I had my first Trevithick Day in 2019. On a cold windy but bright day I had a wonderful time and took many photographs. However I was suffering from a bad headache all day. So, this page holds a selection of the images I have printed.
Trevithick Day Camborne 1 – It is a day out for the whole family. A real coming together of everyone in Camborne. The engines in the image are: Ransomes 42013 Sister Wendy, Wallis and Stevens 7878 “Little Wonder” and finally Fowler 22596 “Evening Star”.
Held annually on the last Saturday in April this is a Cornish celebration to local born engineer Richard Trevithick (1771-1833). The son of a mine Captain and a miner’s daughter he was the inventor of the high pressure steam engine.
Also responsible for the creation of the Cornish Boiler which was used to steam the great pumping engines keeping the deep mines free from water.
Trevithick Day Camborne 2 – Certainly a time for reflection. This gentleman and his dog caught my eye.
One of his most famous inventions was the first steam powered passenger vehicle. On Christmas eve 1801 he took seven of his friends aboard his creation the “Puffing Devil”. The residents of Camborne were so terrified by this fire eating and steaming devil. But he managed to get sucessfully up Camborne hill.
Trevithick Day Camborne 3 – All the impressive steam engines are lined up along Basset Road. The engines Marshall 81119 also Mclaren 1534.
It is a day of celebration with dancing along with many steam engines. These amazing bits of engineering line the streets and provide a wealth of photographic possibilities.
Trevithick Day Camborne 4 – Aveling 10594 Hercules, this fine engine was built during 1923. It worked for rolling contractor W Buncombe of Highbridge Somerset. Trevithick Day Camborne 5 – Fowler 15529. This wonderful machine is a BB1 type Ploughing Engine built by Fowler & Co. of Leeds during 1921. Trevithick Day Camborne 6 – Aveling 5541 Bo-Peep built in 1904 by Aveling & Porter. Driven here by Sebastian Austin who has also supplied the engine information for the page. Trevithick Day Camborne 7 – Engines of all shapes and sizes were out on the day. In the background is Marshall S Type roller 88097 “Toby” .In the foreground is a 4″ scale Garrett traction engine.
Marshall “Toby”, Aveling “Jubilee” and Fowler “Lady Gwen” are all ex-Dingles engines, which spent their working lives in Cornwall.
So, I really tried to be different and take images usually ignored. I took my time and chose my subjects and angles with care.
Trevithick Day Camborne 8 – Marshall 81119, this road roller was built in 1926 and is named “Joan”, she is ex Edinburgh Corporation. Trevithick Day Camborne 9 – Fowler Ploughing Engine 15163, this 20 ton beast was built during 1918. Here she is getting a few minutes of TLC before the procession begins. Trevithick Day Camborne 10 – A time to enjoy the history and smell of steam. Here is Fowler Roller 19205 “Lady Gwen”. She was built in 1932. Trevithick Day Camborne 11 – Wheels and circles were definitely the favorite of the day. This engine is “Cornish Maid”, Burrell 3816 she dates from 1919. Spent its working life with the Parson family near St Columb, now with her second family of owners. Trevithick Day Camborne 12 – These machines were so complex, and lovingly looked after. This is a Mclaren Cracker, a general purpose engine built in 1917. She is a 5hp compound traction engine that spent its working life in Ireland. Trevithick Day Camborne 13 – Fowler Evening Star this road roller was built during 1937. Trevithick Day Camborne 14 – Another image of Fowler 15529 showing the flywheel, motion, and cylinder casting. Trevithick Day Camborne 15 – Engines of all shapes and sizes were the highlight of the day. Here is Foden 10530 “Pride of the West”. This fine machine spent its working life with Devon County Council, and has lived in Devon/Cornwall since being retired. Trevithick Day Camborne 16 – Also on show was the Trevithick Society replica of the famous “Puffing Devil”. During the day she was driven up and down Basset Street.
So, after 3pm the procession of the Steam Engines begins. Seeing these amazing machines moving slowly up the road is a real treat. The sound and the smell of steam was quite an experience.
Trevithick Day Camborne 17 – With the procession finally under way, this is Wallis and Stevens advance roller “Little Wonder” . Built during 1926 she spent her working life in Torquay. Trevithick Day Camborne 18 – Burrell 3159 “The Gladiator” dates from 1909. Also there are two Fowler BB1 ploughing engines following close behind. Trevithick Day Camborne 19 – Aveling 9096 “Jubilee” built during 1920. Also “Cornish Maid” following behind. Cornish Mine Images 20 – Aveling 5541 “Bo peep” in the centre. She is a 3 ton tractor built in 1904. She spent many years as a roller and been in Cornwall since 1955, followed by Fowler 15163. Cornish Mine Images 21 – Certainly my favorite image of the day, Fowler 15163 ploughing engine built in 1918. Cornish Mine Images 22 – Another image of Fowler 15163 as she trundled by. Cornish Mine Images 23 – Fowler 19205 “Lady Gwen”. Cornish Mine Images 24 – Ransomes “Sister Wendy” being driven by her proud owner. This General Purpose Engine was built during 1931. Cornish Mine Images 25 – Finally on this page another picture of Fowler 15529. I rather like this image.
Let us hope the celebration will soon be back again. During the pandemic it has sadly been cancelled.
Once again my thanks to Sebastian Austin who has supplied much of the information on this page.
