The Three Okefords Preservation Society hosted their fantastic annual rally just outside the village of Shillingstone in sunny Dorset. A show I look forward to every year as I have been visiting for as long as I can remember, and exhibiting myself for the last few years!
The rally fields are nestled within a wooded Dorset hill, which not only supplies a fantastic backdrop, but also makes for some dramatic echoes, the sound of a traction engines whistle or the roar of diesel tractor puller rolling through the woods is so unique to this show. The organisers always do a superb job of filling the two fields provided with exhibits. Steam this year was incredibly well represented with a huge selection of full size engines of all varieties. Tractors too, supported by Dorset Tractors turned out with the biggest section. Everything from the humble Ferguson, to lesser seen Olivers and everything in-between!
Stationary engines too were well represented, although with a couple of gaps in the line. But that should be motivation for you to enter in 2026 and be apart of this fantastic show. The 60+ engines that were in attendance were all represented, with any engine suffering mechanical issues being worked on and got back running for the visitors. Visitors who were very keen to ask questions on the engines it seemed! Great to see so many enthusiasts talking and answering said questions! Even my own Bernard-Moteurs W2 piqued alot of interest, mainly with its unique exhaust note.
My personal favourite of the engines in section was the 6 Mule Team Amanco having it’s first public outing (I believe) since being sold at auction earlier this year. The engine itself has Dorset history, being sold to Thorne Timber Co. of Verwood in 1922. No shortage of compression, no mistaking each time the engine fires!
Other bigger engines included a 6.5HP Hornsby-Akroyd No.10053 shown by Dennis Barnes, running like a clock as to be expected. A pair of Ruston Hornsby engines at the head of the engine line were perfectly placed to draw in the public, one being an IP, accompanied with a 4BHP AP. Each line had a big Lister to enjoy, one being a 1926 R Type bouncing away to its own rhythm, and the other was an original condition L type. Out in the working area of the showground was a familiar sight to any regular visitor to the GDSF, was the Ruston Hornsby Oil Engine No.10171 and flour mill combo.
Spoilt for choice on small power engines, I’m going to start with a Wile E. Coyotes favourite, a hit and miss Acme engine. A pair of vertical Blackstones visited on Saturday, a Blister and a 2.5HP. Luke and Roger Sims brought a pair of well polished engines, a Petter M type and Bentall Pioneer. A nice selection of interesting Wolseley engines, a smooth hopper WD1 had double duty with a water pump and cornmill, a brilliantly well restored WLB8 made light work of a Bamford Chaffcutter and the boxey-looking WLB1 was running well.
Mike Deacon had brought along a uncommon engine in the form of a Gilson Johnny-On-The-Spot out of the Canadian factory, with the crank guard still in place too. Other power from across the pond included a International Harvester Famous 1HP cream separator spec engine, a pair of Ingeco engines, Both swan-neck and straight striker forms of Amanco. A Fairbank Morse Z engine working hard on a dynamo, Nelson Brothers Co ‘Little Jumbo’. A Monitor pump engine, 1HP Gray and a Headless Fairbanks.
As always, a video of engines running at the show will be at the bottom of this article. More detailed videos of some of the engines will be found on Spooners Shed on your social media platform of choice in the coming weeks.
Thank you for reading.
- Spooner
You must be logged in to like this post.
Country: GB
