A Scene from the Past

Marshall Steam Tractor Moonraker

Recently memories of yesteryear were evoked in the centre of Hodnet. On the Shrewsbury Street bridge a steam tractor was parked whilst its crew refilled its water tank with a hose from the stream below.Marshall Steam Tractor MoonrakerOwner Ariel West, from Kinnerley near Oswestry, was taking the tractor to Norton-in-Hales to join other steam vehicles in celebrating the 100th anniversary of another steam Marshall Tractor called “Mascot” (No. 68754). His own vehicle, also made by Marshalls, is a Convertible Tractor (No. 78953) named “Moonraker”.
Ariel is pictured above (in blue) with his assistant (in the bowler hat) as they lifted water from the stream. The method used to draw the water from the stream is a venturi, which produces a reduction in pressure due to a constriction of the flow in a pipe. More information about how a venturi works can be found here and here. Technical information on “Moonraker” is available from this page.
At one time steam powered vehicles were a daily sight in the village and the cause of several thatched roof fires! Happily no fires were reported following Moonraker’s visit.