Steam machines al fresco
Fri, 1 Feb 2008 23:40 Chris Allen |
There are a surprising number of steam engines and steam hammers that are preserved in the open air and generally visible to the general public. This gallery is devoted to those machines. We start with steam hammers. This one in Shettleston road ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To return to the start, James Nasmyth invented the steam hammer and this 1851 example is preserved by the entrance to his former works at Eccles ![]() A large example is preserved in Bolton that was used at the nearby Atlas Forge for wrought iron production ![]() Sheffield was the home of large hammers and a fitting example can be seen at Saville Street East ![]() ![]() ![]() In the midlands there is this little hammer at Lye ![]() ![]() There are two hammers preserved al fresco in Blaenavon and this is the one opposite the ironworks ![]() This one is in the Royal Victoria gardens, North Woolwich and was once on display at the Brunel Pumphouse, Rotherhithe ![]() |
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Sat, 2 Feb 2008 23:56 Chris Allen |
There are four fixed steam cranes that survive in situ. The biggest is at Alexandra Dock, Hull and has a 100 ton capacity ![]() ![]() There are two smaller cranes - one at Thwaite Mills, Leeds ![]() ![]() ![]() Two sites retain derelict cranes that have been converted to electric drive. One is at Mount Tabor near Halifax ![]() ![]() The large Scotch derricks from Armstrong Addison, Sunderland ![]() The crane at Watts Cliffe Stone Quarry, Elton ![]() |
Sun, 3 Feb 2008 07:43 Chris Allen |
I can also think of four marine steam engines that are on public open air display. The oldest is that of the Paddle Steamer Leven and is in front of the Denny testing tank at Dumbarton ![]() ![]() A double side lever beam engine from a tug is preserved near the ferry landing at Renfrew ![]() ![]() A small Weaver packet engine is preserved round the back of the Salt Museum at Northwich ![]() A bigger example is preserved at its maker's works outside Plenty at Newbury ![]() |
Mon, 26 May 2008 22:32 Chris Allen |
After a long break (I misplaced my list and had to re-do it) we can now return to look at stationary steam engines al fresco. We'll start with beam engines. Users of dartmouth Circus in Aston will be familiar with the Grazebrook beam blowing engine ![]() A Boulton and Watt waterworks beam pumping engine ![]() ![]() ![]() A beam colliery winding engine, a very rare survivor, is to be found in Pontypridd ![]() ![]() The finest collection of Cornish beam pumping engines to be found anywhere were at Sudbrook and were used to drain the Severn tunnel. British Railways scrapped these in 1968 in an act of corporate vandalism that would have met with much more condemnation 10 years later. The engine house still stands ![]() ![]() |
Tue, 27 May 2008 22:04 Chris Allen |
One of the most basic and utilitarian designs is represented by the single cylinder machine. An early true vertical engine is preserved at the McClean Museum, Greenock ![]() ![]() The oldest is probably the Fieldhouse engine at the Tolson Museum, Huddersfield ![]() ![]() This nice but vandalised example ![]() An incomplete example was seen at the Auchentoshan Distillery ![]() I had overlooked this fine example by S H Morton of Leith alongside the marina at Hull ![]() I had also forgotten to include Trethowel china clay works near St Austell ![]() A single cylinder steam compressor was preserved outside the Bull Inn at Crew's Hole, Bristol ![]() An example believed to date from c1920 and built by George Waller of Stroud is preserved in the Merrywalks shopping centre, Stroud ![]() |
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:02 Chris Allen |
There are a few larger stationary engines with more than one cylinder. The finest is probably the J & E Wood horizontal cross compound outside India mill, Darwen ![]() A smaller engine from the textile industry is this diagonal duplex engine ![]() This large non-rotative "differential" pump by Hathorn, Davey of Leeds ![]() ![]() A small steam winch was to be found at the Ynysgedwyn iron works site ![]() A very derelict and incomplete steam winch is found in the Clyne Valley on the former Ynys Colliery site ![]() In the former Wrysgan Quarry near Tan-y-Grisiau there is a wrecked duplex winch ![]() A larger but incompletely erected colliery winder is tucked away on top of tall "foundations" at Prestongrange ![]() Finally, there is a derelict horizontal twin cylinder engine, as well as a ruinous steam crane on the derelict slate island of Belnahua. When somebody posts some shots i will include them. |
Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:07 Chris Allen |
The most modern design of engine is the high speed enclosed engine and Belliss & Morcom of Birmingham made in excess of 11,500 of these. One is preserved outside Purton village hall ![]() ![]() Another is at Railworld, Peterborough but that's £5 to get at ![]() |
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:42 Chris Allen |
I have just added in the engine preserved north of Darwen near the junction of the A666 and M65. |
Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:38 Chris Allen |
I have added a steam hammer preserved near Bolton University. |
Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:46 Chris Allen |
There is a small horizontal duplex non-rotative pump preserved at Milton of Campsie ![]() ![]() Also in Cambridge, outside Tesco, is this single cylinder rotative tar pump ![]() I am primarily interested in true stationary steam engines but geograph does show a few portable examples - on wheels but not capable of self-propulsion. Try the following - Carrbridge ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I am not even going to contemplate portable soil sterilisation boilers. |
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