'AtkiPete' has sent me a few more pictures from the recent Lake Goldsmith Rally including a particularly strange steam-powered VW transporter pick-up pictured above and below. Pete tells Biglorryblog: "It has great acceleration and is deadly quiet. I heard it has the engine from a Stanley Steamer and can do 120km/h! If diesel keeps going up it might be the answer to some UK operator's woes. Can do a bit more research on this one if you like. Note the LED tailights."
The answer to that question is yes please find out more Pete---I'm sure my BLB army is as interested as me! Anyway Pete goes on to say : "Would anyone know what the object on the bumper bar of the Bedford is?
Haven't a clue...how about my BLB readers? Meanwhile, click through here for more 'weird transport' and a pie is in the offing for anyone who can tell BLB what it is. But before you do here's an immaculate Chevrolet...
Pete says "This three wheeled contraption had a Morris Commercial badge on it but I've never seen one before." So do BLB readers know what it is? Pete adds: "The Pub scooter is my favourite, initially I thought American ( by the number of cupholders) but those devious Aussies are using them to hold beer cans. Had a Villiers donk so performance not a strong point. Might be an idea to remove the drivers 'cupholder' before presenting it for registration though. Regards Pete."
Now there's a challenge and a major pie to for anyone who can supply us with more information on it. Meanwhile, regarding rhe steam shovel picture posted from Lake Goldsmith, Pete says: "I don't want to upset your UK fans. That steam shovel is a serious bit of gear, about four stories high with a crew of 3, weighs 90 tonnes made by Ruston in the UK."
Looks like a canvas waterbag, used to see them in the American Southwest before auto airconditioning. Water seeped through the bag and evaporated in the breeze, cooling the water inside. Cold water to drink. Now we have cars with cold/hot cup holders.
Well done Michael, I had last used one of these in the mid 70's when carting hay and forgotten about them. Makes me feel old.
There was a proper frame you could fit to hang the water bag above the bumper. Everyone drank from the waterbag, you were usually too thirsty to worry about germs or such like.
I remember being told by a very old hand that it was not unknown to be overtaken by a Sentinel steam waggon at great speed, having been totally unaware of its' silent approach.