A visit to the Capella antique machinery exhibition

An unusually early start this morning with a 0645 departure for the 150 kilometre trip to Capella, a farming town north from Emerald.

It was nice to be driven by Margy whil Phil relaxed in the back of the Landcruiser with me in the front. We passed by the communities of Dingo, Bluff, Blackwater and Comet before we arrived in Emerald. Then we went through the town onto the road to Capella.

The countryside is forever changing from rolling downs country to lightly timbered to miningmounds in the distance. This is in the heart of the central Queensland mining fields and almost anywhere you look, there are mines visible. 

Driving through Blackwater and Bluff, there are numerous 'dongas' that the fly in/fly out miners live in for the time of their shift. There are hundreds of them near the highway as you drive past.

Finally, we arrived in Capella at the exhibition. What a display and today was labelled the "International Tractor" day. I also celebrated the 60th birthday of the first Australian build International tractor. 

Among the collection of these tractors were 3 examples of International tractors that I had spent a lot of hours on many years ago. They were a W6, TD 9 and a TD 35, the latter 2 being crawler tracked. Remembering the tractors, it is a wonder that I am not totally deaf and have a damaged back as well. Noise and lack of seat suspension were features of these tractors. We did not know any better then.

Among other static exhibits that I had been driving for many hours were an LA Case tractor and a famous TED series grey Ferguson tractor. A lot of memories there.

There was an amazing display of stationary engines of all makes like Hornby, Lister, Southern Cross and Cooper. There were many others too. All the exhibits are working and were running. The tractors were also mostly going. Some of the engines and tractors have been fully restored, some partially and some not yet.

I really enjoyed the day there and met some nice people with similar interest including some of Phil and Margy's friends. On the way back I also met their eldest daughter, Lucy, who is a pharmacist in Emerald. On our arrival back at Eldeebar, there was a phone message for me to say I had won the raffle at the Capella exhibition. It is a savoury platter and dishes apparently and I will collect it in Emerald on Monday.

So a very interesting and memorable day not only seeing the machinery but also the countryside to and from Capella.