Kavinda Herath/Stuff
Member Linton Strang and president Fraser Pearce stand beside the Thornbury Vintage Tractor and Implement Club s 1910 Garrett stationary steam engine.
A vintage machinery enthusiast had a tear in his eye when his club s 1910 steam engine fired up for the first time in 20 years. Thornbury Vintage Tractor and Implement Club president Fraser Pearce said the important test was held at a club Christmas function in 2019 and gave members more encouragement to have the engine fully restored and certified for public demonstrations. The four and a-half year project finished recently, with public demonstrations scheduled for March 13-14. I was actually quite emotional when it first went [fired up], seeing the flywheels turning, Pearce said.