Stationary Engine Rally

Mirinda thought I was joking when I said I wanted to go to the Stationary Engine Rally at the Rural Life Museum at Tilford. It was on all weekend and I had to bargain with her to get to go. That’s why yesterday was full of spreadsheets. If I put in the work then I could go to the rally. And so, we went.

Few people realise that I have stationary engine oil in my blood. William James Reavell, my great grandfather on my mother’s father’s side listed Stationary Engine Driver as his occupation in the 1904 census. That’s enough for me! Mind you, I think he probably ‘drove’ a slightly bigger engine than the ones we saw today. They were rather small. Though I have discovered that the occupation of stationary engine driver could relate to anyone who looked after an engine that performed some sort of task, creating a labour saving device. Like a water pump.

Which is what most of them were doing today. It’s very easy to see what these little babies are capable of if you use them to drive a pump with a loop of water. They can chug away for hours continuously turning the belt to the pump, making water go around in a big (or small) circle.

Gaz enjoys the show

One of the curious things about the pumps is how many of them had a rubber duck enjoying the burbling water. This one, in particular, seemed to be having a jolly good time.

Duck ahoy!

It was all rather good fun, with bearded chaps sitting around chatting about the sort of engine things chaps with beards tend to talk about to each other. Mirinda said these little enclaves were full of stationary engine groupies as well (their age range was approximately 50-80) hanging on each and every word.

There was even a security rope put up in order to keep the general public (riff raff) out. Fortunately it was very low so we could see everything we needed to see.

I can understand why someone would want to restore an old engine from the beginning of the 20th century and get it to pump water around a circle. It looked like the sort of hobby that would keep you in your shed for very long periods with just a beard for company. And a few pints of real ale.

I think, deep down, that Mirinda actually enjoyed it all. In order to preserve her disinclination, however, she did take the dogs on a tour of the Rural Life Museum while I checked out the rally entrants, which she said she enjoyed more. And she did have a rather bemused smile on her face the entire time we were there.

Under sufferance

After seeing all the little engines (it took about ten minutes) we wandered across the mini-railway track and headed into the Farnham Heath RSPB nature reserve, where we all had a very pleasant wander. Well, except for the last bit.

The path we were on finished mid-field and we had to resort to the footpathless road for the last few hundred yards. Carmen tried to escape by slipping her collar and I had to carry her for the last bit but otherwise it wasn’t too bad.

We were also treated to the sight of two air force jets forcing their way through the air above us. I think it was something to do with the Farnborough air show. Something that made the scene below anything but silent.

The Farnham Heath, RSPB reserve