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The
Engines
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| Two
engines of the vertical triple expansion,
double acting, type, were built in 1894/5
and installed the next year. The original
castings were made by James Watt & Co,
but halfway through the contract, the company
went into liquidation, and the work was
completed by Messrs Thornewill and Warham
of Burton on Trent. Victoria was build number
699, and Alexandra was build number 700 |
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| The
engines are mirror image twins, being a
left hand and a right hand pair exactly
opposite each other in line, and are unique
in having Corliss trip valve gear driven
by eccentrics.
Each
engine weighs 404 tons and stands some 55
ft. high on a footprint of approx. 36 ft.
long by 15 ft. wide. They are located in
line. Although tested to run at 150 lbs.
/sq. in when built, Victoria is now run
at around 130 lb./sq. in, and at 24 rpm
when working on open days.Although both
engines survive, only Victoria, is now in
fully restored working condition. |
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| The
reconstruction and repair of Victoria in 1991-1996
sought to ensure as authentic a return to
the original construction as was practical,
and this has been achieved successfully by
Mr Crane. Many individual parts were made
in replica by him and his team to ensure this
authenticity, using parts and damaged components
retrieved from both Victoria and Alexandra
as patterns.
The second, mirror image paired engine
“Alexandra” is still in situ
but minus many fittings. It is nevertheless
presented in an integrated and compatible
way, painted in distinguishing red oxide
colours, still maintaining the shape, construction
and mass of the original.
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| A
complete description of the original steam
engines and pumps and associated equipment
is available in the Friends’ records. |
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Printable
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