Internal Fire Museum of Power, Tan Y Groes

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Gentlemen,

Easter Sunday I got up really early and drove the 270 miles to Internal Fire, its been four years since I volunteered there and thought it was time for a visit.

The museum has been transformed and now has a Steam Hall with several large engines in place, four were running the rest are waiting the plumbing.

I stayed in a very nice B & B that evening then visited the Gwilli Railway on my way home the next day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the last picture, its the right way up in my computer but not here.

 

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 05/04/2018 11:09:55

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

The very rare Weirs horizontal feed pump for use in confined head space.

Beautiful set of old engines and would be well worth a weekend away to see them running. Are they steaming them from a modern boiler, or is there someone out the back shoveling coal in the time-honoured manner?

The big triple expansion job would be a beauty to behold in action. And what make of engine is the one with the overhead crankshaft? Very interesting looking old machine indeed.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

There is a very nice pumping station with an enormous steam engine, all in a beautiful valley setting just North of Hastings in Sussex. Very unfortunately, the Lancashire boilers got scrapped along with one of the 2 big engines, to make room for installation of diesels. The Society running the place would like a generous donation to enable a new boiler to be fitted.At present, engine runs on compressed air from noisy diesel pumps outside. Its called Brede pumping station.

Frustratingly, there is another right next door to Brighton & Hove Miniature Locomotive Engineers track, aka, Hove Park Railway, which is closed. Jonathon Minns took it over from the Water board and it was open every weekend and steamed once a month.He sold it to Mr Holland who has done much building work, opened place a couple of times. No steam and most of the smaller exhibits gone so place no longer viable, I guess.

Understand that it's now for sale – £5.8M.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Martin,

I didn't know about Tan Y Groes, but the I haven't been to Wales for years. Would of course like to go every year.

John

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

There are two boilers, the main one is oil fired and the company who supplied it gifted it new for £1.00 plus an engineer to spend 10 days commissioning it, the engineer is a museum volunteer not sure on the second boiler.

The engine with the overhead head crank is an oscillating engine taken from paddle steamer The Empress built in 1879.

The Museum has existed since 2003, Paul and Hazel collected big diesels and bought the premises to display them and then opened to the public. For me to do 540 miles round trip in two days it has to be worth it, when I first started volunteering there I did it with a mate in one day, not any more though

Martin P

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Thanks Martin. Interesting stuff. Encouraging to hear there are still companies that would donate a boiler and engineer for such a cause.

Oscillating engine. I knew there was something I was missing there: no cross-heads! It would make a great model, the way the cylinders pivot on those great trunnions.

I hear ya on the 500 mile days. Used to do it on my motorbike. Not any more. Nice B&B overnight is something the wisdom of years brings on!

Edited By Hopper on 06/04/2018 12:24:02

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

If anyone is near Cheshire, I can recommend the Anson Museum at Poynton. Check their website for opening times

Roy

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Thats the other main engine museum in the UK and I know the owner curator of that museum, Stationary engines is a small community.

Martin P

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Very nice place to visit by the looks of things.
Anyone been to Markham grange steam museum near Doncaster? They have a wonderful range of engines most in steam on certain days. It’s part of a garden centre so leave the missus looking for bedding plants while you peruse the engineering.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Years since I've been there.

From the Perkins Heritage Group, we have loaned/donated at least one engine; and refurbished an engine for the road roller. Marvellous to see so many engines actually in running order, and running.

The WaterWorks museum, in Hereford have just received an award from the I Mech E for the oldest working triple expansion steam engine in Britain.

Going over this Sunday to see a special display of stationary Engines, there, and see what I can do as a very occasional volunteer.

Howard

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Howard,

Which Waterworks museum is that, is it the one at Hereford.

Martin P

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Hi Martin,

Yes. the Musuem on Broomy Hill in Hereford

Run entirely by volunteers, and constantly getting better. So much so, that they have had to refuse the offers of one exhibit, because there is no room for it! Sad to see another triple expansion engine looking for a home.

Howard

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I've visited the museum a couple of times on my way home from IF and found it worth the visit.

Martin P

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Going over tomorrow. The Hereford Preservation Society is putting on a display of stationary engines.

Looking forward to a good day, despite the distance.

Howard

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Howard,

Any chance of pictures of the stationary engines please.

Martin P

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Martin,

I'll see what i can do. Just hope that the weather stays dry. Purgatory for the poor souls getting soaked along with their engines.

I'll PM you after I get back., you will know how to post on here, far better than I

Howard

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Howard,

Thank you, I have suffered purgatory for my hobby of engines

Martin P

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