Affiliated to the Federation of Model Engineering Societies.
Aim. The aim of Sarum Model Traction Engine Club (SMTEC) is to promote the construction and running of live steam model traction engines and other steam powered road vehicles in all of the popular scales.
About Us. Formed in 2005, SMTEC is a small and informal club with a membership of around 35. Most members are based within a 30-mile radius of Salisbury, but several members live further afield. One member now resides in France, returning to the UK with his engine for its annual boiler test!
We don’t own any club facilities or a clubhouse/workshop. Meetings, such as our bi-annual Noggin ‘n Natter evenings and the club’s AGM, are held in local pubs. In the past, the club organised several steam-ups each year, and attended several local fetes and charity events. Since the Covid Pandemic hit, we have scaled back our own sponsored events, but club members will still be attending numerous regional events on an individual basis. The club’s Forecast of Events page highlights the events some of our members hope to attend during the coming year – as well as our own club get-togethers.
The majority of club members own/run 3 inch or 4 inch to the foot (i.e. 1/4 and 1/3 scale) engines; a few members also build/run 2 inch and 6 inch to the foot live steam vehicles. Some members have their own ‘home workshops’ and have built engines using ‘raw’ castings/materials, others have assembled commercially machined kits. Other members have simply purchased their engine ready-built - both new or second hand. Not everyone in the club owns their own engine (yet)! Given this diverse background, there is a wealth of knowledge and experience within the club covering the construction, maintenance, and running of live steam models.
Owners, wishing to operate a live steam engine (in ‘our’ scales) in a public setting, require an annual boiler test and associated indemnity insurance. SMTEC has two boiler inspectors that are registered with the FMES. Boiler tests for club members are arranged at a mutually convenient venue/date and are free (although most members make a small voluntary donation to club funds following a successful test).
Membership. At present, membership of SMTEC costs just £10 a year (Jan – Dec). Click here for an application form.