Steaming into summer
- Article by Don Anderson
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Purists in Steamy debate about heavy metal
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How does spring enter summer? For some it is the first cuckoo, for some the
first bird they see with a dozen worms in its
beak, or the first convertible car with its
hood down. For a lot of people, it's the first
big steam rally. Shane's Castle estate on the
north shore of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland's
biggest lake -and one of Europe's biggest -
hosts one of the most notable events. |
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| Strictly speaking, they shouldn't
call it merely a steam rally. Sure there are wonderful
big steam traction engines, dwarfing all around
them. The kings are the fairground engines with
their magnificent plumage. The 'worker' traction
engines drive hay balers, massive circular saws
to make planks out of tree trunks and quarry stone
crushers. And there are real steam rollers! |
Electric fairground organs, stationary engines which
a century ago powered pumps and other mechanisms,
old farm tractors, funny old cars with gear levers
behind the steering wheels, old caravans from when
caravanning was the preserve of the well off.
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