Showmans Engines and Steam Fun Fair

Showman’s Engines and Old Time Steam Fun Fair. One of the highlights of The Great Dorset Steam Fair is the old time steam Funfair. Annually, over 60 Showman's Engines with their gleaming, twisted, brass appear generating the light and power for the old roundabouts and swing-boats, and with 80 merry organs playing, it makes for a fascinating spectacle, especially at night. For many the nightlife of the show is the highlight of their visit!

The showman’s road locomotives really are the stars of the show standing proudly in front of the fairground and majestically lighting up the Great Dorset Steam Fair sky line. These engines are a variation of the big road locomotives adapted for showman’s use by the fitting of a dynamo on the front perch bracket; this is operated by a flat belt from the engine’s flywheel. The power is then used to drive and light up the old time fairground. Showman’s Road Locomotives would haul the heavily laden trailers from show to show and some, fitted with crane jibs, even helped to erect the rides!

The smaller counterpart to these locomotives are known as Showman’s Tractors and were also useful for hauling support vehicles out on the road and powering lights in the fairground.

The fabulous showman’s engine line up at the Great Dorset Steam Fair is world renown and together with the rides in the Old Time Fairground including two sets of Gallopers (carousels), Steam Yachts, Chair-o-Planes, Noah’s Ark, Skid, Cakewalk, Big Wheel and a Light House Slip, will give you an almost mystical experience that is difficult to define.

Heavy Horses and Tractor Pulling Section

Welcome to the Heavy Horse Section of the Great Dorset Steam Fair. This year it is proposed that we shall be in a same position as the last year so please refer to your map to find us!

The heavy horse section is one of the most popular areas at the show. Over 100 heavy horses take part in the many displays. Each day, in the working area, heavy horses will be working the land using various cultivation implements. On Wednesday in the working area there is a friendly ploughing match. On Saturday, the ring is reserved for the showing classes which begin at 9.30am with the presentation of trophies at around 3.30pm. All of the horses involved in both the working and daily displays will be groomed to their finest and dressed in their best harnesses to vie for the winning spot.

Ploughing Engines at The Great Dorset Steam Fair:

These include some of the largest and most powerful types of traction engine ever built, Fowler of Leeds being the most prolific manufacturer. Usually operated in matched pairs of left and right-handed engines, they would perform a variety of tasks including ploughing, dredging and mole draining.

Four pairs of ploughing engines with ploughs can be seen in the most westerly field of the showground in the steam cultivating area.

There are over 120 stationary engines at the show with many different makes and variations. These small engines were generally used on farms and in light industry to drive items such as water pumps, corn mills and saw benches.

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