What an amazing collection of antique machinery. I'm most impressed that it's all been beautifully restored and is working. Fantastic. I'd love to visit.
Yes they are beautifully turned out. A real credit to all those who have dedicated all their spare time over years to bring the collection together and to have them in such wonderful condition and working order. Fabulous. ❤
I thought Forncett steam museum in Norfolk was brilliant, but this seems to be a step up from that in size. Its a real tribute to the volunteers. I have just added it to my list of places to visit in the next couple of years. Thanks for filming. 👍
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to create this fascinating video. I do not plan to visit Boston, ever again, so you have brought a wonderful cultural resource into my home. Prior comments complained about music, but when I listened, I heard the chorus of the featured machinery, so I guess you listened and updated your video taking into consideration the comments. That is being very thoughtful and to be commended. Now I can share this video with a Swiss steam engine enthusiast without any apologies. Edit: I wrote the above thinking the museum was in Boston, Mass. Turns out it is in the U.K.
I know, I only learned of its existence earlier this year. The thought that I have inspired just one person to visit the museum makes me very happy. ❤ Their next ‘steam’ days are 26th and 27th May. Thanks for you comment. 👍
@@philquine Hmm, Sunday and Monday? Ah, it's a bank holiday, that makes sense now. It would be nice to look up the steam crane on the canal on the same trip, but my mobility isn't up to it. Discovered that 60 years ago with friends, though we didn't know what is was then.
A superb example of how to video a fascinating collection. Steady camera work, just the right tempo, focusing on interesting details with excellent sound quality in context. Thank you.
Large and small all lovingly restored, some better condition than when they were working. I think of the work building them all, the Iron castings would have had a wooden pattern made to mould in sand. The molten Iron poured, often with waisters when the pour didn't work out. The machines pre computer age to finish the parts. Thanks for sharing your visit.
Wonderful museum, great photography. This should be a much longer video, with more time spent on each engine. At 1:54 I wonder where the idea to use square cut gears? They were probably puzzled why the teeth tended to wear into an involute profile...! Clever to show the unused boilers, with the modern boiler out of sight. Thanks for posting! I'm past the age where I could travel to the UK, so I appreciate videos like this.
I did consider adding captions, but to get all the engines in to a 15 minute video some are only on for a few seconds so it would have been a bit distracting to have captions. Not to mention the time it would take adding them, when I have lots of household chores to do 🤣 As the engines are clearly numbered I thought it was best to list them in the details. Thanks for watching. 👍
@@Brian-1948 I see what you are saying, but I'm still sceptical. I've had some experience with steam locomotives and have never seen one which was completely steam tight, even when fresh out of the maintenance shop. Gland packings always leak just a little - otherwise they are over tightened cause excessive wear on the rods.
No, they are actually running on steam. Engines like this are often steam free, as the steam is vented away from the engine, not like railway engines that are noisy and sprout steam from every orifice. You can’t really see it here, but there was water dripping from a few of them. They are powered from a modern steam boiler. Hence the steam being vented that is seen at the start of the video. You can actually see steam coming from No. 21 around 5:39 mins in.
On steam days, all the small engines you see running are powered by steam. However the large engines run on the quarter hour at full speed on steam and then revert back to slow speed on electric drive for demonstration purposes. This is because the gas boiler cannot supply enough steam to run all the large ones all the time. Please visit and any of the volunteers will gladly show you in detail.
They are actually running on steam that day. Steam is visible on several of the engines if you look carefully. The exhaust steam is vented off by pipe, so there isn’t going a lot of steam being evident. They use a modern steam boiler and you can see the steam being vented from this at the start of the video. Don’t forget it is in a warm building, so you are not going to see clouds of steam. There was also plenty of water dripping from them. In fact one of the staff had to go up on the Diamond Rope Works Engine with a mop and bucket as the drip tray was overflowing. Plus I doubt the museum isn’t going to lie to the public, that would only harm their spotless reputation. Thanks for watching and comments. 👍
My comment: Your reply: I thought that comment might be appreciated. As you are no doubt aware, the expression running something "balls out" (top speed) comes exactly from the regulator on a steam engine! As the engine reaches top speed, the balls are flung out and that reduces the steam and limits the engine speed.
It's a popular misconception that steam engines have steam shooting out from every orifice, but in reality these engines are very efficient and only a faint whisp of steam will be seen and this is indeed visible on some of the engines in the video. Also take into account they are in a warm environment, so even this faint whisp is hard to see. It is only the exhaust that would really show the steam, but this is piped away and condensed in some cases, so is not visible here. Also take into account they are running at slower speeds than they would in their working life. Think of it like a car engine, the only fumes you see are coming from the exhaust. You can see the steam being vented from the boiler at the start of the film, which is provided by a modern boiler. I hope this makes sense and reassures you?
Yes, I believe it is made of cotton wool, dandelion heads and a sprinkle of spider web pumped up in the air with an old aquarium air pump. It's pretty effective though. Thanks for you comment. 👍
Wonderful collection of restored & preserved steam engines , done in the best British tradition...in those days British engineering was at its best...
Even the small engines are works of art. Amazing quality engineering.
What an amazing collection of antique machinery. I'm most impressed that it's all been beautifully restored and is working. Fantastic. I'd love to visit.
Yes they are beautifully turned out. A real credit to all those who have dedicated all their spare time over years to bring the collection together and to have them in such wonderful condition and working order. Fabulous. ❤
I thought Forncett steam museum in Norfolk was brilliant, but this seems to be a step up from that in size. Its a real tribute to the volunteers. I have just added it to my list of places to visit in the next couple of years. Thanks for filming. 👍
Thank you for this, I don't live too far away from Bolton but had no idea that this wonderful museum was there.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to create this fascinating video. I do not plan to visit Boston, ever again, so you have brought a wonderful cultural resource into my home. Prior comments complained about music, but when I listened, I heard the chorus of the featured machinery, so I guess you listened and updated your video taking into consideration the comments. That is being very thoughtful and to be commended. Now I can share this video with a Swiss steam engine enthusiast without any apologies.
Edit: I wrote the above thinking the museum was in Boston, Mass. Turns out it is in the U.K.
This museum is in the U.K.
@@wkjeeping9053 Thank you for setting me straight. It seemed too good that such would be preserved in the United States.
I had no idea this place existed - must get over to Bolton to see these engines.
I know, I only learned of its existence earlier this year. The thought that I have inspired just one person to visit the museum makes me very happy. ❤ Their next ‘steam’ days are 26th and 27th May. Thanks for you comment. 👍
@@philquine Hmm, Sunday and Monday? Ah, it's a bank holiday, that makes sense now. It would be nice to look up the steam crane on the canal on the same trip, but my mobility isn't up to it. Discovered that 60 years ago with friends, though we didn't know what is was then.
Lots of sophisticated mechanics in that great collection. Wonder what the motivation, the need was. Lots of parts to maintain, lubricate.
Visited some years ago,when the engines were being set up,after moving from previous site.Great to see the results of all the hard work.
A superb example of how to video a fascinating collection. Steady camera work, just the right tempo, focusing on interesting details with excellent sound quality in context. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your very kind and generous comments, that means a great deal to me. Best wishes and thanks again ❤
Large and small all lovingly restored, some better condition than when they were working. I think of the work building them all, the Iron castings would have had a wooden pattern made to mould in sand. The molten Iron poured, often with waisters when the pour didn't work out. The machines pre computer age to finish the parts. Thanks for sharing your visit.
Fred 👍would like it 😊🇬🇧
would be nice to see some of the big ones running full speed.
Wonderful museum, great photography. This should be a much longer video, with more time spent on each engine. At 1:54 I wonder where the idea to use square cut gears? They were probably puzzled why the teeth tended to wear into an involute profile...!
Clever to show the unused boilers, with the modern boiler out of sight. Thanks for posting!
I'm past the age where I could travel to the UK, so I appreciate videos like this.
A joy to watch built in the days when British engineering was at its best B. Reilly Glasgow
I believe Fred's stationary steam engine is there
hope so
Yes, Fred’s engine was the Westminster Engine ‘Caroline’.
When I saw the title I thought of Fred's place.
Chimney is missing
I see you spotted us! At 10:08. 😄
Ha ha, I must have stood next to you on at least a couple of occasions 😀👍
@@philquine Introduce yourself next time.
@@Maker_of_Things - Will do 😊👍
Caption Identifiers would have been nice. MB
I did consider adding captions, but to get all the engines in to a 15 minute video some are only on for a few seconds so it would have been a bit distracting to have captions. Not to mention the time it would take adding them, when I have lots of household chores to do 🤣 As the engines are clearly numbered I thought it was best to list them in the details. Thanks for watching. 👍
Not a whisp of steam anywhere - just not realistic.
Are they running on compressed air or hidden motors?
I thought that and then I saw a little wisp so well maintained came to mind. Look at 1:04 right of centre of the screen.
@@Brian-1948
I see what you are saying, but I'm still sceptical. I've had some experience with steam locomotives and have never seen one which was completely steam tight, even when fresh out of the maintenance shop. Gland packings always leak just a little - otherwise they are over tightened cause excessive wear on the rods.
No, they are actually running on steam. Engines like this are often steam free, as the steam is vented away from the engine, not like railway engines that are noisy and sprout steam from every orifice. You can’t really see it here, but there was water dripping from a few of them. They are powered from a modern steam boiler. Hence the steam being vented that is seen at the start of the video. You can actually see steam coming from No. 21 around 5:39 mins in.
On steam days, all the small engines you see running are powered by steam. However the large engines run on the quarter hour at full speed on steam and then revert back to slow speed on electric drive for demonstration purposes. This is because the gas boiler cannot supply enough steam to run all the large ones all the time. Please visit and any of the volunteers will gladly show you in detail.
Pity none of the exhibits are actually running using steam. They've all got electric motors inside somewhere.
They are actually running on steam that day. Steam is visible on several of the engines if you look carefully. The exhaust steam is vented off by pipe, so there isn’t going a lot of steam being evident. They use a modern steam boiler and you can see the steam being vented from this at the start of the video. Don’t forget it is in a warm building, so you are not going to see clouds of steam. There was also plenty of water dripping from them. In fact one of the staff had to go up on the Diamond Rope Works Engine with a mop and bucket as the drip tray was overflowing. Plus I doubt the museum isn’t going to lie to the public, that would only harm their spotless reputation. Thanks for watching and comments. 👍
were's something about fred dibner
The little Westminster Engine ‘Caroline’ was owned by Fred to power his steam workshop. 👍
@@philquine outstanding thank you
A shrine to my idol when I was a kid.
Apparently none are running "balls out."
Erm….that’s one way of putting it 🤣🤣🤣
My comment:
Your reply:
I thought that comment might be appreciated.
As you are no doubt aware, the expression running something "balls out" (top speed) comes exactly from the regulator on a steam engine!
As the engine reaches top speed, the balls are flung out and that reduces the steam and limits the engine speed.
Don't see any STEAM. Where's the STEAM ?.
It's a popular misconception that steam engines have steam shooting out from every orifice, but in reality these engines are very efficient and only a faint whisp of steam will be seen and this is indeed visible on some of the engines in the video. Also take into account they are in a warm environment, so even this faint whisp is hard to see. It is only the exhaust that would really show the steam, but this is piped away and condensed in some cases, so is not visible here. Also take into account they are running at slower speeds than they would in their working life. Think of it like a car engine, the only fumes you see are coming from the exhaust. You can see the steam being vented from the boiler at the start of the film, which is provided by a modern boiler. I hope this makes sense and reassures you?
Sad
is that steam at the start fake steam
That said theres some belting engines in there. I must make a visit
Yes, I believe it is made of cotton wool, dandelion heads and a sprinkle of spider web pumped up in the air with an old aquarium air pump. It's pretty effective though. Thanks for you comment. 👍
@@philquine :D