Transport routier - Grande Bretagne : livres - véhicules et histoire (4/4)

Travelling fairs hold a special place in English history and traditions. Once or twice a year local towns and villages are overwhelmed with a cacophony of sounds, sights and smells, bringing magic and excitement into peoples' lives before, all too quickly, moving on.
The transient nature of travelling fairs is part of their magic, and an integral part of that magic is the transport that carries the people and the rides. More than just vehicles however, fairground transport is often an integral part of the show, acting as homes for the showmen, a way of generating power and even converting into parts of the rides themselves. In short, they are part of the way of life.

This book looks at the history of the travelling fair through its transport, beginning with how it has evolved from what a performer could carry on their back and simple horse-drawn caravans, through to steam-powered traction engines and war surplus petrol and electric vehicles, finally bringing the story up to date with today's mega lorries and cranes.

The era of steam traction engines at the fairground has faded, replaced by internal combustion engine vehicles, including lorries powered by petrol and diesel. Over time, these vehicles evolved to modern high-powered lorries, some articulated, meeting the rising demands of trailer-mounted loads and longer travel distances.

Carl Johnson presents a captivating visual documentation of fairground lorries, featuring a plethora of rare and unpublished images.