Steam at Work

Steam at Work 2025

The Rural Life Living Museum’s annual steam rally, Steam at Work, has grown year on year - and for good reason!

Unlike traditional rallies with long lines of polished engines, Steam at Work is exactly what its name suggests - a working event. Here, engines are shown doing what they were built to do: powering machinery, hauling loads, and getting a job done.

Set within the Museum’s beautiful 15-acre grounds, the event takes place among trees in our museum, with over 30 historic buildings, and a collection of more than 40,000 objects telling the story of everyday rural life. Engines move around the site throughout the weekend, giving visitors the chance to experience these majestic machines up close and in motion.

This year’s Steam at Work 2026 will feature around a dozen full-sized engines, including traction engines, road rollers, steam lorries, and showman’s engines, joined by a small army of miniature engines adding to the movement across the site. You’ll also see stationary and portable steam engines in operation, showcasing the many ways steam power shaped our past.

As well as many engines on show we also have many activites for ages from Steering an engine, Saw mill, Vintage Fair ground ride, Trailer Rides, Make windmill/spinny summer thing, Blacksmith demos, Wood turner demos, Ripley cycle club.

Few steam rallies can boast their own railway - but ours does! The Old Kiln Light Railway runs right through the Museum grounds, with multiple steam locomotives in action alongside our fleet of heritage diesel traction engines for visitors to enjoy and ride behind.

Each afternoon at 14:00 the museum features a grand parade of engines through the Museum.

Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of working steam in the heart of the Rural Life Living Museum. Bring family and friends, explore the Museum, and celebrate the end of summer in true steam-powered style.

Exhibitor Information

Entries are welcome for full-sized engines, miniatures, and stationary engines. Coal is provided. Engines may arrive any time during the week before the event and can be stored on site after the event by arrangement.

To enter, please email event organiser Rob Bentley at EMAIL with the following details:

• Name of entrant

• Engine type

• Year of manufacture

• Attendance: Saturday, Sunday, or both

• Camping requirements (Friday, Saturday, Sunday night exhibitors only)

• Whether you are roading your engine to us or transporting by low-loader/trailer

• If you require on-site storage for your low-loader/trailer during the event

Joining instructions will be sent out a few weeks prior to the event.