God bless all the smart people who restore passion and love with rare items like this. I would like to come to London just to see this wonderful work.
Awesome pent-up power, and the sound of the workings was in perfect harmony with the visual effect! Excellent posting. Thank you, Madblokey, though you're anything but a mad bloke, I'll wager!
What a wonderfull engine, we have one at (western springs) Motat museum in Auckland New Zealand which pumps fresh water for ponsonby and Auckland city....
The engine were intalled in 1865 as single cylinder James Watt Co. engines. They were later compounded in 1899 to 3 cylinders by the Benjamin Goodfellow company in Cheshire.
Thank-you for taking the trouble to reply. For some reason, I couldn't go past the first page of comments yesterday. I certainly agree with those who say that it's a wonderful piece of engineering, and those that thank you and your colleagues for saving it for everyone to enjoy.
@theshipman It pumped all of the North Londeners shit. I'm not shitting you. Maybe the biggest shit pump in the world. Fuck it must stink in there! Lol. Great piece of Victorian engineering.
Are there any specifics that you might have of it? I would love to do a Solidworks CAD rendering of this wonderful machine. Perhaps the building as well.
I will do my best to get you some drawings, although not many exist. I can give you the main dimensions (flywheel diameter, beam length etc) and some sectioned drawings of the works . I can also provide you with photographs showing the main assemblys along with some dimensions. You will need to measure and scale the parts accordingly. If you provide me with an email address, I will send yopu some stuff. I would love to see the finished model. All the best
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
Once the boiler is up to pressure we gradually allow it into the steam pipes to the engine to warm the pipework. Then it is allowed into the cylinder jackets to warm around the cylinders. This takes about 1.5 hours. Then we allow steam into the cylinders to wam the pistons and the rods etc. Finally the engine is turned slowly using the barring engine, for a few revolutions to warm all the valve gear.
It is called a Barring engine. It is used to position the main engine prior to starting. It is NOT a starter motor, simply a positioning engine. Many engines are positioned using a long bar as a lever to turn the flywheel, hence the nam Barring engine. Hope this helps.
holy. wow, just wow. this is the real spirit of preservation, not to mention one of the most beautiful (and impressive) huge walking-beam engines I have ever seen.
congratulations to any and all who restored this engine and more power to them.
The engines were originally single cylinder and built by the James Watt co. They were later upgraded, and converted to 3 cylinders by the Benjamin Goodfellow co.
srry im adding more but, its also amazing how these things can be so old yet still work like they were made yesterday even though they are taken care of, most combustion engine last a maximum of maybe 30 year working. there a massive steam engine thats been running for 50 years and nothings wrong with it and this one even longer!
thats because old engineering is the best engineering, things werent made to break every five years so youd have to buy more. steam engines, (non-nuclear ones) in my opinion are the best, most beautiful, and most practical form of power there is.
When the engines were originally built, they were single cylinder and were each rated at 125hp. Between 1896 and 1900 they were upgraded to triple expansion engines (hp cylinder under the ip cylinder, sharing the same piston rod) There is no record of the power output after the upgrade. Somwhere around 200-250 hp would be my guess. Mind you the torque figures are gonna be high! 52ton flywheel......
well if the flywheel weight 52 ton and i guess the wheel is around 18 feets diameter , you should have around 1031799 ( 1 million )foot/pound of torque calculated on momentum energy , but we need to know the size of the piston to calculate the constant power and knowing the rpm , fuel used per stroke per piston and kind of fuel ect , because each kind of feul have different kinetic energy ...
A truly wonderful peice of engineering! Elegant, powerful, functional and reliable. A hard combination to achieve and yet it was done...and the lives saved as a result are tastement to the creators of such magnificence!
The wood designs of which you speak are all actually cast iron. It is probably one of the most decorative uses of iron that has ever been. Quite a little hidden gem, tucked away on the Erith marshes. Only 2 more steaming days this year.
I've visited now, it's not very easy but there is a link from Abbey Wood Station that helps a lot. In addition to the engines there is the Victorian Cast Iron work, which is now sufficiently restored to give an idea of how it must have appeared when new. That's well worth a visit on its own!
Well, that's it, I'm in love. So are the sounds from the pumps or are there noises that the building superstructure (all that nifty cast iron) makes? The valve gear I think I can pick out but there are several that I can't put my finger on.
Hi. The "rattling" kind of sound is due to a bit of play in the rotary valve mechanisms. There is also a definate clunk as it reaches top dead centre. We think this is caused by an error in the valve timing and steam is causing a knock in the Low pressure manifold. However, we are still trying to eliminate it. With each year that passes, the project moves on a bit, but with all these things, time is the greatest asset of all. Thanks for your interest.
Wow, thanks for the swift reply! I've always had an interest in steam locomotives, but stationary steam engines is a new thing for me. I'm amazed these huge engines survived at all and am even more amazed to see actual steam being used to run them. I really need to figure out how to get myself over there someday. I wonder if any touring company does a antique engine tour of the UK since in addition to your place I must see Internal Fire Museum of Power
At the risk of sounding daft,, what would the engine be powering? Also, when you mentioned Rotary valve mechanism,, would the cam be rotating at a perpendicular axis to the crank for example a "trans axle"?
Incredible to watch, wow.
You are fortunate to be involved with something so unique.
Hi thanks for your interest. The valve gear is the corliss type whereby the inlet valve incorporates a snap shut action. The camshaft as such runs perpendicular to the crank, driven bu bevel gears. I have added a film which shows the valve gear, to make it clearer for you.
Hi again. The video was recorded just this Tuesday (6th March) It was a "test steaming" prior to our first steaming day on April 1st. We had the boiler up to pressure for the boiler inspector, so it seemed a shame to waste all that lovely steam. It's always a joy to see the engine turning. Hope to see you at Crossness some time soon. Check out the web site for dates etc.
We are standing on the shoulders of Giants-literally!Very impressive.
Squarerig 1 year ago
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks
God bless all the smart people who restore passion and love with rare items like this. I would like to come to London just to see this wonderful work.
Well done everyone!
gioraciti 1 year ago 5
@gioraciti
You would be very welcome.
Check out the website for our re-opening to the public.
If you are in London, give us a ring. A personal tour can be arranged.
Madblokey 1 year ago
You would be very welcome.
Check out the website for our re-opening to the public.
If you are in London, give us a ring. A personal tour can be arranged.
Madblokey 1 year ago
Awesome pent-up power, and the sound of the workings was in perfect harmony with the visual effect! Excellent posting. Thank you, Madblokey, though you're anything but a mad bloke, I'll wager!
peteacher52 1 year ago
What a wonderfull engine, we have one at (western springs) Motat museum in Auckland New Zealand which pumps fresh water for ponsonby and Auckland city....
noddydiesel 1 year ago
I love Beam Engines
GayBoyRunning 1 year ago
Such pleasant sounds compared to the whines and roars of modern engines!
Larsky1010 1 year ago
Wow!!!!! That is awesome!!!!
DrFrankensteam 1 year ago
Holey crap my brain just exploded due to the sheer awesomness of this engine...
CarterandCoProducts 2 years ago
Nice, but kind of applications could this be used in?
naxps 2 years ago
From the description over on the right, it looks like this one is or was used for pumping sewer.
gliderp 2 years ago
Thank-you for a delightful video. Was the engine actually built new as a compound, or was it compounded at a later date?
grumpyoldsoandso 2 years ago
The engine were intalled in 1865 as single cylinder James Watt Co. engines. They were later compounded in 1899 to 3 cylinders by the Benjamin Goodfellow company in Cheshire.
Thanks for your interest
Madblokey 2 years ago
Thank-you for taking the trouble to reply. For some reason, I couldn't go past the first page of comments yesterday. I certainly agree with those who say that it's a wonderful piece of engineering, and those that thank you and your colleagues for saving it for everyone to enjoy.
grumpyoldsoandso 2 years ago
@Madblokey
What did this work of art power in the beginning?
theshipman 1 year ago
@theshipman It pumped all of the North Londeners shit. I'm not shitting you. Maybe the biggest shit pump in the world. Fuck it must stink in there! Lol. Great piece of Victorian engineering.
Photonface 9 months ago
I HAVE TO GO SEE THIS!!! I would probably lose a limb trying to get closer than I should.
Totally worth it.
kladivous 2 years ago
What a beautiful thing. The engineering, the sounds, the architecture of the place... Now added to my 'places to go' list !
Hanglands 2 years ago
Wow!!......... Just Wow!
cncdude1 2 years ago
I know what you mean......
Madblokey 2 years ago
Are there any specifics that you might have of it? I would love to do a Solidworks CAD rendering of this wonderful machine. Perhaps the building as well.
cncdude1 2 years ago
I will do my best to get you some drawings, although not many exist. I can give you the main dimensions (flywheel diameter, beam length etc) and some sectioned drawings of the works . I can also provide you with photographs showing the main assemblys along with some dimensions. You will need to measure and scale the parts accordingly. If you provide me with an email address, I will send yopu some stuff. I would love to see the finished model. All the best
Madblokey 2 years ago
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@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Madblokey
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@cncdude1
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@cncdude1
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@cncdude1
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@cncdude1
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Madblokey
would also love to have a set of the drawings of the mechanism at crossness pumping station as i am part of a group from london metropolitan university architecture department working on modeling this building and its systems.
if you could send them to tomrandallpage@hotmail.com it would be much appreciated.
thanks
tom
tomrandallpage 1 year ago
Absolutely beautiful!
Hanglands 2 years ago
I would like to see a video of the whole startup process, is it complicated & slow?
Or is it pretty easy?
You should make another video showing just that.
bigtank2185 3 years ago
The start up is fairly simple, but slow.
Once the boiler is up to pressure we gradually allow it into the steam pipes to the engine to warm the pipework. Then it is allowed into the cylinder jackets to warm around the cylinders. This takes about 1.5 hours. Then we allow steam into the cylinders to wam the pistons and the rods etc. Finally the engine is turned slowly using the barring engine, for a few revolutions to warm all the valve gear.
Madblokey 3 years ago
Then, around 2.5 hours after getting boiler pressure, we are ready to allow full presure into the cylinders to start the engine..
Madblokey 3 years ago
Wow Thanks for the qiuck reply, and thank you for keeping a great piece of enginering and art running for all to see!
It must be a whole different experience to see and hear it personally, than to watch it on a computer screen!
I live in the western U.S. so im not so fortunate. But this video is exelent!
bigtank2185 3 years ago 3
Since this engine pumps sewage, the methane gas from the poo being pumped may make the engine more efficient by burning it in the boiler?
BadAndUgly 3 years ago
Tudo isso em 1800 era muito facil tinha tudo ,materiais,fundição ,Usinagens , uma em cada rua...
CarlosTadeus 3 years ago
What a magnificent engine!
I have to go see it some day!.
Aussie50 3 years ago
that tiny steam engine at the start, on the flywheel, what was that for? was it a sort of starting engine to get the main steam going?
turtles24601 3 years ago
It is called a Barring engine. It is used to position the main engine prior to starting. It is NOT a starter motor, simply a positioning engine. Many engines are positioned using a long bar as a lever to turn the flywheel, hence the nam Barring engine. Hope this helps.
Madblokey 3 years ago
thanks there!
steamboy51 3 years ago
could you do more vids of 0.44 . thanks
V8Jagnut 3 years ago
so thats how the world goes round! who would have thought it was a big giant steam engine, when the whole time we thought it was gravity!
fangus503 3 years ago
holy. wow, just wow. this is the real spirit of preservation, not to mention one of the most beautiful (and impressive) huge walking-beam engines I have ever seen.
congratulations to any and all who restored this engine and more power to them.
steamboy51 3 years ago
Many thanks for your positive comments.
Madblokey 3 years ago
The engines were originally single cylinder and built by the James Watt co. They were later upgraded, and converted to 3 cylinders by the Benjamin Goodfellow co.
Madblokey 3 years ago
I love these old machines and always wanted to see one! Thanks for the video!
clydesight 3 years ago
What a remarkable piece of engineering, thanks for sharing!
Nimsoft 3 years ago
Many thanks for your positive comments
Madblokey 3 years ago
It currently rotates at 6-7 rpm. Originally it would have turned at almost 12 rpm.
Madblokey 3 years ago
wow, that engine is beautiful, it mixes art with engines, somthing u dont see every day
sb6lb3 3 years ago
srry im adding more but, its also amazing how these things can be so old yet still work like they were made yesterday even though they are taken care of, most combustion engine last a maximum of maybe 30 year working. there a massive steam engine thats been running for 50 years and nothings wrong with it and this one even longer!
sb6lb3 3 years ago
thats because old engineering is the best engineering, things werent made to break every five years so youd have to buy more. steam engines, (non-nuclear ones) in my opinion are the best, most beautiful, and most practical form of power there is.
steamboy51 3 years ago
im guessing that each stroke would be what 800 hp
enginemasterbuilder 4 years ago
When the engines were originally built, they were single cylinder and were each rated at 125hp. Between 1896 and 1900 they were upgraded to triple expansion engines (hp cylinder under the ip cylinder, sharing the same piston rod) There is no record of the power output after the upgrade. Somwhere around 200-250 hp would be my guess. Mind you the torque figures are gonna be high! 52ton flywheel......
Madblokey 4 years ago
well if the flywheel weight 52 ton and i guess the wheel is around 18 feets diameter , you should have around 1031799 ( 1 million )foot/pound of torque calculated on momentum energy , but we need to know the size of the piston to calculate the constant power and knowing the rpm , fuel used per stroke per piston and kind of fuel ect , because each kind of feul have different kinetic energy ...
well , i won't be able to stop it by hands ...
patrick334 3 years ago
Flywheel is 28 foot in diameter. there are 3 cylinders, 19 inch, 33 inch and 44 inch diameters. and the stroke on the LP cylinder is 9 foot.
Madblokey 3 years ago
at 10 seconds per revolution, works out to 6 RPM. Estimating around 218,833 ft-lbs of torque going with 250 HP
amfan12 3 years ago
Yeah, and let them "riceburners" see if they can meet the torque of this unit. LOL..
9020powrmax 2 years ago
A truly wonderful peice of engineering! Elegant, powerful, functional and reliable. A hard combination to achieve and yet it was done...and the lives saved as a result are tastement to the creators of such magnificence!
Wardy
WardyLion 4 years ago
Thanks for your comments. I couldn't agree more. Don't forget the hard work done by those who are/were involved with the restoration.
Madblokey 4 years ago
that is awesome imagine having that in ya house. sweet
fsfer 4 years ago
That is phenomenal! combines my two loves, art and engineering...
When the video first started, I thought to myself, 'This engine doesn't look very big!', then you zoomed out..:O
rowanofrin1 4 years ago
The Victorians certainly knew how to make a functional item into an art form. A temple to painted cast iron and steam. God bless em!
Bilbo107 4 years ago 5
The wood designs of which you speak are all actually cast iron. It is probably one of the most decorative uses of iron that has ever been. Quite a little hidden gem, tucked away on the Erith marshes. Only 2 more steaming days this year.
Madblokey 4 years ago
I've visited now, it's not very easy but there is a link from Abbey Wood Station that helps a lot. In addition to the engines there is the Victorian Cast Iron work, which is now sufficiently restored to give an idea of how it must have appeared when new. That's well worth a visit on its own!
JimTLonW6 4 years ago
oh wow... that is the most awesome piece of machinery i've seen...
Drivenout 4 years ago
Well, that's it, I'm in love. So are the sounds from the pumps or are there noises that the building superstructure (all that nifty cast iron) makes? The valve gear I think I can pick out but there are several that I can't put my finger on.
mathuetax 5 years ago
Hi. The "rattling" kind of sound is due to a bit of play in the rotary valve mechanisms. There is also a definate clunk as it reaches top dead centre. We think this is caused by an error in the valve timing and steam is causing a knock in the Low pressure manifold. However, we are still trying to eliminate it. With each year that passes, the project moves on a bit, but with all these things, time is the greatest asset of all. Thanks for your interest.
Madblokey 5 years ago
Wow, thanks for the swift reply! I've always had an interest in steam locomotives, but stationary steam engines is a new thing for me. I'm amazed these huge engines survived at all and am even more amazed to see actual steam being used to run them. I really need to figure out how to get myself over there someday. I wonder if any touring company does a antique engine tour of the UK since in addition to your place I must see Internal Fire Museum of Power
mathuetax 5 years ago
At the risk of sounding daft,, what would the engine be powering? Also, when you mentioned Rotary valve mechanism,, would the cam be rotating at a perpendicular axis to the crank for example a "trans axle"?
Incredible to watch, wow.
You are fortunate to be involved with something so unique.
Regards,
Fred
punishr36 4 years ago
Hi thanks for your interest. The valve gear is the corliss type whereby the inlet valve incorporates a snap shut action. The camshaft as such runs perpendicular to the crank, driven bu bevel gears. I have added a film which shows the valve gear, to make it clearer for you.
Madblokey 4 years ago
"I wonder what would happen today if someone tried to name an engine that pumped sewage after Prince Phillip? " seems quite appropriate
headseeze 5 years ago
when i was in london i saw those big steam engine.
tonypilot 4 years ago
BRILLIANT!! I loved the sound effects too, Crossness must have been something with several of these going together.
I wonder what would happen today if someone tried to name an engine that pumped sewage after Prince Phillip?
JimTLonW6 5 years ago
Thanks for the comments. All the sounds are genuine. The other three engines are named "Victoria", "Albert Edward" and "Alexandra".
Madblokey 5 years ago
I looked again at the vid when I was notified of your reply, and added it to my favourites.
Could I ask when this was recorded? I didn't see any of the public around and wondered if this was a test run or something.
I MUST get over to Crossness (not an easy place to get to unfortunately).
JimTLonW6 5 years ago
Hi again. The video was recorded just this Tuesday (6th March) It was a "test steaming" prior to our first steaming day on April 1st. We had the boiler up to pressure for the boiler inspector, so it seemed a shame to waste all that lovely steam. It's always a joy to see the engine turning. Hope to see you at Crossness some time soon. Check out the web site for dates etc.
Madblokey 5 years ago