Full Steam Ahead….

A group of vintage transport enthusiasts on the Duchy’s Needwood Estate in Staffordshire have been bringing the past back to life with a series of steam fayres, rallies, community events and experience days. Formed in the late 1950s, the North Staffs and Cheshire Traction Engine Club is committed to the preservation of all forms of traction engine, vintage transport and associated artefacts, bringing them to new audiences of all ages and encouraging their continued use.

The Club is based on the site of a former plaster mill which employed a large number of local people from the nearby village of Draycott-in-the-Clay from the beginning of the 20^th century until its closure and partial demolition in the 1950s. Shortly thereafter the Traction Engine Club was formed and has been growing in membership ever since.

Some of the original buildings are still in active use on the site, including the Club’s workshop where members have restored two historic engines: an Aveling and Porter steam roller (number 8316) built in 1914 and a Burrell agricultural engine (number 2706) built in 1904.  A 1928 Crossley diesel engine is housed in an adjacent annexe and the Club is also responsible for a Greens steamroller owned by Staffordshire County Council and an Aveling Barford diesel roller owned by South Derbyshire District Council which is currently undergoing restoration. The vehicles are kept on site, as well as several other engines and living vans, tractors and commercial vehicles belonging to the membership.

The North Staffs and Cheshire Traction Engine Club organises several events each year, including two steam rallies and a bonfire and fireworks display. It also holds two driver experience days, offering members of the public the opportunity to spend a day on an engine. These are generally very popular and are often over-subscribed and the day culminates in a supervised drive of one of the vehicles down a private road. In 2022 the Club opened the gates for its inaugural ‘Drive it Day’ and invited owners of a wide variety of classic and vintage vehicles to drop in on the day. Plans for the 2023 event on 23^rd April are already underway.

Commenting on the public response to these events, Club Secretary Liz Greenwood said: “Although we are not a museum, we are very grateful for the support we receive from the local community happy to host visits from local organisations and groups by prior arrangement. Some groups have even used our clubroom to hold their own meetings. We are particularly keen to encourage the younger generation to get involved and have close links with the Claymills Victorian Pumping Station in Burton-upon-Trent, hosting visits for their young engineers’ group.”

For further information on the North Staffs and Cheshire Traction Engine Club and its events please visit the website: www.nsctec.co.uk.