Medway Festival of Steam and Transport

Festival gearing up for Historic Dockyard Chatham

Fans of old-time transport will get the chance to let off steam at the Historic Dockyard Chatham when a major festival gets under way.

Now in its 10th year, organisers are concentrating this year’s Medway Festival of Steam and Transport on railways.

Joining the varied assortment of specialist vehicles, there will be a new Steampunk village, a folk and blues music stage, and an Airfix ‘make-and-take’ activity.

Of course, those in the know will guess the dockyard’s own locomotive Ajax will be on show, along with the 1895 Aveling & Porter ‘Sydenham’ and 1936 Peckett.

There is also a guest engine Victory, an ex-dockyard locomotive returning to Chatham on one of its first outings following extensive restoration.

Dockyard spokeswoman Gail James said: “The event provides a unique opportunity to see these two ex-dockyard locomotives in steam alongside each other again in Chatham, their original working location.”

She added: “Steampunk is a creative social movement that draws inspiration from Victorian and pre-war history in an old-fashioned mix of science fiction, modern values and a sense of fun.

“The Steampunk village will introduce this colourful and imaginative world with traders offering Steampunk fashions, accessories, gadgets, books and music together with an exhibition of Steampunk art.”

A covered slip will be home for an interactive ModelZONE where all kinds of transport miniatures will be on display including planes, trains, automobiles and even boats.

Ms James said: “An exciting new feature for 2012 will be an Airfix ‘make-and-take’ activity section where visitors young and old will be able to make a model to take home.

“With hundreds of vehicles on display including traction engines, classic and vintage cars and motorbikes, emergency services, commercial and military vehicles, buses and coaches it is easy to see why the Medway Festival of Steam and Transport event is a firm favourite in the calendar for all age groups, whether transport enthusiasts or families looking for a fun day out at Easter.”

Medway Festival of Steam and Transport takes place at the Historic Dockyard Chatham on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 8-9.