THE WEETING STEAM RALLY  AND COUNTRY SHOW
JULY 18/19/20th, 2003

The 35th Weeting Rally was held on July 18/19/20th and was, as is usual, well attended by the public. There were about 75 full-size steam engines and the same number of models of all types, 15 fire appliances, 20 vintage military vehicles, 100 tractors and a total of around 100 vintage cars, motor cycles and commercial vehicles.
The full-size steam engines were in action operating around the main arena, also in the Farmyard, Timberyard and Rolling areas, or were involved with cultivating and rock-crushing.

    

Of great interest were the 1900 Aveling & Porter Road Loco. Jimmy, No.4561, purchased last year by Andrew Goakes of March, Cambs., and the Brown & May 4nhp Tractor, No. 8130, owned by Alan Rundle of Boston, Lincs. The road loco. is believed to be one of just three of this type in the U.K. and the Brown & May tractor is the only one in this country.
Another rare engine on view was the Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies 1923 Steam Wagon, No.34270, owned by P & C Jenkins of Swansea, which had been imported into this country from Australia in 1998. It is the only one such wagon in the UK, although there are two in Australia and one in New Zealand.

    

A newcomer to this rally was the 1924 Marshall Traction Engine Rob Roy, 
No. 78312, which P. Brown of Braintree, Essex, obtained last year from Scotland, where it had been all its life.
Another 'first' was the 1908 7nhp Marshall Traction Engine Margaret, No. 51025,  owned by Allan Marchington of Herringswell, Suffolk, which he acquired at the end of the 2002 rally season.

    

Ernie Eagle was there with his two engines - the full-size 1908 Marshall Traction Engine Old Nick, No. 49725, and his half-size replica of it, Little Ol' Nick. This model was built over about five years by Ernie’s good friend, Roy Butcher, and together with its 'dad', Old Nick, it creates interest wherever it is rallied.
Next year’s rally will be held on July 16/17/18th.