I see in the latest issue of Industrial Archaeology News that the 1944 Crossley engine at Southey pumping station in East Anglia is to be scrapped as the building is to be converted for residential use. The value of scrap and difficulty of removing the engine are cited as reasons against preservation.
Presumaby this is a museum-sized engine rather than something most of us could manage - sad that we are still loosing our engine heritage.
Martyn, Your doing it again, read the original post its more than likely going to have to be cut up to get it out of the building. "The value of scrap and difficulty of removing the engine are cited as reasons against preservation."
301 squadron (Bury St Edmunds) Air Training Corp actually, rank of corporal. Did dress up at Christmas as a Major in the 87th infantry US Army does that count ...... :-))
Hi All, Yes the engine was mine but it's housed in a magnificent Victorian pumping station that just got to valuable, so now the engine is going in the bin. I tried to find it a home but who wants a 3 cylinder 250 bhp oil engine and can make the effort to remove it and it can be, I have done worse much worse this one would be easy just needs some one who owns a so museum has some time and a little money to spend !!.
Martyn's question is actually a fair one and deserves an answer. IMHO the whole operation is very different to you or I trundling a few hundred miles with a trailer. Lets start by assuming that a large engine is donated, not always the case in these days of cash-strapped Universities and accountant-led PLCs. If the engine is in a building which cannot be damaged it is necessary to dismantle it carefully and extract it in bits. A lengthy task which gets interesting if there is no overhead crane or its out of ticket. A good few man-days work involving repeated trips or overnight accommodation. Modern Cos are rightly very H&S conscious so you may have to get a gas-free certificate for any pipework and undergo training before any "hotwork" can be done or electrical tools used. If the bits can be handled by a hy-ab equipped flat-bed (or two) great, otherwise its BIG crane hire at either end (£1000 a day - minimum charge). The bits are then driven a few hundred miles, off-loaded and prepared for storage. Then you dig a big hole in the ground, and using measurements taken, or if you're lucky the original drawings, build complex shuttering before filling the hole with several loads of certified engineering grade concrete. Pop the engine back together; plumb in the water, fuel and air systems - using vast amounts of pipe and fittings, pour in large quantities of oil and Bob's yer uncle!! The figures are no doubt arguable but in round terms collecting and re-erecting a large engine won't leave much change from 5 grand. Grants are hard to come by so its no wonder that our museums are keen to attract visitors and donations....... I had the privilege of helping, for a week, with the Sulzer at Internal Fire and it looks great blowing over on air but by the time it runs at Easter several man-months of hard work will have been expended. as always other's views may differ... regards Roland
"Campingstoveman" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@individual.net...
Dunno how they erected engines of this type, but my reading suggests that Cornish beam engines were erected by a small team of men armed only with a ropes. timber and a manual windlass. It is amazing what was achieved in the
19th century by sheer human muscle power, gearing and pulley blocks.
That's right. The New Cut, a river cutting of some three miles that bypasses Bristol Docks and leaves them locked away from the tidal flow, was entirely dug by Napoleonic prisoners of war armed only with picks & shovels.
Gunpowder was used occasionally, but I understand the Frogs were not entrusted with it ;o))
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