The Thurlow Steam Road Run 2002

This was organised by the EATEC for two reasons; to continue a sequence of steam road runs for the benifit of our members and to raise money for Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, which would go towards purchasing a non-invasive billarubin monitor for its Non-Natal Intensive Care Unit.

This run took place on Friday August 2nd in collaboration with the committee of the Thurlow & Haverhill Steam & Country Show; an event that was held on August 3/4th.
Five steam engines left the Thurlow Rally site on the Friday morning and followed a somewhat circular route through Kedington and Chilton Street to Hundon, where a lunch stop was taken, and then back through Kedington to the rally field, a distance of about 15 miles.
.Terry Baxter led off on his 4” scale McLaren, followed by Mike Dyson with his 1918 Garrett Steam Tractor Adventurer, No. 33296, which his daughter-in-law, Amy, steered. The Web family had two of their engines on the run; the 1932 Foden D-Type Timber Tractor Mighty Atom, No. 14078, and the 1912 Burrell Showmans Gold Medal Tractor Peter Pan, No. 3433. The mighty 1920 Fowler Road Loco. Sir Douglas, No. 15467, belonging to the Philp family and crewed by Brian Hagan and Doug. Warren, completed the engines taking part.

           

 The lunch stop was taken at the 'Rose & Crown', Hundon, and it was there that Melvyn Camps joined the run in his 1927 Sentinel Three-way Tipper, No.6887. Also there, was the ex-Suffolk & Ipswich Fire Service Commer Tender, Reg. No.ORT 875, On leaving Hundon, the engines climbed the long 1 in 7 Mares Hill which provided a good test for them, as did the sharp gradients and narrow twisting lanes on other parts of the route.

This was a very enjoyable run for the participants and it was pleasing that, back on the rally field at the evening’s social get-together, a cheque for £705 was given to Yvonne Coleman, Co-ordinator of Funds for Addenbrookes Hospital.