International Stationary Steam Engine Society

03/06/2026

This is a rather unique beam engine which would be well worth visiting and investigating if you’re near the heritage centre

Object of the month 🔍 - Lightmoor Beam Engine

Beam engines transformed coal mining in the 19th and 20th centuries. This type of engine made large-scale deep mining possible.

In the Forest of Dean, these advances led to the replacement of small drift mines with large industrial collieries. Lightmoor Colliery opened in 1832 and was owned by Henry Crawshay & Co. Ltd. In 1899, it was one of the largest collieries in the Forest, employing more than 600 men.

The Lightmoor Beam Engine was built on the site of the Dean Heritage Centre in the early 1820s. It remained in use at Lightmoor Colliery until its closure in 1940. The engine was then dismantled and sent to the National Museum of Wales. It later returned to the Forest and was restored for display at the Dean Heritage Centre. It is the only surviving example of those used in the Forest.

ℹ️Plan your next visit here - https://www.deanheritagecentre.org/visit-us

23/05/2026

Thank you Mr Postman!! ✉️ 📕 🎉
Have you received your copies yet? Make sure to use the booklet to your advantage and go and explore the brilliant engines out there!! Send in your photos and videos too of your fun days out seeing them 😊

21/05/2026

🚨NOTICE TO ALL ISSES MEMBERS🚨
UK Engines 2026 was sent to print last Tuesday (19 May 2026), we hope you’ll be receiving your copies in the post in the not too distant future!

For those who aren’t familiar - the UK engines booklet details preserved stationary steam engines which can be visited regularly or by appointment and what their current status is - running or not and what method (steam/air/motor etc). A must have for any stationary steam aficionado!

18/05/2026

⚙️ ENGINE SPOTLIGHT #5 – TEES COTTAGE PUMPING STATION BEAM ENGINE ⚙️

This Engine Spotlight focuses on the impressive beam engine at Tees Cottage Pumping Station in Darlington.

🏭 BACKGROUND

The original beam engine at Tees Cottage dated from 1849 and remained in service until 1907, when it was replaced by a small gas engine.

The beam engine visible today was installed in 1904 and, as one of the last beam engines built, represents a very advanced stage in beam engine development.

It is a Woolf compound rotative beam engine rated at 140 indicated horsepower (IHP).

⚙️ TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Type: Woolf compound rotative beam engine
• Power: 140 IHP
• Operating speed: 9–16 rpm
• Average working speed: approx. 12 rpm

At its average running speed, the engine could pump:
• Around 1900 gallons (8640 litres) of river water into the filters every minute
• Around 1700 gallons (7730 litres) of filtered water into the town every minute

That is roughly equivalent to 21 standard bathtubs of water every minute.

🛠️ THE ENGINE ITSELF

• Cast iron beam:
– 30 ft 3 in (9.2 metres) long
– Approx. 25 tons

• Flywheel:
– 21 ft (6.4 metres) diameter
– Approx. 14.5 tons

Over its working life supplying the town, the engine is estimated to have completed around 140 million revolutions.

📜 WORKING LIFE & PRESERVATION

• 1904–1926 – Main duties
• 1926 – Put on standby following installation of electric pumps
• Continued to run annually for testing until 1967
• Later abandoned

In 1975, the engine was run again to mark the 150th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, beginning a new chapter in preservation.

A major restoration effort followed and, in 1981, the station reopened for regular annual open days — something that continues today.

In fact, the engine last ran yesterday.

📍 VISITING

Tees Cottage Pumping Station is located on Coniscliffe Road, Darlington and is well worth a visit for anyone interested in stationary steam engines, waterworks history, or industrial heritage.

More Engine Spotlights to follow.

10/05/2026

ENGINE SPOTLIGHT #4 – CAPRINGTON COLLIERY NEWCOMEN ENGINE ⚙️🔧

This Engine Spotlight looks at one of the oldest surviving stationary steam engines in preservation — the Caprington Colliery Newcomen Engine.

🏭 BACKGROUND

This is a Newcomen-type atmospheric engine, dating from around 1770–1780.

The engine was installed second-hand at Caprington Colliery, near Kilmarnock, in 1806. It is believed to have originally been built by the Carron Ironworks, although the exact construction date and original owner are unknown.

As one of the earlier forms of steam engine, it is historically significant and represents steam power from a very early stage in industrial development.

⚙️ TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Type: Atmospheric beam engine
• Cylinder bore: 30 inches
• Stroke: Approx. 4 ft 6 in to 5 ft
• Cylinder length: 8 ft

The engine originally used a wooden beam, which was replaced in 1837 with the current cast-iron beam still fitted today.

🛠️ PRESERVATION

The engine was later preserved and re-erected in a replica engine house within the modern extension of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Today, it can be demonstrated using a hydraulic ram, allowing visitors to see the movement of the engine.

📍 TODAY

It can be seen at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

More Engine Spotlights to follow!

05/05/2026

ENGINE SPOTLIGHT #3 – RYHOPE PUMPING STATION ⚙️ 🚰 💨 (Ryhope Engines Museum)

This Engine Spotlight focuses on Ryhope Pumping Station, a well-preserved example of a Victorian waterworks.

🏭 BACKGROUND

Ryhope Pumping Station was built in 1868 by Thomas Hawksley for the Sunderland & South Shields Water Company.

It houses two Woolf compound, rotative, condensing beam engines, designed by R & W Hawthorn of Newcastle.

⚙️ THE ENGINES

• Beam engines with beams weighing approx. 22 tonnes
• Flywheels weighing approx. 18 tonnes

These engines were used to pump drinking water from a 250 ft deep well, which can still be seen at the site today.

🔥 BOILERS

The station retains three Galloway boilers (1908), which replaced the original set of six Cornish boilers.

On steaming days, these boilers are still used to supply steam to the engines.

🛠️ THE SITE TODAY

• The engines are operated on steam during steaming days
• The north engine is also fitted with a motor friction drive, allowing it to be turned when steam is not available and also for demonstrations for school & private parties.

📍 TODAY’S VISIT

Today, ISSES Social Media Officer James visited the site and met with Chairman Keith. During the visit, the north engine was turned on the motor drive, as shown in the attached video. James was shown how to setup the drive and operate it, we think he rather enjoyed himself!

We will return to Ryhope in a future post when the engines are in steam.

📢 VISITING

Ryhope Pumping Station is free to visit and remains in very good condition. It is well worth a visit for anyone interested in stationary steam and waterworks.

More Engine Spotlights to follow!!

28/04/2026

📢⚙️ ROLL UP, ROLL UP! ⚙️📢

The next International Stationary Steam Engine Society Bulletin – Volume 45 Number 2, will be out very soon!!

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside 👇

📰 What to expect:
• The Editor Writes – opening thoughts from Chris Allen
• UK Notes & News – the latest updates from around the country
• Lahore Waterworks Pumping Station – plans for preservation
• ‘Mini-Manhattan’ Engines in the USA – a look at surviving examples
• Ellenroad Steam Engines – the challenges currently being faced
• Typical Horizontal British Steam Engines – a detailed technical feature
• Preston Services Open Day 2025 – event coverage
• Life as a “old” Steam Volunteer in 2025 – experiences and challenges
• Amideria Chiozza, Italy – a steam-powered starch factory

📸 Plus:
• Rare and interesting photographs, including surviving compound engines in the USA
• Features from the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
• Coverage of Shore Road Pumping Station
• And more from across the steam world

Fancy reading this all for yourself?

👉 Then sign up to become a member of the International Stationary Steam Engine Society today!

We’d love to have you onboard. ⚙️

27/04/2026

Following from our last post, here’s some photos of Elsie!

27/04/2026

🔧⚙️ ENGINE SPOTLIGHT #2 – ELSIE

As part of our Engine Spotlight series, this post focuses on Elsie.

Elsie is a 180 IHP tandem-compound stationary steam engine, built in 1902 by J & W McNaught Ltd of Rochdale for the Barchant Spinning Company.

Like many textile mill engines, she is named — often these names were taken from members of the mill owner’s family.

⚙️ DESIGN & USE

Elsie is a typical example of a tandem-compound mill engine, with both the high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders mounted on a common piston rod, driving a single crank.

This was one of the most common mill engine layouts. Large numbers were built by many different manufacturers and were widely used in textile mills. Engines of this type could drive large numbers of looms, often up to around 1000.

📊 TECHNICAL DETAILS

• High-pressure cylinder: 13 inches diameter
• Low-pressure cylinder: 24 inches diameter
• Stroke: 36 inches
• Speed: 75 rpm

• Flywheel:
– 12 ft diameter
– Approx. 8 tons
– Grooved for 8 cotton ropes (approx. 1.5 inches diameter)

Rope drive systems were widely used in textile mills from the late 19th century onwards due to their reliability and relatively smooth operation.

🛠️ VALVE GEAR

The high-pressure cylinder is fitted with Corliss valve gear, a standard feature on many textile mill engines.

This system uses semi-rotary valves with a trip mechanism, controlled by a governor. Steam admission is varied depending on load, with the inlet valve closing rapidly once the required amount of steam has entered the cylinder. This allows the steam to expand for the remainder of the stroke and improves efficiency under varying loads.

📜 HISTORY

• 1902–1917 – In service at Barchant Spinning Company
• 1917 – Moved to Wasp Mill, Wardle (near Rochdale)
• 1967 – Acquired by the Northern Mill Engine Society after coming out of service
• Rebuilt at the Northern Mill Engine Society’s first museum
• 1992 – Relocated to its current site at Bolton Steam Museum.z

Elsie is now in her fourth location.

💧 CONDENSING EQUIPMENT

The condenser and air pump are installed beneath the engine in their correct positions. However, due to the lack of a sufficient cooling water supply, the engine is not operated in condensing mode.

📍 TODAY

Elsie can be seen running at Bolton Steam Museum, where she is demonstrated on both:
• Steam
• Electric motor drive

More Engine Spotlights to follow soon!!! 😃😃