Plenty to get steamed up about at Albert Dock

Things are picking up steam Albert Dock, Liverpool this weekend.

The Steam on the Dock rally is returning – one of the UK’s only inner-city steam meetings – and will boast more than 30 steam engines, boats and even a train when it visits tomorrow and Sunday (May 6-7).

This year’s event represents double the number of engines which visited the Dock last year.

Clare Rawlinson, marketing manager, Albert Dock Liverpool, said: “Almost 65,000 visitors attended Steam on the Dock last year – which was a massive success for Albert Dock Liverpool, particularly as it was a completely new event.

“It is with great excitement that we can announce this year’s programme with more steam engines than last year. It is clear that the Liverpool audience and steam community has taken Steam on the Dock to their hearts.

“Whether you’re bringing little boys and girls who love tooting trains and boats, or you’re a life-long steam buff who has a passion for engines from a bygone age, you’re in for a treat.

“A lot of these engines have faced the scrapyard during their lifetime, so it’s a unique opportunity to have them all here at the Dock for our visitors to see up close and looking and working like they did in their glory days.”

At 1pm and 3pm both days, visitors will be treated to a steam showcase around Salthouse Dock, which will include a cavalry of steam engines, traditional brewer’s dray cart and shire horses, and a marching band (1pm only).

One of the new attractions of the 2017 rally will be steam tug Kerne, a stunning, Titanic-era steamship.

Built in 1912, Kerne has a long history with Liverpool, in 1971 becoming the last coal-fired steamer to work on the Mersey.

Since then she has been saved from scrap and preserved as an operational steamship, and is now the last remaining naval, coal-fired steamship to have seen service in two world wars, still in operation today.

This year’s festival will also welcome more land-based engines and miniatures to the Dock than ever before, a variety of classic steam narrowboats courtesy of the Steam Boat Association, and a historic fairground organ.

Plus, Mattel Play! Liverpool will be offering free story times with none other than The Fat Controller, inside the event on The Colonnades.

Other attractions include the return of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways bringing along Palmerston, a fully operational steam train, which will shuttle visitors up and down a track along Hartley Quay, and The Daniel “Danny” Adamson, a highlight last year and again opening her grand decks for the public to explore.

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