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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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.
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!
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?
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
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 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.
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.
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
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. 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.
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.
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.
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......
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).
What do the initial boilers and pistons do? Are they building up speed in the main flywheel? If so, how do they adjust to the high speed of the flywheel after it speeds up?
@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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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
I HAVE TO GO SEE THIS!!! I would probably lose a limb trying to get closer than I should.
Totally worth it.
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 magnificent engine!
I have to go see it some day!.
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!
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
We are standing on the shoulders of Giants-literally!Very impressive.
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.
oh wow... that is the most awesome piece of machinery i've seen...
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.
Fantastic engine, almost unreal. A good video.
Such pleasant sounds compared to the whines and roars of modern engines!
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!
Holey crap my brain just exploded due to the sheer awesomness of this engine...
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?
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.
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
that is awesome imagine having that in ya house. sweet
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....
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!
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.
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.
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
Thanks for the comments. All the sounds are genuine. The other three engines are named "Victoria", "Albert Edward" and "Alexandra".
Wow!!!!! That is awesome!!!!
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.
Many thanks for your positive comments
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.
"I wonder what would happen today if someone tried to name an engine that pumped sewage after Prince Phillip? " seems quite appropriate
Many thanks for your positive comments.
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.
Thank-you for a delightful video. Was the engine actually built new as a compound, or was it compounded at a later date?
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.
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......
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.
could you do more vids of 0.44 . thanks
at 10 seconds per revolution, works out to 6 RPM. Estimating around 218,833 ft-lbs of torque going with 250 HP
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).
From the description over on the right, it looks like this one is or was used for pumping sewer.
Then, around 2.5 hours after getting boiler pressure, we are ready to allow full presure into the cylinders to start the engine..
Tudo isso em 1800 era muito facil tinha tudo ,materiais,fundição ,Usinagens , uma em cada rua...
It currently rotates at 6-7 rpm. Originally it would have turned at almost 12 rpm.
Nice, but kind of applications could this be used in?
What do the initial boilers and pistons do? Are they building up speed in the main flywheel? If so, how do they adjust to the high speed of the flywheel after it speeds up?
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?
@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.
im guessing that each stroke would be what 800 hp
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
I know what you mean......