GDSF 2012 - Day One
 

If you didn't go today, you picked a good day not to go! The rain started about 10am and it was still raining at 3pm when I came away. The ground had turned into the familiar Dorset soup. Consequently there was very little to photograph. At the engine owners briefing this morning there was mention of them bringing the heavy load through the showground tomorrow (Thursday) but I am not sure if this will happen given all the rain that fell. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow as is forecast and dry the site up. The forecast for Fri/Sat/Sun is very good.

A few pictures the very few I did take, most before the rain started:

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...3-DSC_5933.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...3-DSC_5946.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...2-DSC_5951.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...0-DSC_5953.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...8-DSC_5961.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...0-DSC_5963.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...1-DSC_5964.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...3-DSC_5968.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...9-DSC_5976.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...6-DSC_5980.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...5-DSC_5989.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...1-DSC_5993.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...4-DSC_5998.jpg

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tth/12...6-DSC_6000.jpg

Looks wonderful:p glad I was at work!

Yes David, the Great Dorset ......... Fair is very boring when it's mostly a sheet of green canvas! It showed too by the lack of people.
Still my son enjoyed himself in his backpack stood under Britannias engine sheet, and a nice pint of beer off of Mr Hawkins (me, not my son!), even if I did have to polish some brass.

Evidently it's tiring work....
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...t/DSC_2143.jpg

whats the burrell behind you look like new

Is it Martin shepards fosse way haulage it's immaculate Gerry impressive looking forward to seeing it at Bedford

"The Badger"

It looks like 3941 The Badger.

Couldn't remember it's name that's the one

David, whats the engine on the trailer in grey primer ??

Chris.

I can tell you the mud is a lot worse now then in Davids photos! Its now covers eveywhere, and up to ankle height! Propper Stourpaine mud! On the plus side it should dry out now, and the play pen is still green!

Engine is Aveling 2603 i think, owned by a TT member too!

We were planning to go to Dorset this year and we had even arranged the use of a minibus for a Group of us to go up from Ivybridge but my Grandson and myself cried off due mainly to the weather. We had a choice of either going to WESES at Stithians a couple of weeks ago or going to Dorset. We decided to go to WESES and we enjoyed the ONLY dry afternoon of the event. The sun was out and I was in a tee shirt because it was so warm. I am glad that we made that choice as WESES is far enough away from us, 75 miles and Dorset is over 100 miles from here and I certainly would not have been a happy bunny if, after driving all that way that we found ourself on a largely deserted mudpat.

I feel very sorry for the organisers, exhibitors and traders as well as the visitors, as usual the British weather has fouled everything up.

Only engine to move across the site yesterday was my miniature 'Madeline' attending the SAC Build a Burrell launch at 3.00pm. Up to the T rings in mud. No problem with traction tho' with half a dozen people pushing behind and Max driving!

Tim

There's a pic of your heroic journey here thumbsup

I remember the Stourpaine rallies as a kid - I would be up to my knees in it during the day, then the sun would come out in the late afternoon and by evening all dry and vehicles would be moving again! And that site wasn't as well drained, so hang in there! I would rather be there than sat at my work desk*cry

Well i have not gone this year ,at home in the warm ,engine nice and clean ,
no word from our Dan (Lancs Lad ) think hes vanished under all the mud .
One request a photo of the Newton display on here please , its in the N T E T tent .

Dan's been bemoaning his fate on Facebook. Looks likes he's taken to drinking his blues away.

Anyone who doesn't want to brave the mud and would like to swap with me stuck in the office like Pandora above is more than welcome to swap for a couple of days.
Mud washes off easily, but at work there is never light at the end of the tunnel :LOL

Nick - wishing I was with you this year

All those moaners and groaners take note. May not be the genuine article, but I can't see much else going on!

Now how do you get on face book .:(
How come your not in all that mud ? ;)

Funny how its the showmans engine's that are sheeted, are they not the ones that get most appearance money?

Shame on them!!

I all ways thought the moto was "The show must go on"
apparently not in 2012.

The boiler on the trailer is a completely new boiler for 6HP Aveling 2603 - new January 1890. The firebox stays need to be fitted also tubes etc but not far off complete thankgoodness.

Paul

Why are the Showmans Sheeted up, is it early morning when the pic was taken?

To be fair to the showmens the engines that are "on show" appear to be sheeted up in the direction the weather's coming from. a picture taken from the other direction may tell a different story - some that look sheeted up have smoke coming from the extensions.

also would be interested to know what time the photo was taken.

ah, right. so as its not raining I would presume it was earlier in the morning.

I mean I don't know what was going on as I'm sat at home in the dry feeling frustrated that I'm not in Dorset.

I am working, but not at Dorset, and kind of glad, due tot he weather conditions, and the cost to get in... lol

According to the EXIF data David's pic was taken at 20:27.

I get it at taken at 12:45 and some seconds?

I'm going down on Saturday and am reali looking forward to it my brother inlaw has never been Dorset so it was the only excuse I needed to go. Hopefully will be the usual brilliant atmosphere on the sat night hopefully will get in next year so Avis can pair up with hero might get chance to pop in for the tt meet and have a pint

You are correct ,i did not scroll down the data far enough. :o

It must be busy there today - Radio 2 travel news mention it in every bulletin!!:D