Vintage Excavator Trust Working Weekend May 2025

[XS650]

Went to this in May , really good event in fantastic Lakeland Scenery.
The Steam navvy is amazing to watch , it is enormous and take three ( brave ! ) men to operate.
Their are dozens of rope excavators on site and a working narrow guage steam railway that takes you to various levels in quarry.
Their is another working weekend in Sept well worth a visit, I know most here are from the deep south , South of the Humber that is !
So combine it with a weekend in Lakes
Craig

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[XS650]

Videos Steam Navvy and RBs

https://www.flickr.com/photos/seacoaler ... 326228398/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/seacoaler ... 326228398/

[XS650]

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[Jeremy Rowland]

Nice one Craig thanks for sharing, the only disappointing thing with this place is the lack of classic hydraulic excavators, otherwise well worth a visit.

Jeremy

[XS650]

Yes hydraulics virtually non existent in any form anywhere apart from the telehandler and a couple of dumptrucks and a wrecked 3C.
Perhaps Ian Hartland has an aversion to them
Craig

[Jeremy Rowland]

Yes hydraulics virtually non existent in any form anywhere apart from the telehandler and a couple of dumptrucks and a wrecked 3C.
Perhaps Ian Hartland has an aversion to them
Craig

Yes this is something which I can confirm and it's a real shame as this museum loses out; apparently at one time there was a couple of Akerman face shovel hydraulic excavators there which belonged to the now late Peter Grimshaw, I have no idea what happened to them, anybody's guess. I know a certain person who used to operate machines there and contribute to the magazine they produced, I am led to believe that he did not see eye to eye with Ian over the preservation and presence of hydraulic excavators at the site.

Just like on preserved railways we have both steam and diesel locos preserved, so we should also have cable and hydraulic excavators preserved, history is history and it does need saving for future generations.

Jeremy

[XS650]

You are right, time moves on.

I am sure a hydraulic excavator display would be popiuar.

Other thing that struck me was the amount of land they have, would be worth a fortune with planning for houses or lodges !

Craig