TRAFFIC was particularly slow on the west side of the ring road for a few hours on Saturday - but for once, no-one really cared.
The delay was caused by a seven-tonne steam engine, being pulled by a team of 56 people using only a rope and their bare hands.WATCH: The team pull the train
Their gruelling five-mile journey raised money for the E38 Children's Cancer Ward at the Queen's Medical Centre, where the convoy set off at 11am.
As the steam pull rolled on drivers beeped their horns in support and people came out of their houses to cheer and throw change in to collection buckets.
The team made it to the finish line at the City Hospital at about 2pm, after stopping at two pubs to fill up on drinks and donations.
Leading the pull was 48-year-old Kev King, from Ilkeston, who said: "It was hard, but the weather was with us today.
"People have been great with us, coming out of their houses, giving us cash.
"The hilly bits were tough, but it's just a day out of your life for a good cause like this."
The event was the third organised by a group of friends including Kev, Clive Smedley, 51, and David Kiernan, 51, also both from Ilkeston, who are the people behind Trowell's Coppice Steam Rally.
Saturday's challenge was inspired by a seven-year-old Ilkeston boy, Callum Padgett(cor), who is being treated at the Queen's Medical Centre for a rare form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, which affects only about 100 children a year in the UK.
Callum's aunt, Sam Padgett, 30, also from Ilkeston, cheered on the steam pull.
She said: "It's amazing what they are doing, the way everyone has come together is fantastic.
"Most people have children or will have them or have nieces or nephews, I think that's why everyone who we've passed has been so supportive."
As the engine pull and its convoy of followers, vintage tractors and buses pulled in to the City Hospital the 56 took a well-earned rest.
Clive, 51, said: "It's emotional to finish. You do feel proud. All we want to do is present a cheque and put some smiles on children's faces."
Dianne Bradshaw (wouldn't give me her age) came out of her house in Valley Road to watch the steam pull pass by on the final leg of the journey.
She said: "It's absolutely brilliant and the distance they've covered is incredible.
"It's hard for fundraisers to do something different and catch the eye and something like this is really original."
The steam pull appeal is still taking donations and has a target of between £15,000 and £20,000, to go towards equipment for the ward.
To donate see justgiving.com/pullingtogetherforchildrenscancer
