Manoeuvring

Ah, life on the open road chugging along on 'Billy' the steamroller built in 1903

and still steaming at Blists Hill Victorian Town. Having done its rolling for the day it was time to manoeuvre it into the shed for the night

Through the gate, oh no, just too much to the right

Better reverse back to take another run at it. Left hand down a bit and then

full steam ahead with room to spare.

The driver took more than one run at the gates but I admired his manoeuvring ability on a machine that was built to go in a straight line.  I also rather liked the handle on the wheel that you spun it around with.   

The Steamroller was built by Wallis and Steevens of Basingstoke in Hampshire who started manufactured agricultural machinery from the 1840s and then expanded into road making equipment, it ceased to trade in 1981.  The steamroller's home is now Blists Hill, an Open Air Museum on an old industrial site recreating a Victorian town in the late 19th and early 20th century located near the Shropshire Canal.

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week parking at M here.