The Thursford Collection
My first experience of George Cushings collection was back in the days when it was housed in his old barn, half dismantled engines and organs jostled for space and the wind blew through, the organs were a bit temperamental sometimes needing the odd kick or prod in the vitals to resume their playing and the engines, while dull and dirty, steamed - it was a place for enthusiasts. George then and now had a sparkle in his eyes and knew exactly what he had got, he seems to derive a great deal of pleasure from sharing his collection with others of a like mind.
Sadly in many respects, it has now grown out of all recognition and the old 'atmosphere' has disappeared completely, we have paid the price for the secure, commercial, future of the collection, it has been turned into an 'experience'. In a new purpose designed building with souvenir and snack shops around it, the engines stand cold and lifeless in their coats of high gloss, cling film covers some of the brass, the superbly decorated mechanical organs play with almost monotonous accuracy and all defer now to the Great Wurlitzer Cinema Organ - which with its light, video and special effects show is now centre stage - it is by far the best Cinema organ you can hear anywhere in the UK and the organists who recite upon it are also from the top drawer. Standing by it while Robert Woolf plays the Dambusters March, complete with what sounds just like four Rolls Royce Merlins under load emanating from it's ranks is an experience not to be missed, or forgotten in a hurry.
It is all very professional and impressive - that is unless you remember and prefer the old days - not all is lost because the ex Coles Gondola ride made by Savages only a few miles away at Kings Lynn runs regularly and still gives rides, electrically driven now because that's clean and efficient, despite having a perfectly good steam centre engine fitted ! Coles, who were the last owners and users of this ride saved it from destruction and despite larger offers from the USA sold it to George - they have been rewarded for this by the ride being repainted under Asplands (a previous owner) livery !
Outside and now secured from the view of the general public and enthusiasts alike stand George's collection of unrestored traction engines and rollers - with Messrs Fred and Harry Bushell and Billy Jeanes, who in the early days breathed life back into numerous basket cases now gone to meet the 'Great Engineer', it may be a very long time before any more are brought back to life - they may not be secure from the elements but they were saved from the scrap man - and - at least as long as George is with us, still, perhaps there will be a few more 'stuffed and mounted' and brought under cover.
Do not be put off by these comments there is nothing like the Thursford Collection - anywhere - and unless you knew it a long time ago you are unlikely to be anything but highly impressed. The standard of restoration of organs and engines is very high, it's just the magic vapour which, if you do not fall for the 'presentation', is distinctly notable by its absence.
There are a couple of stationary steam engines, but I suspect that no more will they steam from an unlagged pipe tapped into the cylinder block of one of the only surviving pair of Aveling and Porter Ploughing engines.
They are a horizontal single cylinder Tilghman with integral reciprocating compressor and a horizontal single cylinder Marshall engine of about 7HP both were built in or around 1890 and both originally worked in the Norwich gasworks near Bishops Bridge.
An 1889 Savage centre engine (in addition to the dead one on the Gondola ride) - which once used to power a set of gallopers also stands forlorn and lifeless amongst the dead and stuffed traction and showmans engines and organs.
R.I.P
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