THE draw of steam is amazing, from railway enthusiasts prepared to hang around for hours for the mere glimpse of a train such as the Flying Scotsman to the 10,000 people expected to flock to a tiny village in Wensleydale for the Hunton Steam Gathering.

It's the 34th event and it's grown phenomenally from a bit of a village do organised by enthusiasts to a major gathering not only for steam buffs but with much on offer for the wider public.

It's not a little impressive that up to 1,000 exhibits will be on display including 30 steam engines and 60 miniature steam engines as well as vintage tractors commercial vehicles, cars and bikes. They're all brought by volunteers and enthusiasts who have a passion for steam and vintage vehicles and want to share their interest with the wider world.

The engines and exhibits demonstrate a way of life from a different world covering more than 120 years of agricultural and motoring heritage of past centuries. And that's largely the point it is a bygone time but it holds a huge fascination not only for the enthusiasts but for so many of us desperate to get up close and personal with those massive engines, smell the steam and wallow in the history.

And it is all brought about by volunteers as so many of the best and most interesting of our summer events and shows are. Also in the very best traditions of these events they raise large amounts of money for charities and good causes. Spectator does have to wonder how long we can carry on the age of steam, is there a young band of volunteers who will carry this on? we live in hope, steam may not now make the world go round but it certainly makes it a jolly interesting place.