Plans are coming together well for the 19th Annual Strumpshaw Steam Rally. Held in the beautiful parkland grounds of Strumpshaw Hall, between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, the event will be held over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, the 28th – 30th May.
One of the star attractions will be the first UK outing of the Kelders family Dance Hall Organ “Rhapsody” over from Holland. As we write the organ is still under construction with work on the façade underway and painting has begun. Building started in 2007 on the 128 Key instrument, which incorporates some pre war Verbeeck and Mortier pipework. The Kelders family are well known for their fantastic evening organ shows with film screens and lights, as exhibited at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre, and other shows around the country.
Over 50 steam engines will be on display including one of the first outings for the Plumb family’s Burrell SCC Devonshire Road Locomotive No. 2239 which was sent new to Cape Town before travelling to Australia where it spent the remainder of its working life. The engine returned to the UK in 2007 and since then has been completely rebuilt.
As well as the steam gathering, there will be over 350 other exhibits on site, not including the Steam Engines and other exhibits including a working beam engine inside the Strumpshaw Steam Museum which is open all weekend and included in your admission. Concerts are also held throughout the day on the Christie Concert Organ.
A selection of trade stands, and a craft tent are there for all the family, alongside the vintage exhibits, working demonstrations of steam and tractors, and a playpen for those who want to let off some steam.