Steam enthusiasts fired up their engines for the grand parade. Photos: supplied
The Campaspe Valley Miniature Railway Club hosted the 34th Australian Miniature Traction Engine and Road Steam Rally on October 19 and 20.
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Steam engine enthusiasts from all over Australia gathered at the Echuca Rotary Park with their engines and machines in tow.
According to the club’s president Colin McConnell, the event was successful.
“The purpose of the rally is so that like-minded people can get together and have a talk and show off their engines,” he said.
“We don’t get a lot of opportunities these days to be able to get them out in a group together to use them, so we decided to have a day once a year to get together and catch up.
“It’s probably 20 per cent steaming and 80 per cent talking, which makes for a terrific weekend.”
There were traction engines of all makes, models and colours on the day.
There were 36 entrants on the day and a total of 70 people throughout the weekend, including enthusiasts from as far as Queensland and South Australia.
Steaming on the Downs club member John Blaik travelled from Queensland to attend the rally alongside a few other club members and eight of their engines.
Mr Blaik said they wanted to reciprocate the support and really enjoyed their weekend in Echuca.
“[Steaming on the Downs] hosted the miniature rally last year in Crows Nest, so we wanted to reciprocate it and come down here to Echuca,” he said.
“It was excellent, there were a lot of engines that we had never seen before and it was well attended.”
The rally is one of few chances that owners get to drive their machines.
Enthusiasts enjoyed a grand parade on both days, where they took their machines for a ride around the park.
Although the event was not open to the public, some bypassers were able to catch a glimpse of the machines and a few children were lucky enough to also ride in them.
A steam wagon appeared briefly on the Saturday to join in on the fun.
Among the miniature models, a full-sized steam wagon that happened to be at the Port of Echuca’s 50-year celebrations also made an appearance at the rally.
There was a huge range of engines throughout the weekend however Glenn Roennfeldt from Wodonga took home the top prize with his one-quarter-scale Burrell traction engine.
Glenn Roennfeldt won Best Engine with his one-quarter-scale Burrell traction engine.
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