Cadishead and Irlam residents in Salford were treated to the sounds and smells of a bygone age when a convoy of historical steam engines, tractors and other vehicles – wound their way along Liverpool Road from a local steam rally over the border in Cheshire for a rendezvous at the Station in Irlam. These aging giants of the past were an impressive spectacle as they trundled along the road with motorists pulling over to get a ‘snap’ of these huge beasts, a nod to our industrial heritage and an amazing sight to see! Amongst the vehicles going full steam ahead was a 1909 Burrell Showman’s Steam Engine and a 1925 Fowler Steam Roller named ‘Nut Roast’. One of the most unusual vehicles was a 1933 Sentinel ‘Tarmac’ Waggon finished in a lovely black and gold livery, whilst bringing up the rear was ‘Old Faithful’ a 1923 ‘Randsomes’ Traction Engine originally used for threshing crops in the fields ‘down south’. One motorist commented, “Wow! what a spectacular display of steam power. Although it was a bit worrying watching these giants manoeuvring to get up the hill at Station Road and onto the Station!” Just goes to show what you might come across when out and about around Salford!
