Live steam
September 18, 2009 12:12 AM Subscribe
.. and lots and lots of middle aged men drinking real ale. I don't know why steam fairs and real ale should necessarily go hand in hand, but they do.
Added bonus. If you get bored of steam engines, head to the best-stocked tank museum in the world at Bovington, a few miles down the road. If you're into that kind of thing, you might bump into David Fletcher, the tank museum's resident guru, who is a longtime regular at the steam fair.
posted by MuffinMan at 1:31 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Added bonus. If you get bored of steam engines, head to the best-stocked tank museum in the world at Bovington, a few miles down the road. If you're into that kind of thing, you might bump into David Fletcher, the tank museum's resident guru, who is a longtime regular at the steam fair.
posted by MuffinMan at 1:31 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
When I was a wee-boy at Milldown First School some 20 years ago I seem to remember it always raining at the old site. Rumour amongst the young kids was that a local witch put a curse on the old showground in Stourpaine.
Looking back I realise now that I actually grew up in the late 19th century.
posted by slixtream at 2:19 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Looking back I realise now that I actually grew up in the late 19th century.
posted by slixtream at 2:19 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
One of the few things I really loved about my brief exile in the West Midlands was the abundance of elderly machinery, lovingly tended by elderly men in elderly clothes, in soot-blackened red-brick surroundings.
There's something about steam machinery. You can look at it and see how it works, and the people who made it liked curves and weren't above moulding in the odd bit of frippery because it was beautiful.
Imagine lifting the bonnet of your car and seeing tracery moulded into the exterior of the engine block, or admiring the beautiful coloured coils of the cables.
I know some people sneer at the steampunk enthusiasts, but I understand what inspires them. Mighty engines that looks mighty, intricate machinery that looks intricate, fancy little widgets that look fancy. Marvellous.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 2:28 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
There's something about steam machinery. You can look at it and see how it works, and the people who made it liked curves and weren't above moulding in the odd bit of frippery because it was beautiful.
Imagine lifting the bonnet of your car and seeing tracery moulded into the exterior of the engine block, or admiring the beautiful coloured coils of the cables.
I know some people sneer at the steampunk enthusiasts, but I understand what inspires them. Mighty engines that looks mighty, intricate machinery that looks intricate, fancy little widgets that look fancy. Marvellous.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 2:28 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
I love old machinery, polished, embellished, and tended with care. But, damn, the itchy eyes, the smell, the dirt, the pollution. I'd love old steam much more if it wasn't coal fired. But, oh, the dusty elegance...
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:17 AM on September 18, 2009
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:17 AM on September 18, 2009
Nice! We have a local festival here each July featuring much of the same. It's great place to take the kids. Love seeing some of those giant engines started up, usually featuring old, grizzled men in dirty overalls with hammers, pipe wrenches, and sweat-stained hats cursing them to life.
posted by rhythim at 6:10 AM on September 18, 2009
posted by rhythim at 6:10 AM on September 18, 2009
seanmpuckett - I dunno, watching that firts vid I knew *exactly* what it would smell like, and that's part of the charm.
I know some people sneer at the steampunk enthusiasts, but I understand what inspires them.
Hmm. TBH real steam makes me look at steampunkers with extra contempt. Greasy blue overalls and a knowledge of how something actually works wins out over a top hat and goggles and the ability to glue-gun cogs onto things any day of the weak.
posted by Artw at 9:22 AM on September 18, 2009
I know some people sneer at the steampunk enthusiasts, but I understand what inspires them.
Hmm. TBH real steam makes me look at steampunkers with extra contempt. Greasy blue overalls and a knowledge of how something actually works wins out over a top hat and goggles and the ability to glue-gun cogs onto things any day of the weak.
posted by Artw at 9:22 AM on September 18, 2009
My family and I really enjoyed a similar one last year outside Lincoln. My wife kept muttering about "men and their machines" but she enjoyed it really.
posted by mdoar at 10:15 AM on September 18, 2009
posted by mdoar at 10:15 AM on September 18, 2009
Artw, steampunkers turning up at the Dorset Steam Fair would be like cardboard tube hipster duellers suddenly finding themselves in the Coliseum during a roman circus. Although in this case, after they'd wet themselves they'd find themselves being used as a cheap substitute for coal.
posted by dowcrag at 10:18 AM on September 18, 2009
posted by dowcrag at 10:18 AM on September 18, 2009
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For a bit of context, the Great Dorset Steam Fair is one of the highlights of the year for anyone in the UK that's into steam heritage vehicles, folk or vintage music or just getting trolleyed on ale and cider, and is purportedly the biggest event of its type in the world.
It's fantastic fun and is probably one of my 5 year-old son's (and his Grandpa's) favourite places on earth.
It's not without its problems, though, as it attracts so many people to an area that's not exactly blessed with major road infrastructure (part of the attraction of Dorset is that it's not even got a single motorway running through it). A large number of traveller families are attracted to the region which ususally generates the usual inflammatory press, but this year there were issues relating to damage at the Kingston Lacey Beech Avenue, a historic avenue of trees that were planted over 170 years ago and make this one of the most beautiful roads in the country, with some trees being 'ringed' - an act of damage that could well kill them.
But the Fair's well worth the local hassle for a week or two. It's a sort of Glastonbury for steam nerds.
posted by dowcrag at 1:19 AM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]