A ‘Fergie muster’ has been organised for the event’s opening day, and Pearn’s Steam World volunteer coordinator Gerard Gelston is hoping owners from across the state will fill the Pearn’s car park with Ferguson tractors.

“51,000 came into Australia and we reckon there’s still about 30,000 left because everywhere you travel around Australia you'll see a Ferguson hidden away somewhere,” Mr Gelston said. 

“Tasmanian Farm Equipment are supplying us with a brand new Ferguson so we'll have the newest Ferguson in Tasmania and in our hunt around we're looking for the oldest Ferguson in Tassie.”

Steam World’s 12-strong collection of traction engines – the largest in the southern hemisphere - will once again headline the event, with a 1910 Foden set to spend the three days traversing the yard.

Engine driver Bernard Boon said the centurion wouldn’t be breaking any speed records on its daily outings.

“It can go six kilometres an hour - so it's six hours from here to Launceston,” Mr Boon said. 

Mr Boon said while many traction engines were sold to scrappers for as little as £60 after World War II, the machines could now fetch up to $200,000.

“I went to a sale about three years ago and that had a Ransome, Sims and Jefferies (traction engine) that had to have a lot of work done on it.

“They bid on it from England, Ireland, South Africa and Canada and it was sold to a local for $180,000 - and then he still had to do work on it after that.”

Trainee engine driver Paivi Sims said the 6.30am start required to get the Foden up and running by 9am would be more than validated by the beaming facial expressions of steam lovers.

“Most of the people that turn up do have an interest in the equipment or have just driven past and seen the steam and the tractors out, and they just kind of return to this childhood moment and they've got the biggest grin on their face of all time,” Miss Sims said.  

This year’s Steam Up will run from November 5 to 7 at Pearn’s Steam World in Westbury.

Gates open at 9am on all three days.