CHAIRMAN of the Robey Trust Tavistock David Davies delighted the Friends of The Wharf Lunchtime Lectures’ audience of about 60 people recently with an enthusiastic talk on the history of steam engines.

David began with a history of the development of the steam engine. He showed that from the late 18th century to the early years of the 20th century, steam was the dominant source of power in the majority of industries, yet in the minds of the general public, and especially of contemporary enthusiasts, has become largely synonymous with railways; popular ‘preserved’ branch lines all over the country and famous locomotives like the ‘Flying Scotsman’ and ‘Tornado’ on the main line.

This excellent illustrated talk revealed the diverse applications of steam power which hardly ever appeared in the public gaze, yet, were equally interesting, often awesome and invariably impressive.

David showed that steam engines powered factory equipment such as machinery in textile mills and pumping stations for canals and sewage systems. The huge steam powered engines were housed in equally impressive buildings.

The Robey Trust in Tavistock restores and preserves old steam engines and displays its engines at the annual steam fair in Tavistock in June. The Friends of the Wharf is hoping that David will return to The Wharf to give a talk on the Robey Trust’s history and achievements and arrange a conducted tour of its projects.