Get all steamed up for traction

Ballee playing fields is the venue for the Traction Engine Club of Ulster’s ’Festival of Steam and Transport’ on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th July.

As usual there will be all sorts of vintage exhibits on show and in action over the weekend. The gentle giants of steam engines will be powering various machines and looking resplendent in their glorious colours and gleaming brasses.

Vintage tractors, stationary engines, commercial trucks and motorbikes will be all on show with some very rare models almost 100 years old sure to catch some admiring glances.

Many of these machines will be put to work over the weekend carrying out the tasks they would have done on farms throughout Northern Ireland in their past.

There will be lots of other things going on during the event – singing sensation Ritchie Remo will be entertaining the crowds in his own individual style on each day while well-known blacksmith David Herron will be sure to mesmerise those who watch him magically transform lengths of metal into all sorts of useful objects using his forge and anvil.

There will be fairground amusements for the younger generation, trade stands selling goods of interest to all ages and a craft marquee with all sorts of handmade goodies available.

An unusual and awe inspiring demonstration will be provided on the Saturday when the Innishowen Vintage Club team will show how they can build a Ferguson tractor from its component parts to working condition in less than ten minutes – one of those things which you can’t believe until you see it for yourself!

On the social side of things the Club has organised for a short tractor road run to take place on the Friday night. Starting and finishing at the playing fields it is hoped that a good number of exhibitors will join in with their tractors. Following the road run a barbecue will take place on-site – open to all with food being provided by Doc’s Diner, Kilrea.

The event is supported by Ballymena Borough Council.