There was a slow and very polluting steam train thing in Acocks Green today. It was driving from Tyseley and was arriving in Acocks Green. It was part of some carnival event going on and it blocked up Warwick Road and made the 37 I was waiting for very late!
It looked a bit like this:
http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/images/main1.jpg
Probably something to do with the Summer Fun Day and Farmers Market that was on yesterday.
Michael- its called a 'Traction' engine they dont have any brakes apparently!! so you have to take a few chances now and again :). They were used to provide power to a big 'wheel' (with a belt attached to it)- the belt would then operate another 'wheel' which would make the dodgems go round at a funfair. and also to provide electricity (via a generator) to light up all the funfair lightbulbs. Iv'e no Idea where it might have been going.
Quote from: windy miller on June 17, 2012, 05:28:02 PM
Michael- its called a 'Traction' engine they dont have any brakes apparently!! so you have to take a few chances now and again :). They were used to provide power to a big 'wheel' (with a belt attached to it)- the belt would then operate another 'wheel' which would make the dodgems go round at a funfair. and also to provide electricity (via a generator) to light up all the funfair lightbulbs. Iv'e no Idea where it might have been going.
It was definitely part of some event, as Stu said, a farmer event, which seems rather pointless to me, but hey.
There's a fair few, one lives down Springfield Lane, Fordhouses. Wolvo's famous for it's steam engine / traction engine events. I know it can be annoying stuck behind a slow thing but it's an important part of our heritage that I'd rather not lose personally.
Shouldn't be on places like Warwick Road though, that's a bit silly.