Internal Fire Museum Of Power

Sent "The Boys" out today on a collection trip. Particularly lovely switchboard that was restored by GEC Industrial Controls in the 1980s. Our thanks to Practical Action for the donation and Alain for suggesting us (and his pics).
Just happen to have two Hornsbys and dynamos......

Still a lot to do in the Steam Leanto on drains etc (blue buckets everywhere) and (yes Mark) lagging to do :-)
Test ran the Waller, Tangye vertical and Evans rotative pump for an hour or so for the first time. At least 40 years since the Waller last ran, bit of knock on the big-end that wants sorting and few other minor issues, ran well on 2 bar.
Not too bad considering the Waller was in pieces in the car park mid-July!

An interesting arrival today. Noel with Len G collected this little Blackstone from Leicester. When offered to us a few months back we assumed it was a springer but turns out to be much more interesting!

Open 7 days a week in August so progress on the Waller and smaller engines could be better but getting there. Waller has now turned on air, just need to sort drains and exhaust and then on steam.

Waller engine now all inside and the exhauster sat in place. Flywheel pit has been cut and concreted (thanks Basil for digging it out by hand!).
The engine is together and bars over easily. Next job is to replace the temp concrete supports with steels, do a final level and pour the block.
Was interesting getting the complete flywheel and crank (2.5 tons) through the door, down to the engine and then into the pit by hand with two pallet trucks! Electric truck does make it easier.

The final engine for Steam Hall 1, little Waller single going up the top of the smaller section. Removed from Bath Gas Works in 1975 and moved to Bristol Museum.
Only one of the exhausters will be fitted as there is limited space (no surprise there).
Rather nice set of oilers, from both of the engines so a spares set.
... Just got to stick it on concrete and have it steaming by the end of August!!!!
See More

Delivery Pt 1. Rather nice Hornsby :-)

Workshop Mike has been busy again. Five new sight feeds for the main bearings on the Hathorn Davey fed from the drip feed "tree" that he sorted a few months ago.
Next job is the 120ft of copper pipe to plumb everything in :-(

Have to excuse the dodgy video (improves after the first bit)! After she disgraced herself at the last attempt I pressed on and did a little more work on the HP and IP cylinders and valve gear. 20 minute run today with the boiler maintaining a steady 8 bar despite a large leak up top :-(

2018 Raffle engine is now finished and tickets on sale via the museum website at http://www.internalfire.com/raffle.php
Photos by pictures taken by Robert Smith of Robertsmithphotography.co.uk with more pics at www.robertsmithphotography.co.uk/if2018ra ffle plus video shortly.

Museums at Night this weekend!

Having finished the plumbing on the jackets and warmed her through I couldn't resist having a play :-(
No drains on the lower valves so squirts everywhere and the leak on the HP cylinder is actually the jacket gauge fitting which blew off as not tightened up (whoops).
First time she has turned on steam in 50 years?
... A lot to do yet though.
See More

Still working on the steam areas, been busy doing all the "plumbing" on the Hathorn Davey jackets and receivers. Starting to look a little more tidy, next clad all the walls and get the bits and pieces of "tat" up.

NOT the most exciting video but David has spent a couple of days looking at the pre-2000 rack and as first thought it is a "fudge" assembled for Derby museum with various bits (it says) from Spondon Exchange.
Luckily there some notes in the folder that came with the kit and some modified drawings. So has been built as a demo rack and David has sorted things enough to get a call through on a pair of selectors. Lot to do yet but given the state it was in he has done well!

With the emphasis on the steam installations this winter we have not got many new diesels in. Several large engines to go in shortly including the Gold Corner Crossley.
Over the Crankup Len and Geoff had a play with the D21 installed a week before opening and after an annoying squeak was finally traced, she runs well. Larger pulley needed and then will drive a Ruston BC compressor set for start air.

We were very behind this year so massive thanks all the volunteers who worked so hard to get the museum ready to open, hugely appreciated as it was a big task.
A bit of a longer video.
The little boiler was made to work quite hard this weekend and we do need to commission the bigger one before we can run the Willans and Browett at any rate but all have been proven steamable.
... To prep Willans feels most unnatural, first fill the crankcase with water!
Yes, we know two bolts are missing from the Browett exhaust and yes we will sort the drains :-)
See More

Quite likely that this is the first time in over a century that the baby 1893 Petter has been in steam. Thought to be the only survivor of 10 built she was part of the factory Petter Collection and looked after for many years by David & Doreen Edgington. Nice that Doreen was present for the first run.
Second clip is the ex-Norfolk Museum Service Belliss & Morcom running well (minor leak on the HP packings).

Testing the high pressure pipework on the boiler this afternoon so could not resist having a play. The Belliss & Morcom has no exhaust yet and drains are not piped so clouds of steam!
The Willans central valve ran for the frst time on steam in 60 years, first section is running slow warming through followed by a bit more oomph. Still a few things to sort but nice to see her turn over.

Wonderful collection of working engines and most in full running order. So many actually up and running with lovely histories attached to most of them. Entrance fee very reasonable cage also very reasonable prices. Love to see and hear the RR Pegasus running in the near future. Even for those with no actual interest in engines it's fascinating and heaven for those who love internal combustion engines with real history and stories behind them.

Went with a group of 8 of us as it was just opening for the day. We went as we needed a rainy day activity and thought at least our 2 boys would like it, wasn't sure the girls would but all 8 of us had an interesting informative morning. The staff/ volunteers were lovely and brought the engines to life. As they were enthusiastic and knowledgeable it rubbed off on the kids. The telephone room was a particular hit

We went here whilst on holiday. It was more for the hubby than me. It's got lots of things to look at. I was getting a history lesson of the hubby as we went round the museum on things he learned to use whilst an apprentice... for me the telephone roo was amazing and brought back alot of old memories using the old phone exchanges and pay phones... certainly kills a good couple of hours and we'll worth a visit.. staff are very welcoming and friendly too..

Very good and informative staff very helpful and friendly

This place is definitely worth a visit,the staff are fantastic and the displayed engines are well cared for and kept in top class working order.

Spent a couple of hours there, great exhibits and knowledgeable staff.

Need to go back .

Popped in to the Internal Fire Museum of Power for the end of season crank up, well worth the 6 hour drive from the Tees Valley.

Lots to see, many running engines with a multitude of uses.

The power turbine and the radio rooms were easily my favourites.

It has been years since I have seen let alone use a rotary dail phone. Seeing how a manual and mechanical phone exchange works was great.



I intend on having another visit in a year or 2.

Only the drive over and back puts me off coming back any sooner.

Popped in this week for a nosey. Easily the highlight of our holiday to Wales. My son and I spent a lovely few hours just getting our geek on. Lots to see, many running engines with a multitude of uses. The radio room was fascinating, watching the final morse messages of the Titanic was eerie. The telephone room was a highlight, having to explain to my son how to use a decadic dial phone was....interesting! As his Mum wasn't at all interested in this museum she was happy to sit in the tea room and partake of their lovely tea, coffee and cakes etc. All in all a great day out. And we came home with grease on our hands and muck under our nails! Brilliant.

Love this museum. Been twice this year.

Live locally so great to pop in. Vast history of engines. Nice to see so many running. Going to be great to see the new steam shed up and running. Definitely worth a visit in the spring.

Real value for money and lovely little cafe too.

Incredible collection of a much under rated and forgotten technology maintained by an incredible set of talented volunteers

Had a wonderful day exploring this national treasure. The sights, the sounds and the smells of these old diesel beasts 'just ticking over' gladdened this old engineers heart. Big thank you to all the volunteers.

Had a great day here, the museum has an impressive array of engines on display from the smallest Villiers to the massive Rushton 6VE. The kids loved the telephone exchange room and must have spent an hour ringing the various phones, some of which are in the engine rooms.

Had a brilliant 2 days with Paul and Hazel and the hard working volunteers. Amazing how much more to see each year

For anyone with a Mechanical or Electrical background this Museum is a must, for those without the previous it is a MUST, to see our Heritage in full flow, I have work on or alongside a lot of the systems that are on display and I was like a child in a toy shop. its difficult to express the excitement of seeing a lot of my youth in motion. Thank you very much Internal Fire Museum of Power located at Tanygroes between Cardigan and Newquay. I shall Return.

Arrived not really knowing what to expect having seeing the website but what a little gem this place is .it was a slow day and I was one of the first through the doors but there was at least 15 engines going and the venue gets top marks from me .If your in to massive engines its a must

Arranged to take the Pembroke road run to the Museum , it was brilliant , lots of engines running , fascinating range of engines on display , also lots of telephone equipment , if you remember the old Bakelite phones . Great welcome and hospitality . Will be back

An excellent and much under rated museum. A varied selection of exhibits, which where possible are shown in an original and authentic setting. The staff and volunteers are friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. Well worth a visit.

A museum of Diesel engines doesn't immediately get one excited but upon entering the establishment one is immediately impressed by the size and variation of these engines, with each one displayed in replica engine house. To add to the interest the engines aren't static, with a selection of them running throughout the day. Kids will love the telephone exchange with functioning telephones and exchange mechanisms. There is a cafe as well where they have a selection of snacks and drinks and to top it all, when I asked if the really big engines were ever run the staff were only to happy to fire up the massive 8 cylinder Allen diesel generator unit. A fantastic way to spend a rainy Welsh afternoon.

A fantastic day that kept a twelve year old away from her phone for five hours. Good cafe and staff great fun.

Wonderful collection of working engines and most in full running order. So many actually up and running with lovely histories attached to most of them. Entrance fee very reasonable cage also very reasonable prices. Love to see and hear the RR Pegasus running in the near future. Even for those with no actual interest in engines it's fascinating and heaven for those who love internal combustion engines with real history and stories behind them.

Went with a group of 8 of us as it was just opening for the day. We went as we needed a rainy day activity and thought at least our 2 boys would like it, wasn't sure the girls would but all 8 of us had an interesting informative morning. The staff/ volunteers were lovely and brought the engines to life. As they were enthusiastic and knowledgeable it rubbed off on the kids. The telephone room was a particular hit

We went here whilst on holiday. It was more for the hubby than me. It's got lots of things to look at. I was getting a history lesson of the hubby as we went round the museum on things he learned to use whilst an apprentice... for me the telephone roo was amazing and brought back alot of old memories using the old phone exchanges and pay phones... certainly kills a good couple of hours and we'll worth a visit.. staff are very welcoming and friendly too..

Very good and informative staff very helpful and friendly

This place is definitely worth a visit,the staff are fantastic and the displayed engines are well cared for and kept in top class working order.

Spent a couple of hours there, great exhibits and knowledgeable staff.

Need to go back .

Popped in to the Internal Fire Museum of Power for the end of season crank up, well worth the 6 hour drive from the Tees Valley.

Lots to see, many running engines with a multitude of uses.

The power turbine and the radio rooms were easily my favourites.

It has been years since I have seen let alone use a rotary dail phone. Seeing how a manual and mechanical phone exchange works was great.



I intend on having another visit in a year or 2.

Only the drive over and back puts me off coming back any sooner.

Popped in this week for a nosey. Easily the highlight of our holiday to Wales. My son and I spent a lovely few hours just getting our geek on. Lots to see, many running engines with a multitude of uses. The radio room was fascinating, watching the final morse messages of the Titanic was eerie. The telephone room was a highlight, having to explain to my son how to use a decadic dial phone was....interesting! As his Mum wasn't at all interested in this museum she was happy to sit in the tea room and partake of their lovely tea, coffee and cakes etc. All in all a great day out. And we came home with grease on our hands and muck under our nails! Brilliant.

Love this museum. Been twice this year.

Live locally so great to pop in. Vast history of engines. Nice to see so many running. Going to be great to see the new steam shed up and running. Definitely worth a visit in the spring.

Real value for money and lovely little cafe too.

Incredible collection of a much under rated and forgotten technology maintained by an incredible set of talented volunteers

Had a wonderful day exploring this national treasure. The sights, the sounds and the smells of these old diesel beasts 'just ticking over' gladdened this old engineers heart. Big thank you to all the volunteers.

Had a great day here, the museum has an impressive array of engines on display from the smallest Villiers to the massive Rushton 6VE. The kids loved the telephone exchange room and must have spent an hour ringing the various phones, some of which are in the engine rooms.

Had a brilliant 2 days with Paul and Hazel and the hard working volunteers. Amazing how much more to see each year

For anyone with a Mechanical or Electrical background this Museum is a must, for those without the previous it is a MUST, to see our Heritage in full flow, I have work on or alongside a lot of the systems that are on display and I was like a child in a toy shop. its difficult to express the excitement of seeing a lot of my youth in motion. Thank you very much Internal Fire Museum of Power located at Tanygroes between Cardigan and Newquay. I shall Return.

Arrived not really knowing what to expect having seeing the website but what a little gem this place is .it was a slow day and I was one of the first through the doors but there was at least 15 engines going and the venue gets top marks from me .If your in to massive engines its a must

Arranged to take the Pembroke road run to the Museum , it was brilliant , lots of engines running , fascinating range of engines on display , also lots of telephone equipment , if you remember the old Bakelite phones . Great welcome and hospitality . Will be back

An excellent and much under rated museum. A varied selection of exhibits, which where possible are shown in an original and authentic setting. The staff and volunteers are friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. Well worth a visit.

A museum of Diesel engines doesn't immediately get one excited but upon entering the establishment one is immediately impressed by the size and variation of these engines, with each one displayed in replica engine house. To add to the interest the engines aren't static, with a selection of them running throughout the day. Kids will love the telephone exchange with functioning telephones and exchange mechanisms. There is a cafe as well where they have a selection of snacks and drinks and to top it all, when I asked if the really big engines were ever run the staff were only to happy to fire up the massive 8 cylinder Allen diesel generator unit. A fantastic way to spend a rainy Welsh afternoon.

A fantastic day that kept a twelve year old away from her phone for five hours. Good cafe and staff great fun.