Attractions
Steam Exhibition & Demonstrations Areas
Heavy Haulage Road Locomotives
Some may argue that this is the most spectacular feature of the show! Over 20 steam
heavy haulage road locomotives will be at the 2009 show and you can see most of
them in action in the heavy haulage area pulling vast loads of granite & machinery
on huge trailers. They really are the big boys of the show, very powerful and originally
built for moving heavy loads on trips of tremendous distance that used to take days!
These locomotives are highly geared, have rubber tyres and sprung suspension. Sometimes
they worked in twos and threes and often with an engine on the rear of the load
to act as a brake! At the show you can enjoy Locomotives built from the 1890s and
early 1900’s such as the Burrell 'Lord Kitchener' and the McLaren 'Boadicea'.
Alongside the steam road “locos” you will see the display of the more modern diesel
heavy haulage featuring some of the biggest internal combustion engine haulage lorries
built. Look out for Geoff Nurse's ‘Scammell Explorer’ heading up Mike Fincher's
‘Thornycroft Mighty Antar’ as they cross “Watford Gap” for the accent of the Haulage
Hill. One and all having fun in the Heavy Haulage Ring (affectionately known as
the playpen)!
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Steam Tractors
Steam Tractors are traction engines with special gearing to make them suitable for
lighter haulage work. Often very nippy they were ideal for pulling one or two heavily
laden trailers from field to farm or from railway station to goods yard and vice
versa. Over 30 of these engines can be seen in the haulage demonstration area.
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Showman's Engines & Old Time steam Funfair
One of the highlights of The Great Dorset Steam Fair is the old time steam Funfair.
Annually, over 60 Showman's Engines with their gleaming, twisted, brass appear generating
the light and power for the old roundabouts and swing-boats, and with 60 merry organs
playing, it makes for a fascinating spectacle, especially at night. For many the
nightlife of the show is the highlight of their visit!
The showman’s road locomotives really are the stars of the show standing proudly
in front of the fairground and majestically lighting up the Great Dorset Steam Fair
sky line. These engines are a variation of the big road locomotives adapted for
showman’s use by the fitting of a dynamo on the front perch bracket; this is operated
by a flat belt from the engine’s flywheel. The power is then used to drive and light
up the old time fairground. Showman’s Road Locomotives would haul the heavily laden
trailers from show to show and some, fitted with crane jibs, even helped to erect
the rides!
The smaller counterpart to these locomotives are known as Showman’s Tractors and
were also useful for hauling support vehicles out on the road and powering lights
in the fairground.
The fabulous showman’s engine line up at the Great Dorset Steam Fair is world renown
and together with the rides in the Old Time Fairground including two sets of Gallopers
(carousels), Steam Yachts, Chair-o-Planes, Noah’s Ark, Skid, Cakewalk, Big Wheel
and a Light House Slip, will give you an almost mystical experience that is difficult
to define.
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Steam Lorries
Steam lorries were amongst the most flexible of road steam vehicles, revolutionising
local delivery services. Articulated versions also appeared for a while until the
modern diesel lorry took over. More than 20 steam lorries will be present at the
show, performing in the steam arena.
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Steam Rollers
Steam Road Rollers were amongst the last steam engines to be built - some surviving
well into the 1960’s and contractors and local councils used them as heavy plant
for road repairs. Around 25 rollers will be present at the show either parading
in the ring or demonstrating road making in the Road Laying and Making section.
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Ploughing Engines
These include some of the largest and most powerful types of traction engine ever
built, Fowler of Leeds being the most prolific manufacturer. Usually operated in
matched pairs of left and right-handed engines, they would perform a variety of
tasks including ploughing, dredging and mole draining. Four pairs of ploughing engines
with ploughs can be seen in the most westerly field of the showground in the steam
cultivating area.
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Threshing
In the threshing section you can see general purpose steam engines working the equipment
that was used to bring in the harvest each year on farms the length and breath of
the country. For this threshing drums, elevators and binders would be belted up
to the engine’s flywheel. Contractors would take their sets from farm to farm to
thresh the corn, especially to smaller holdings as it was only the bigger and wealthier
farms that could operate and maintain their own sets. Ten large corn ricks will
be threshed at this year’s show.
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Woodsawing
In this area you will find saw benches and cutting machines of all sizes and types,
driven by general purpose steam engines and portable steam engines. Some machines
were designed to rough-cut small pieces of timber for making stakes or posts as
opposed to the precision machines that were designed to cut fine panels and boards.
A dozen saw benches will be in the wood sawing area.
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Timber Loading & Haulage
Demonstrations of timber loading can be seen regularly in the Heavy Haulage Ring.
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Specialist Restoration Service Marquee
Over the years we have listened to suggestions made by some specialist companies
to create an area away from the standard trade aisles during the show. In answer
to their requests, 2007 saw the launch of the Specialist Restoration Services Marquee.
The marquee highlights some of the specialist skills, tools and services essential
to the varied aspects of restoration and engineering.
The marquee, sponsored by Vintage Spirit magazine will also include a variety of
exhibits both inside and near the entrance.
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Vintage & Classic Vehicles
Veteran, Vintage & Classic Cars & Caravans
The Great Dorset Steam Fair is always privileged to welcome a wide range of veteran,
vintage and classic cars, particularly exhibiting examples from the dawn of motoring
up to the 1960’s/early 1970's. These are brought to Dorset from all over the UK
and abroad by their enthusiastic owners. Over 100 cars will be on display this year.
There is a daily parade of cars in the main ring that is really popular with visitors.
Coupled with the caravans on the site they're sure to bring back happy memories
of days gone by. Many makes of car are displayed - here you will see history in
motion- a moving picture of the development of car vehicle manufacture in the UK.
Walk among them, which you are welcomed to do, as they stand on display between
parades, you could easily come face to face with reminders of times past, those
memories special to you.
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Commercial vehicles
At the Great Dorset Steam Fair nearly 400 commercial vehicles, great and small,
are on display - bearing a wide selection of familiar names in British road haulage.
Names of manufacturers and operators that bring back memories of days past and almost
forgotten, when British lorries and workmanship served the transport needs of the
nation and beyond.
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Vintage Veteran & Classic Motorcycles
Motorcycles are as much an important part of the country’s engineering heritage
as traction engines, tractors and other working vehicles and equipment that visitors
can also see at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Not only did they transport Britons
to their places of work; motorcycles also served as working vehicles themselves.
At this year’s show it is possible to see a large number of machines from what were
once leading manufacturers. Numbers of motorcycle exhibits will be in excess of
140!
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Military Vehicles
Preserved Military vehicles have attended the Great Dorset Steam Fair since the
earliest days. Here you will find a vast range of over 100 military machines including
tanks, trucks, jeeps and motorcycles.
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Working Vintage tractors
The Great Dorset Steam Fair provides ample opportunity to see these fantastic tractors
at work, whether the implement is a simple trailed plough or hay rake; a baler or
hay tedder worked by the power take off shaft (we’d best leave out the slurry-spreader!);
or a hydraulically-mounted plough, drag or inter-row cultivator. Older tractors
were also equipped to belt-drive machinery like threshing drums, grinding mills
and saw benches in exactly the same way as their steam-powered ancestors. Enjoy
over 120 exhibits on show.
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Static Vintage tractors
Enjoy a superb selection of vintage tractors, from every corner of the British Isles.
These tractors are displayed in a static display but do parade in the ring everyday.
There are over 150 tractors in this section.
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Horticultural Tractors
These are the small tractors and rotavators generally found in market gardens or
nurseries. Over 100 exhibits will be on display ‘working’ the ground.
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Tractor Pulling
Great fun for spectators, the idea is to see which tractor can pull the weighted
sledge the farthest, or in the shortest time over a measured distance. At the start
of the pull, the weights are at the back of the sledge over the wheels. As the sledge
is pulled forward the weights move towards the front thus increasing the downward
pressure on the runners. Therefore it can be seen that as the sledge moves forward
the resistance to being pulled is greater. Modern competitive tractor pulling utilises
very special highly developed tractors some even with aero engines. Over 60 tractors,
both old and more modern, will be taking part in this section that has become increasingly
popular at the show in recent years.
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Rural Displays
Heavy Horses
The heavy horse section is one of the most popular areas at the show. Over 100 heavy
horses take part in the many displays. Each day, in the working area, heavy horses
will be working the land using various cultivation implements. On Wednesday (2nd
September) in the working area there is a friendly ploughing match. On Saturday
(5th September), the ring is reserved for the showing classes which begin at 9.30am
with the presentation of trophies at around 3.30pm. All of the horses involved in
both the working and daily displays will be groomed to their finest and dressed
in their best harnesses to vie for the winning spot.
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The Sheep Show
The sheep show is a fun and educational look at nine different breeds of sheep with
the emphasis on wool. As each of the nine breeds of sheep is introduced to the audience,
learn about each one’s attributes and how wool from the sheep’s back becomes a jumper
for you to wear. Meet Nobby the Norfolk Horn, Susie the Southdown and their woolly
friends. The shows are presented by New Zealanders; Richard Savory and Stuart Barnes,
and are fun whatever your age. Don’t miss the famous ‘Sheep Show Shuffle’ and the
fascinating live shearing demonstration. Each show lasts around 30 minutes and there
will be four shows performed each day with the first show starting at 11am.
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Countryside Arena
A new arena was introduced in 2007 for rural displays and proved to be very successful.
Named the "Countryside Arena", this will again feature at the 2009 show with displays
including Sheepdogs, an Eagle and Vulture Show and The Adams Axemen.
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Rural Crafts
Two large craft marquees house a whole range of traditional rural country crafts,
including stained glass, dried flower arranging, the making of walking sticks, leather
products (handbags and belts etc.), pottery and oil paintings. There is also an
Outside Craft Area where you will find rope making demonstrations, wood carving,
turning and wheel-righting, thatching, fencing, hurdle making, chalk walling and
cider making.
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Food Hall
The Food Hall provides a fine selection of wholesome country ‘tucker’ including
fresh cooked bread, cakes and pastries, home made speciality sausages and pies,
strawberries, cream teas, local jams, cheeses, pickles and ploughman’s lunches –
it’s irresistible!
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How 'Twer Done in Granfer's Day
A unique collection of working farming bygones from the days of yesterday when “Granfer”
was in his hey-day. The display includes corn grinding and stone milling machines
driven by shaft gearing plus water pumps, generating sets, horizontal and vertical
tree sawing, a barn thresher, cleaning and winnowing. There is also a Ross and Hutchinson
30” thresher driven by a 1958 Ferguson with a barn baler from 1934. The complete
cycle from sheaf of corn (cut on site) to organic flour for bread is demonstrated
at the show. Most of the staff using the machines can be seen wearing traditional
clothing adding authenticity to the display.
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Forest & Farm
Presented by the South Wilts Agriculture Preservation Society (SWAPS). This small
friendly society was formed in 1971 by a number of enthusiasts whose aims and objectives
were, and still are, to preserve some of the country’s forestry, agricultural and
rural heritage. This was at a time when obsolete forestry and farming equipment
and associated tools were usually destined for the scrap dealer or left in the hedge
to deteriorate. The items displayed and demonstrated include examples of some of
the members’ restoration and preservation projects in an attempt to save a little
of the country’s forestry and agricultural heritage. Likewise the working demonstrations
also portray members’ interests in preserving some fascinating rural skills.
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Dairy Collections
A unique collection from dairy production bygones that include butter, cheese, cream
and even the delivery of fresh milk through the ages. People who are interested
in preserving the history and relics of the old dairy industries put this section
together.
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Vintage Collections
A fascinating display of collections of old objects and artefacts, both from daily
life of years gone by and from specialist trades and occupations. Many are items
you will remember, however many you may not have heard of.
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Stationary Engines
There are over 120 stationary engines at the show with many different makes and
variations. These small engines were generally used on farms and in light industry
to drive items such as water pumps, corn mills and saw benches.
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Model Tent
A visit to the Model Tent is so interesting, everything from working engineering
models and a blacksmith’s workshop to boats, trains and aeroplanes – a great diversity
of exhibits, there is something for everyone.
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Entertainment & Music
Fairground Organs
The instruments that you will see at the show are mainly fairground organs, which
originally were built up inside various different fairground rides. You’ll see instruments,
of all sizes around the site, in their own vehicles with some of the largest putting
on shows to entertain as you walk around the show ground. All in all, the Great
Dorset Steam Fair has the largest collection of organs in one place, it most certainly
is the biggest gathering in the world at any one time – a collection of over 60
in all! While you take in the music remember that you will be listening to live
music from a time that most of the planet has long forgotten!
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Dancing Shows
Four of the largest fairground organs at the show are fronted by old time stage
shows where traditional ‘Can Can’ dancing girls perform. Live on stage will be the
Pauline Reeder Dancers from Derby, the Penny Rigden Dancers from Windsor, the Passion
Dance Troupe from Northampton and the Julie Hatton Dancers from Scarborough. The
shows are a spectacle and why not join in the Can Can? It’s great fun!
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Nightlife
Those visiting at night are spoilt for choice! There is so much to see and do and
some would argue that the show really comes alive as sunsets and the lights go up,
the music plays and the fun really starts. You can enjoy live music, ride on the
modern or traditional fun fair rides, and enjoy some traditional fare, beer and
cider. You can travel between marquees for different music and entertainment and
even stop off and get your palm read! Who knows what the rest of the show holds
for you?
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Music Festival
Click here for music festival information.
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Modern Fairground
It’s not all old time! The younger-at-heart clientele can take a white-knuckle ride
on one of the country’s biggest travelling modern funfairs. Over 30 major rides
include the landmark 120ft high ‘Giant Wheel’, a ‘Log Flume’, a ‘Spinning Rollercoaster’,
a 150ft high ‘Drop Tower’ and the ‘Shock Wave Ejection Seat Reverse Bungee’.
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Other Attractions
Other attractions at the show include Pipe Bands, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Carts
and Newfoundland Dogs.
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