What makes these events is the people. The machines are just a bonus.

Yesterday (Saturday 16th October 2021) I took the pilgrimage up the A515 to the generally biannual Steam Party event at Klondyke Mill in Draycott in the Clay, home of the North Staffordshire and Cheshire Traction Engine Club – It’s an event I try to attend every year, either in the summer or the October.

It’s still on today (Sunday 17th) until 4pm, plenty of time to get up there!

Sadly, there hasn’t been an event since 2019 due to the pandemic – and indeed, this is the first such event I’ve  been able to attend since then. It’s great to see them back in action!

It’s quintessentially British, it’s a feast for mechanical geeks, people watchers and vintage buffs of all stripes. I always have a whale of a time geeking out over the machines.

There were traction engines in full steam driving around the yard, stationary engines, classic cars, tractors, land rovers and much more – it’s well worth a visit and the people are very friendly.

The twice yearly all-weekend ‘Steam Party’ is in normal times a regular event, and the next one is likely to be June 2022. It’s well worth a visit, but the entrance fee can be a shock if there’s a few of you; but the fuel alone isn’t cheap and the North Staffs and Cheshire Traction Engine Club need all the funds they can raise.