Arms' I met 'Little Mac' coming the other way. Exuberantly I flashed my headlights and blew my horn, and the little traction engine's crew responded with enthusiastic waving and whistle-blowing! 'Little Mac' has always been a bit special for me since then.

(Once again, photos taken on my phone so not good quality. Still worth enlarging by clicking on them, though!)

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VMCC barbecue at Nether Alderley Mill

The centuries old sandstone water mill, mostly steep-pitched mossy stone slab roof slumbering under the trees heavy with full summer foliage, looks as if its been part of this landscape for ever as it studiously ignores the adjacent upstart A34. The intense mid-summer sun radiates down from on high between occasional drifting cumulus and, lizard that I am, I sit on a warm stone by the mill entrance and raise my face to the heat. Barbecue smoke drifts across from the gazebo, the bells of Nether Alderley church are ringing out for a wedding, there's lots of motorcycle chit chat and of course those lovely vintage bikes to admire; what a super way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Bikes at the Mill, barbie under the gazebo

Every year Barry Cook, National Trust Mill Engineer at Styal Mill and a keen motorcyclist, organises a Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) barbecue at picturesque Nether Alderley Mill, south of Alderley Edge. This year the weather has cooperated and the Mill makes a delightful setting for the event. I arrive early on my 1979 Triumph Bonneville T140D but soon the small area in front of the mill is full of interesting motorcycles. Barry has organised a tasty barbecue which is excellent value at £3 (for a beefburger, pork chop, hot dog and a drink).

My Bonnie, second from right on front row

Nether Alderley flour Mill is a rare example of a 'tandem' waterwheel mill, with an upper waterwheel, the water from which then drives a second, lower, water wheel. It dates back many hundreds of years but is now in need of extensive refurbishment which it is about to get, in no small part due to Barry's efforts in the National Trust. The Trust own the Mill, but were reluctant to find the funds to carry out the repairs (I don't think they are at their best with industrial heritage; houses and gardens are more their 'thing'). The roof of the Mill is on the verge of collapse, and indeed would have done so by now had Barry not put up acro-props to hold up the rotted roof timbers. It would have been tragic if the Mill had fallen into ruin, and this was a real possibility until HRH Prince of Wales visited Styal Mill recently.

The Mill on the left, the gazebo in the distance

Barry is ex-Royal Navy, and served on the Royal Yacht 'Britannia', so knew the Royal family quite well. When he was first introduced to the Queen he described himself as "coming from Chapel en le Frith, a small town in Derbyshire".

"Oh", replied Her Majesty. "That's not far from Chatsworth is it? Do you know the Duke of Devonshire?"

Barry was tempted to reply that yes indeed, he often drank with his Lordship in the local, but thought better of it.

Barry was chatting to Prince Charles during the Royal visit to Styal Mill and happened to mention the parlous state of Nether Alderley Mill. Once it had 'royal attention', it was difficult for the National Trust not to act to save the Mill. Barry is retiring from the Trust soon, and I think the saving of Nether Alderley Mill will be a lasting tribute to his tenure at Styal.

Work is scheduled to start on the Mill in September, and I for one looked upon today's enjoyable event as a celebration of its far rosier future.

Well done Barry!

(Pictures taken with my 'phone, so apologies for their poor quality)

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Tragedy at Barton last Friday

The world of private aviation is a small one. I heard last Friday while firing 'Planet' at MoSI that a Piper Tomahawk of Ravenair Flying School had crashed on take off from Barton Airfield, Manchester, and the two occupants were injured with burns. The aircraft apparently suffered engine failure although we won't know what actually happened until the official accident report is released. It turned out later that the accident was far more serious than I at first thought, as the pilot later died of his injuries and his passenger, as I write, is in a critical condition in hospital.

It also transpired that I knew the pilot and had flown the aeroplane concerned many years ago. The pilot was Ian Daglish of Alderley Edge; we were both members of Alderley History Group, had talked on the phone and exchanged e-mails on flying, and Ian had invited me to his 'local' to chat about flying. We never got around to it, and now we never will.

Ian Daglish

The aeroplane involved was a Piper PA38 Tomahawk registered G-RVRF. Its original UK registration was G-BGEL and it spent some time on the Lancashire Aero Club fleet at Barton where I flew it extensively between 1st September 1979 and April 1980 while our newly aquired Chipmunk G-BCSL was receiving engineering attention.

PA 38 G-BGEL in the early days. This aeroplane, later owned by Ravenair and re-registered G-RVRF, was the aircraft involved in last Friday's tragedy.


Former G-BGEL, as re-registered by Ravenair. Note the pilot is wearing a hi-viz vest; these things have become endemic in light aviation with many airfields blindly insisting on their use on the apron despite there being no safety case to make this a sensible thing to do. In fact they are highly flammable and should never be worn in an aircraft (there is no suggestion they were being worn in RF last Friday). Sensible airstrips, like Sherlowe, ban them altogether.

RIP Ian, and let's hope his young passenger pulls through OK.


UPDATE APRIL 2012:

The accident report has been issued by AAIB. It can be read here:

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Piper%20PA-38-112%20Tomahawk%20G-RVRF%2004-12.pdf

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'Tangmere' at Wilmslow this morning

I was off to the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester this morning as rostered crew for the steam locomotive there and as usual was aiming for the 08:00 train from Wilmslow. But I'd arrived at the station a tad early because I knew the 'Scarborough Flyer', on which Chris and I enjoyed a great day out last year (see Friday 6th August 2010 in this blog), was making its Wilmslow pick-up stop at 07:50. When Chris and I travelled on the train it was hauled by my favorite class of locomotive, an ex-LMS Stanier 'Duchess' pacific 'Dutchess of Sutherland'.

Today's train was hauled by 'Tangmere' (Battle of Britain Class), an ex-Southern Railway Bulleid light pacific

Far away from its natural stamping ground, 'Tangmere' calls at wilmslow this
morning with the 'Scarborough Flyer'

These light pacifics were designed by Oliver Bulleid of the Southern Railway and built immediately after World War Two. They were based on his earlier, heavier and more powerful, Merchant Navy pacifics but being lighter had a wider route availability. They had some unusual features such as 'streamline' metal casing and chain-driven valve gear, and could be temperamental and prone to slipping. Many Bulleid pacifics, both light and heavy, were later rebuilt with conventional valve gear and minus the metal casing, becoming first class locomotives as a result. Bulleid was a brilliant designer, but sometimes followed flights of fancy that were, perhaps, unwise.

'Tangmere' is of course in un-rebuilt condition.

The station was crowded this morning with a mix of three types of people: rail enthusiasts who had come to see the steam locomotive, regular commuters, and a sprinkling of smartly dressed folk looking forward to a day out on the 'Flyer' in Scarborough.

'Tangmere' gets the green light and 'right away', as it sets off for its next stop, Stockport

Earlier, photographed by Steve Morris, Tangmere passed Chelford station on time at 07:42. Chelford is apparently a great place to see it as it waits a few minutes in the down loop to allow a Manchester-bound Arriva 175 to pass, so it is always working hard as it leaves the loop and enters the station.

So prior to my day firing and driving the replica 'Planet' steam locomotive in Manchester, I had a 'fix' of main-line steam. And in the form of an unusual locomotive for this part of the world.

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Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy

What a beautiful place! Chris and I have just returned from a fantastic week there. Here are just a few of the many photos we took (click on them twice for full-size images):

Some Alps, viewed from our Flybe Embraer 195 inbound to Milan from Manchester

Bellagio from the lake. Our hotel is on the waterfront at the right hand end of the middle block of buildings, with a long low ferry moored in front of it.

A closer look at our hotel, the Metropole. Our room is marked by its balcony, third from right on the top floor.



Here is the view from our balcony looking south; car ferry 'Lario' is moored at the terminal.



This is the balcony view looking the other way, with Mennagio on the far side of the lake



Chris contemplates the menu, in the hotel's lake-side restaurant



Bellagio's main street, seen from the rooftop sun terrace of the hotel



We often ate out, but always al fresco. Here is Chris (table by the left hand doorway) at a Bellagio trattoria. This one is so popular that customers waiting for a table are issued cushions (orange and blue, in the basket in the foreground) by the proprietors so they can sit comfortably on the stone steps.



Here's another view of the hotel, our room being on the front overlooking the lake



Perhaps one of the older of the lake cruisers, 'Milano' took us cruising down the lake in glorious sunshine to Como and back, on Chris's birthday



Chris on 'Milano' returning from our sunny trip down the lake to Como



That evening, we enjoyed a birthday celebration meal in the hotel restaurant for this 'significant event'. 'Ninfea', the boat moored in the background took us to Lecco and back the next day.


On Monday we took an excursion to the Bernina Pass between Tirano in Italy and St Moritz in Switzerland, travelling over the main part of the pass on the Bernina Express. The railway climbs incredibly steeply with many sharp bends, and this view shows the front end of our train taken from our carriage. It often enters a tunnel, to emerge with the scenery having swapped sides as the train did a 180 degree turn while it was underground. The scenery brought back memories for me of motorcycling over this same pass some years ago.



Here is a view looking from the train back to the lake near where we boarded it. And this isn't even the top of the pass!



This is the top of the Bernina Pass... glaciers, meltwaters, and a lake.



The weather during the week was mostly hot and sunny, but we did have a couple of wet days. This was in St Moritz after de-training from the Bernina Express to return to
Lake Como by our excursion coach.


A typical lunch. This was in Mellagio, on the other side of Lake Como to Bellagio. House wine in these places is cheap and usually quite good! The pizzas ain't bad, too - very thin and light base, not at all yer stogy Pizza Express fayre.



Perhaps one of the newer members of the lake Como ferry fleet, a hydrofoil skims above the lake surface. This craft provides the 'fast' lake service to Como, but we preferred the delights of the slower boat with its plentiful provision of outside seating on such a lovely day.



Bellagio is situated at the junction of the three 'arms' of Lake Como; the Como arm, the Lecco arm, and the northern or Colico arm and each has its own character with the Como arm being perhaps the more scenic. This is Lecco at the end of the Lecco arm; 'Ninfea' is tied up by the landing stage and waiting to return us to Bellagio.



On Friday there was a transport strike in Italy affecting the lake ferries as well as trains and buses, but it didn't bother us as we'd done our travelling by then (apart from today's return flight to Manchester from Milan). Here we are enjoying the wonderful gardens of the Villa Melzi in Bellagio.



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Lunch on't cut

Younger daughter Helen gave me a lovely Father's Day present - a voucher for two for a lunch cruise from Bollington on the Macclesfield Canal. These cruises are popular and one has to book ahead, but today our turn came around, and the weather couldn't have been better!

As ever, please click twice on pictures to bring them up to full size.

Chris enjoying a glass of wine at White Nancy Cruisers, Bollington. Our boat, the 'White Nancy', is moored alongside.


Passing Clarence Mill in Bollington


Bill, our skipper, and his mate get us underway along the Macclesfield Canal towards Poynton. The White Nancy monument above Bollington, after which our boat is named, can just be seen on the shoulder of the hill in the background, to the left of where the trees finish.


A look inside the boat. It can accommodate up to twelve dining customers at tables for four. The food (and wine!) is lovely


There are some rather nice canal-side properties between Bollington and Poynton. This one even has two helicopters!


The Macclesfield Canal must be one of the most scenic. And on a day like today it was looking its best.


Ours was not the only narrow boat out enjoying the day

During the cruise up to Poynton we were served a 'sharing starter' course for two, and a glass of wine each. We opted to extend this to a full lunch by pre-ordering a main course each and a bottle of wine - and it was all quite excellent.

This Heron was busy finding his own lunch!

The boat turned around at Poynton and headed back down to Bollington. Here, the entire crew come out onto the stern to enjoy the sunshine .


Chris and me also enjoy a few rays!



Approaching Bollington our boat's namesake,
White Nancy, comes into view on the hilltop

Here's a closer view


Here we are back at Bollington about three and half hours after we left.

Many thanks to Helen for a lovely afternoon on't cut!