Static Steam at The Long Shop
 

A 'recent steam event' with a difference. The Long Shop Museum, in the old Garrett works, recently hosted an evening slide show for EATES (The East Anglian Traction Engine Society), picturing local engines in their working, derelict and preservation days. This gave members the opportunity to look round the museum's re-vamped displays without the crowds of public open days.

The unique Garrett Suffolk Punch tractor, 'The Joker', greets arrivals.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52771

Garrett roller no.34265 'Consuelo Allen' shares a shed in the yard with the A&P rail loco 'Sirapite'.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52772

In the actual Long Shop, Garrett tractor no.32944 'Princess Marina'.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52773

On the other side of the Long Shop, a massive semi-portable that once powered a wood yard.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52774

The Long Shop itself - known as 'the cathedral', looking down from the gallery where parts were made to the floor where engines were assembled.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52775

One of a number of miniature Garretts on display.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52776

The Joker as seen from inside the old works power house.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52777

Next to The Joker, this portable has just been restored by the museum volunteers.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52778

There is also an interesting video display, here featuring a Garrett wagon.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52779

The reason for the event, museum curator Stuart Hines introduces the speaker, past president of EATES, Kevin Swan.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52780

Finally one of the slides, this one featuring Kevin's father.
https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pi...ictureid=52781

A very interesting evening and a good introduction to the new steaming season.
Bill.

The Garrett semi portable cam,e from Braces wood yard in High Ongar and was in use into the mid 1970's, I posted about it in the 'Alternative Fuels' thread Braces also had a Garrett portable which I assume is the one recently restoed by volunteers, this was 'Available' on standby into the mid '70's but probably had not been steamed since 1960. Old Percy Bloomfield from Margaretting (Who served His apprenticeship with Garretts during the first war) used to maintain and repair the semi portable including removing the pistons one evening after the works closed and taking them back to his works, machining and fitting a new set of rings and putting it back together in time for opening the next morning. Percy used to make rings with an overlapped, elongated S shaped gap. (middle section parallel)