Railway Rev Up in Meare near Glastonbury

The annual Railway Rev-Up took place at the Railway Inn in Meare a few miles outside of Glastonbury on17th and 18th September 2011.

The Railway is off the beaten path situated next to the Ashcott Corner Visitors' Car Park from where the Acre Wall RSPB Nature Reserve can be visited, but despite its remote location and variable weather conditions with quite heavy showers at times, the crowds were out in force over the weekend.

Vintage vehicles of all shapes and sizes including motorcycles, tractors, stationary engines, cars, steam engines and even a Keyless Street Organ took part in the event as well as various other attractions including a tombola, a raffle, and on Sunday a car boot sale. 

The event, was organised by keen enthusiasts the Sparks family of Street and Glastonbury and raises valuable money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and despite intermittent and at times heavy rain showers throughout both days it seems that many were not deterred from attending, and accessing the bar in the pub was at times nigh on impossible.

Many of the exhibits on show had interesting working histories before often being left in severe disrepair for years, unwanted and due to be scrapped before having been reprieved at the last moment, lovingly renovated and given new leases of life. Several of them looked brand new despite being many decades old. 

George Bush from Baltonsborough was displaying 2 tractors including an International Farmall F12 tractor and he told me "this was bought new by my father from Pensford Garage in the 1930s but lay unused and abandoned in a field for years.  About 10 years ago, realising I wasn't getting any younger I decided to actually dig it out and clean it up".  Now it is back in prime working condition.  

Anthony "Titch" Masters had brought along a vintage road roller and a 1960 fire engine both of which had links to Hinkley Point.  According to Tony the roller and its operator were both brought out of retirement to work on construction roadworks at Hinkley and were utilised there for 5 years, while the Dennis Engine was stationed there for many years having first entering service in Wells.  Tony remembered the fire engine, which could empty its 500 gallon tank in 2 minutes, from his schooldays, so when the opportunity to buy it came up he had to have it saying "It has been restored and maintained to a high level with all its original features and in fact if an emergency shout came out it would be totally ready for action".

The exact amount of money raised over the weekend is yet to be determined, although it is hoped that well over £1000 has been raised.