Wendy Wakelin

Wendy Wakelin doesn’t just write about steam engines; she lives among them.

Growing up in Hampshire, Wendy’s childhood was measured in the rhythmic chuff of vintage machinery. From 6 weeks old, she was a fixture at steam rallies, surrounded by her father’s classic motorcycles and engines. Other children dreamed of cars, Wendy’s heart was set on the majestic power of the traction engine.

This passion took a providential turn when she met her husband, Lloyd. His family legacy was steeped in steam; his ancestor, Walter Seward, founded a haulage business in 1886 with a Marshall Traction Engine named Victoria. In a remarkable twist of fate, Wendy and Lloyd brought Victoria back into the family in 2002.

Watching her children fall under the "steam bug" inspired Wendy to craft bedtime stories for them. What started as private family tales is now Victoria’s Torton Tales. Today, Wendy shares Britain’s industrial heritage with a new generation, often appearing at UK steam events with the real Victoria.