As we get closer to Tractor Fest 2025, where the special feature will be Low Tension Ignition engines, we thought readers may be interested to look back at one of our previous special features. Back in 2016 the special feature for the entire show was “Made in Yorkshire” and across the rally there were close to 300 entries in this section. Entries included a massive 27tonne Fowler Gyrotiller, a pair of Walsh & Clark ploughing engines and a number of Bamlett mowers. Many of these exhibits were on display inside a special marquee & display area showcasing the best of Yorkshire’s engineering heritage.
When it comes to engines which were made in Yorkshire, the two most commonly seen makes on the rally scene are John Fowlers of Leeds & The Bradford Gas Engine Company of Shipley. However, there were well over 30 other companies that manufactured engines and a good selection of these makes were represented at the show.
On the engine side of the special feature, we were lucky enough to attract over 60 entries. Names on show included Mclaren, Keighley, Cliffe Engine Works, Tom Senior, PELAPONE, Walsh & Clark, Widdop & Robson to name a few. Exhibitors seemed to have really embraced the feature and many had brought several engines along. One such example was Bruce Richmond of Dundee who was exhibiting his Mclaren generating engine. Weighing in at over 4 tonnes it was too heavy for the shows tele-handler to lift, so it had to be run on the back of his wagon. Not content with just bringing the Mclaren, Bruce also brought his 11hp Widdop diesel on the trailer. Weighing in at about 1 tonne, the Widdop was a bit more manageable for the tele-handler to unload.
Another pair of exhibitors who brought several engines were Ricky Mounsey & his father Stuart. Ricky brought along a pair of Fowlers in the form of a 1PAL & a twin cylinder 2PBL. However, it was Ricky’s other engines which really stood out from the crowd. They were a pair of Robson R16’s dating from the late 1970’s. These engines were part of a cancelled export order which then remained unsold in Robson’s factory until the company ceased trading. Once this happened they were purchased by a local collector and sat in storage for a number of years until purchased by Ricky earlier this year. One of the engines has been mounted on a trolley and was running at the show, whilst the other is still in its original packing crate, complete with various spare parts.
One of the rarer Yorkshire built engines are those made by the Cliffe Iron Works. We were incredibly lucky to have 5 examples of their engines at the show. There were 4 Cliffe “Little Giants” and 1 Cliffe built “Keighley/Morton” horizontal. By chance 3 of the Cliffe’s were exhibited alongside each other on the engine pens and this made for quite a sight. Another unusual and possible unique engine in attendance was the Speedwell Gas engine, made by W. Longbottom of Leeds. This little gas engine was in unrestored condition and was displayed as a non-runner.
It wasn’t just the engines which were of Yorkshire origin, there were also the items the engines were driving such as a Sheffield built saw bench which was exhibited by the late Ian Cox and was driven by his Fowler 1DM engine. Ian spent the weekend cutting up tree branches from the various woods which surround the rally field. By the end of the weekend there was a large supply of firewood for a lucky exhibitor to take home. Yorkshire built implements were also well represented at the show, with a large selection of Bamlett mowers made at Thirsk. Many of these featured engines such as a Petter A type, or Bernard WO to provide the power for operating the cutting blades. There was also a self-propelled root cutter, build by Russell’s which featured a Petter engine. Overall There were too many Yorkshire built engines and ancillary equipment to name them all, so its best to let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Tractor Fest 2025 takes place on 7th & 8th June at Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire. We are expecting over 300 engines in attendance again this year and we are pleased to welcome vintageengineenthusiast.com as the sponsor of the engine section at the event this year. For more details on the event please visit www.tractfest.uk
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