Famous locomotive heads to Shrewsbury Steam Rally
The world's first railway locomotive has made its way through Shropshire ahead of Shrewsbury Steam Rally on Sunday.
The Trevithick Locomotive was pulled by the Fowler Road Locomotive 1913 from Ironbridge to the rally at Onslow Park, near Shrewsbury, on Friday.
Chairman Edward Goddard said that organisers were hoping this year would be a record year for the event.
He said: "It's been running for 53 years. There will be about 80 steam engines and well over 1,000 different exhibitions, all sorts, tractors, cars and working horses.
"There's about 20,000 people who come each year.
"There's a nice craft marquee and all sorts of trade stands.
"We've been blessed, it's looking like it's going to be good weather this weekend, it's all going according to plan."
The Trevithick Locomotive was designed by Richard Trevithick and built by the Coalbrookdale ironworks in 1802. This, and Trevithick’s other engines, demonstrated what could be done and inspired the engineers who made steam powered railways a practical proposition.
Also at the event this year will be The Portsmouth Action Field Gun Display Team.
The team will be performing the South Africa Challenge, when a Command 1 tonne, 12-pounder field gun and limber – a two-wheeled cart designed to support the trail and the stock of a field carriage – will be raced across the main arena.
The challenge will involve the teams racing each other to dis-assemble and re-assemble the field gun on the carriage and fire a blank at each end of the run.
Mr Goddard added: "The Trevithick Locomotive is one of the main attractions, we've also got The Portsmouth Action Field Gun Display Team in the main arena this year.
"We're hoping it'll be a record year with the weather looking so positive."
Shrewsbury Steam Rally will take place tomorrow and Monday.
For more information visit shrewsburysteamrally.co.uk
