About Vintage Spirit

From time immemorial, the fastest way to travel on land was on horseback - but the advent of steam power for the mining industry in the later 18th century led to its adaptation to the movement of goods and people across the world.  

Britain was at the forefront of this technology and the first successful self-moving machines were introduced the mineral railroads 200 years ago. The rapid development of steam technology led to the age of railway mania in the 19th century when many thousands of miles of railways were built in the UK alone.  

The same technology was applied to road transport and the first self-moving traction engine was built around 1860. Rapid development saw many traction engine builders spring up, though most were in the east of England, with others in the industrial heartland of Yorkshire. To improve the roads, steam rollers were made. From the 1850s to the 1930s, steam was applied not only to roads but to agriculture as well, many engines - self-moving or not - being used to mechanise farming.  

Meanwhile, steam power's hold on industry was growing, with huge beam engines used to pump out deep mines, or to raise fresh water or foul. Massive horizontal engines drove cotton mills, mainly in Lancashire and Yorkshire, while steamships plied the oceans of the world; all this made Britain 'great'.  

Around 100 years ago, the steam engine was adapted for leisure purposes and was a boon to travelling fairgrounds, both hauling and driving their rides.   After the First World War, a glut of surplus petrol-engined lorries became available and these gradually took over road haulage from the 1920s, especially as steam was legislated against. Later, the diesel engine took over from petrol, and road haulage from rail as the country's rail network was slashed. This has left a legacy of superbly restored 'classic' lorries which we can enjoy today while we wonder at the progress made in only a few short decades.  

We are fortunate that much of Britain's rich transport, agricultural and industrial heritage is preserved in working order, and many enthusiasts give freely of their time to keep it so. Every weekend in the summer numerous shows and open days are held around the country where many thousands of visitors can enjoy these superb relics of a bygone age and marvel at the engineering which once put the 'great' into Great Britain.  

Read Vintage Spirit every month and keep up with the latest from the preservation world.