An unusual birthday treat.

This is our 1908 Marshall traction engine which ventured out of the shed last Saturday. It belonged to my brother, Warren, who bought it in 1973 in a very delapidated state. He spent many hundreds of hours restoring it up until he died in 2005. After that, three of his friends, Barry, Bob and Ray, also spent many years of Saturdays completing the restoration and getting it going. It was a big day the first time it came out of the shed, literally under its own steam, a few years ago.

Anyway, last Saturday, which happened to be my birthday, we had a fun time taking the engine for a run down Mt York Road to Bardens Lookout. It hasn't been steamed up for about 2 years so it needed a test run to make sure all was working well. It will be on display at the annual Highlands Steam and Vintage Fair in Oberon this Saturday and will be in the grand parade with all the other historic vehicles. The parade goes up and down the main street of Oberon and includes all sorts of vintage vehicles including traction engines, tractors, trucks, cars and motor bikes.  It is registered with RMS and the boiler has been recently inspected to ensure that it is safe.

Our 'son in law' Seb will be driving her in the parade. He has grown up with traction engines and handles it as if it were a car. Last Monday he expertly drove her up onto the back of a huge truck sent by Oberon Council to collect her for the festival.

This gives you an idea of how big she is.

We had to get the caravan out of the shed first, then the tractor then the traction engine! The tractor hasn't been started for a long time either. It blows perfect smoke rings once it gets going.

This is me on the tractor. It was bouncing me around with each chug!

Seb and friend, Kurt, on the tractor.

The engine near the top of the driveway.

 

So it was a memorable birthday. Sometimes the unplanned things are the best!

I hope to have some pics of the engine in the big parade in Oberon for my next post.