Memories of Steam Rallying

We are delighted to be publishing this long-lost third book by Jack Hampshire on his life with road steam, covering his involvement with preservation from the mid 1950s, and the rallies of the 1960s and 1970s.

It is really a story of rallying two engines - Major Giles Corkran’s unusual Burrell 5hp double crank compound agricultural engine ‘Britannia’ and, after its restoration, covered in detail, Jack’s own Foden steam wagon ‘Peg ‘o My Heart’.

All the many journeys described were made under steam, unusual even at the time, and include a regular annual journey from the south of England to the West of England’s Steam Society’s rallies at Camborne and Redruth.

Adventures are frequent, and this is a real window into what was arguably the Golden Age of road steam preservation - a time when many of the owners had, like Jack, been involved with steam all their lives. A wonderful read for any lover of road steam, highly amusing and full of great characters from the time, and full of incidental hints and tips on driving skills.

As some 34 years passed between the author's death and publication, we have added an extra section on Jack's life, giving details of some of the other people and one firm in particular which feature prominently in Jack's text, who may not be familiar to today's reader, with extra photographs.

144 well illustrated pages. Paperback. Camden

Reviewing this book in the November 2014 issue of the Road Locomotive Society Journal, the editor - Steve Parrott said:

"I have just read this book and quite frankly I couldn't put it down. Many members will empathise with all it contains. It really is a super read and well worth buying as a Christmas present for friends and family. A lot of readers will remember or know the cast whether they be human or steam, and in many cases 'have been there and done that!' "

A DIGITAL EDITION of this book is available HERE

The two earlier volumes of Jack's memoirs are still available as real books only, follow these links: