Hollycombe Steam Collection facts for kids

Part of the Fairground viewed from the top of the big wheel

The Hollycombe Steam Collection is a super cool place near Liphook in Hampshire. It's packed with amazing old machines that run on steam power! You can see fun fairground rides, a special farm, and even two railways. It's like stepping back in time to see how things used to work.

A Look Back in Time

The Hollycombe collection began way back in the late 1940s. A man named Commander John Baldock loved steam-powered machines. He wanted to save the big steam traction engines that were starting to disappear from Britain.

By the early 1960s, he had collected many road vehicles. Soon after, he started collecting fairground rides too! In the late 1960s, he added railway equipment to his growing collection.

Eventually, this amazing collection opened to the public. It became a very popular place to visit in Hampshire. The collection grew so big that Commander Baldock couldn't manage it alone. In 1984, he thought he might have to close it.

But then, a group of volunteers formed a special society. They wanted to help run the collection. This worked out great, and the collection kept growing! In 1999, a charitable trust took over most of the collection. They got help from a grant called the Heritage Lottery Fund. Today, a charity still runs this wonderful place.

Fun Attractions to Explore

Hollycombe has many exciting things to see and do. You can ride old fairground attractions, visit a farm with vintage machines, and even ride on steam trains!

The Edwardian Fairground

The Razzle Dazzle ride

The Edwardian Fairground is a complete steam fair. It has rides from the 1870s and even later! "Edwardian" means it's like a fair from the early 1900s, when King Edward VII was on the throne.

Some of the cool rides include:

• The Steam Yacht: This is one of only two in the UK, built in 1911.
• The Razzle Dazzle: This ride was built in 1906. It's special because it was the first ride with two movements: it tilts and rotates!
• The Gallopers: These are beautiful steam-powered carousels from 1912.
• Mr Field's Steam Circus: Built in the late 1870s, this is the world's oldest working fairground ride that moves by machine!
• Steam Swings: These swings are powered by a steam engine from 1901.
• The Big Wheel: It's 50 feet tall and gives you great views!
• Steam Chair O Planes: These chairs spin around, built in 1910.
• The BioScope: This was an early traveling cinema. It brought the very first films to people!
• The Haunted House: Built around 1915, it's back in service for spooky fun!
• Austin Car ride: A fun ride built in 1948.
• Juvenile Roundabout: This smaller carousel was built in 1930. It used to be at Chessington Zoo!
• Children's Swing Boats: Built in 1990 for younger visitors.
• Juvenile Chair O Planes: Another fun ride for kids.

Most of these rides are made from wood. They are powered by real steam engines! You'll also hear fairground organs playing music. There are fun side stalls too, just like an old-time fair.

The Historic Farm

The farm area shows you how farming used to be done. It has many old steam-powered farm machines. You can see ploughing engines, a threshing machine (which separates grain), and a baler. There's also a stationary steam engine that powers smaller machines.

The sawmill on the farm cuts much of the wood used at Hollycombe. It's powered by a large Robey Steam Engine. Nearby, you can even see the engine from an old paddle steamer called Caledonia.

The Railways

Hollycombe has two exciting railways for you to ride! There's a narrow gauge line and a miniature railway.

The Narrow Gauge Railway

Jerry M running at Dinorwig before coming to Hollycombe

The narrow gauge station at Hollycombe

The narrow gauge railway at Hollycombe started in 1967. It uses equipment from a place called the Dinorwic slate quarry in north Wales. Commander Baldock bought the steam locomotive Jerry M and some track and wagons from there.

Building the railway started in 1968. By 1971, it reached the sandstone quarry. This 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge line was later made longer. It now has a loop and is 1½ miles long! Another steam locomotive, Caledonia, was bought in 1968.

Five passenger coaches are used on this railway. Four of them came from the Ramsgate Cliff Railway when it closed. The fifth coach was built right here at Hollycombe!

Narrow Gauge Locomotives

Here are some of the locomotives you might see on the narrow gauge railway:

The Miniature Railway

The miniature railway at Hollycombe is a 7 ¹⁄₄ in (184 mm) gauge line. It's a smaller train, but still a lot of fun!

Miniature Railway Route

The miniature railway starts at the station near the sawmill. It climbs up, goes past crossing gates, and through a cutting (a dug-out path). It reaches the top and turns left. You'll see the fairground on your left and pretty woodland gardens on your right. Then it goes into another cutting before making a full circle onto a raised track. It runs next to a 5-inch gauge line and ends at a station with two platforms.

Miniature Railway Locomotives

• Bob 0-4-2 Tinkerbell class
• Pauline 0-4-0 Romulus class

Amazing Steam Engines

Hollycombe has more than 30 different steam engines! They are all kinds of types. Some of these engines are over 100 years old! They need lots of care and maintenance to keep them running. So, not all of them are always on display.

Traction Engines

Hollycombe has a large collection of traction engines. These big machines were used for many jobs. On open days, you might see them ploughing a field. They can also work a threshing machine, give rides, or even power a fairground ride!

Showman's Engines

Emperor showman's engine powering lights

The showman's engines are special. They were used to power the lights and rides at old fairgrounds.

• Emperor: This Burrell engine was built in 1895. It's the oldest showman's engine in the world! It's working and powers the fairground lights.
• Leiston Town: This Garrett engine was built in 1918. It's working and helps power the smaller rides.

Steam Tractors

Steam tractors are smaller versions of traction engines. They are often used for giving rides to visitors.

• Sunset: This Burrell tractor from 1919 is waiting for major repairs.
• Mann Steam Tractor: This one from 1917 is also waiting for major repairs.

Agricultural Engines

Fowler Ploughing Engine Prince at work

These engines were used for farm work. They could plough fields or drive a threshing machine.

• A Beam engine from around 1840. It's a working engine that was restored over six years.
• A John Allen of Oxford. ploughing engine from 1913. It's currently out of service.
• A John Fowler & Co. ploughing engine called "Prince" from 1917. It's also out of service.

Portable Engines

Portable engines Eileen and Big John

These engines were easy to move around. Farmers used them to power different machines on the farm.

• A Brown & May engine from 1901. It powers the steam swings! It's working.
• Two Clayton & Shuttleworth engines: "Olive" from 1911 (powers the big wheel) and "Eileen" from 1926. Both are working.
• A Robey & Co. engine from 1915. It powers the sawmill but is currently being repaired.
• A Ruston, Proctor and Company engine called "Big John" from 1906. It's working.

Road Rollers

Hollycombe also has several old road rollers. These machines were used to flatten roads when they were being built.

• Aveling and Porter "Roslyn" from 1919. It's working.
• Aveling and Porter "David" from 1921. It's out of service.
• Babcock & Wilcox "Monarch" from 1926. It's working.
• Wallis & Steevens Simplicity roller "Christopher" from 1932. It's working.

Centre and Organ Engines

The museum has some rare, small portable engines. These were used to power fairground rides and organs.

• There are six examples from M. Savage & Co.
• Four examples from Tidman.
• One example from Walkers.