Crew in orange and white overalls load coal onto the corrugated-clad 1909 Ruston steam excavator as black smoke pours from its chimney, with a yellow Matbro loader alongside below a rocky hillside.
Photo: ARG_Flickr · CC BY 2.0
Plant & Digger Events · In 32 days

Vintage Excavator Trust Autumn Working Weekend at Threlkeld Quarry

📅 Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sep 2026📍 Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum, CumbriaCA12 4TT

The Vintage Excavator Trust holds its autumn demonstration working weekend in the quarry, with a selection of machines from its 80-strong collection digging for real. The collection includes the 1909 Ruston Proctor No. 306 steam navvy, the oldest working excavator in the world, alongside Ruston Bucyrus 10-RB and 19-RB cable machines.

What’s on

  • Vintage excavators working in a real quarry setting
  • 1909 Ruston Proctor No. 306 steam navvy
  • Around 80 machines in the VET collection on site
  • Food and drink available on the day