Over 40 years ago, a small group of steam engine enthusiasts met informally in an empty building at a garage in the village of Newby near Penrith with a view to organising a Vintage Vehicle rally in the North West corner of England.
As their numbers grew, they formed an official society which soon became incorporated as a limited company, The Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society Ltd. Today, this society is behind one of the biggest events in the county, The Cumbria Steam Gathering which annually attracts more than 20,000 visitors over two days.