Historic Traction Engine Completes Long-Distance Journey
A 94-year-old traction engine has successfully completed a journey exceeding 400 miles, travelling from Oban to the Peak District.
Chris Hutton piloted Vernon, the last traction engine produced by Ransomes Sims & Jefferies of Ipswich, maintaining an average speed of approximately 8 mph (12.8 km/h). Throughout the expedition, the engine consumed four tonnes of coal and required 300 gallons of water every 30 miles.
Journey Details and Fundraising Efforts
Hutton expressed anticipation for the celebrations planned upon arrival at the Red Lion in Litton and the Anchor Inn in Tideswell, Derbyshire. The journey has successfully raised over £5,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Give A Kidney charities.
"We're all tired, everyone really wants to get back. We'll make it one way or another,"
Hutton attributed his passion for steam engines to his parents, recalling that his father purchased a classic steamroller when he was 12 years old.
"It's just in your blood," he said. "It's the same as any hobby - you're influenced by your parents. Some kids like football, my parents liked steam engines, so here we are."
Companions and Challenges During the Trip
Hutton was accompanied by his friend Dave Bosworth, who rode a 1910 Garrett tractor. Another companion, Andrew Betney, travelled on a 1916 Clayton & Shuttleworth tractor named Nelson; however, this vehicle was unable to maintain the pace and discontinued the journey at Ardrossan on the North Ayrshire coast.
Beginning the journey through Scotland on 18 May, Hutton noted that the slow speed occasionally caused traffic queues but also attracted positive attention from locals familiar with the story.
"There's a lot of people around Scotland who know what the story is, so they've been really good - we've not had much trouble at all.
"If you get any more than nine ten mile an hour, Vernon shakes a bit and wobbles you about, so it's pretty uncomfortable.
"It's like trying to drive a mobile toaster or a mobile kettle. You're stood on something that's got a fire at your feet."
Motivation and Final Destination
Hutton aimed to raise funds for Give A Kidney because a friend's son is undergoing kidney dialysis and requires a transplant.
The journey concluded on Saturday afternoon at the Anchor Inn in Tideswell, which is considered a fitting endpoint as the pub installed the world's first tractor parking bay in 2022.
Arriving just after 12:00 BST on Saturday, Hutton expressed gratitude for the extensive support received throughout the journey.
"Emotional is not even the word. I cried a lot when we we're coming up that hill over there," he said.
"All these lot are the bones of all this. We wouldn't have done any of it without all this team."
Additional Information
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