y day tool-room manager Mark Angus is part of a team that manufactures cable cleats, which ensure electrical cables all over the world remain safe and secure, but away from work, Mark has an extraordinary hobby – he builds steam engines in his backyard.

Mark’s passion for steam began as a schoolboy and between 1985 and 2004 he built four miniature engines. But in 2006 he set his sights that little bit higher and began work on a 6” scale model of a the 10hp McLaren traction engine, which was last manufactured in Leeds by J&H McLaren in 1910.

Eight years, a large chunk of money, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears later, Mark completed his project. The fully functioning steam engine weighs in at astonishing 3,000kg and on a full day uses up to 60kg of coal and 300-litres of water.

Mark (41) from Scampston, North Yorkshire, said: “I’ve been fascinated by steam and engines ever since I was at school, and building my own one has always been a dream”.

“Sensibly I started out small, but after four miniature successes I wanted to go for a one that I could take to the roads on – and now that it’s complete and fully operational I’m absolutely over the moon.”

With the exception of the drawings, some castings, and the boiler, Mark created and built everything else at home – although he did have help; from his daughters. The efforts of Tilly (8) and Jessica (6) are commemorated on a plaque on the engine that reads “M Angus & Daughters Engineers – Scampston”.

The father and daughter team now travel around nearby country shows and steam rallies showing of their handiwork to admiring audiences.

“You do need to plan ahead when taking the engine anywhere,” added Mark. “For example, the two mile trip from my house to work here in Rillington took 30-minutes as opposed to the usual four in the car.”

Mark does though have a living van hooked up to the engine, which he has slept in on longer trips.

“We went to a show at Duncombe Park in Helmsley, which  turned out to be a ten hour round trip – needless to say, we had sleeping bags in the caravan and made a weekend of it.”

And Mark’s next project?

“I’ve got a full size engine in my sight. I just need to build up a full head of steam before I start work on it!”

Ellis is the world’s leading manufacturer of cable cleats. To find out more visitwww.ellispatents.co.uk or call +44(0)1944 758395.