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Atlas roads to Dorset

Booked into the Great Dorset Steam Fair, the owner, together with the restorer, decided to road the engine to Dorset, with Stuart Fletcher being the third member of crew, travelling in the Jeep that was towed behind, as well as the trailer of necessities required for such a journey.

It was a very early start on Wednesday August 17 from the overnight stop at the Hinton Arms at Hinton Amper on the Petersfield-Winchester road. It should have been 6am but Jimmer blamed the landlord’s good hospitality for the late 6.30am start!

The journey started with a climb over the Downs and Winchester was passed through an hour later. The journey to the first water stop at Stockbridge was hilly and winding. Some extensive traffic queues built up, but Mike and Jimmer were as considerate as possible, pulling over whenever they could.

The engine was performing very well. Stockbridge was reached at 8.56am and water was taken from one of the streams of the River Test that the road through the town crosses.

The journey progressed well, the next water stop was Coombe Bissett, reached at 12.20pm. The following climb was taken in fine style as they made their way to Arthur Thomson’s farm, ready for the steam fair.