What is this huge machine for ?

The Elland road steam museum houses the largest working steam powered Mill engine in the world. Situated just outside Manchester this engine house from the former Elland Road mill is now part of a working steam museum. The steam museum as well as housing a huge working cotton mill engine also has a Lancashire boiler to power it. We visit on steaming up day. The lancashire boiler is fired with coal. The engine is a twin compound steam engine rated at around 2800 horse power. Possibly the most powerful in preservation. The museum also houses a Whitelees beam engine. The static mill steam engine was built by J&W McNaught of St Georges Foundry Rochdale Lancashire in 1920. There is a 220 foot mill chimney on sight as well.

[@MartinZero]

The Museum website www.ellenroad.org.uk/index.htm Membership [e-mail] Enquiries [e-mail] to contact Jake [e-mail]

[@hond654]

I would send coal, but probably a bank account number would be easier if they would like to have donation. @MarinZero, can you please change the @ to _at_ so spambots would not flood them...

[@dinnerdude50]

Hi Martin. Do you know who was the woman with the white hair who was in the video quite a bit.?

[@AEKarnes]

Thank you very much for interviewing my friend Jake, this is exactly what he needed. He's an unbelievably qualified and self taught steam engineer, anyone who employs him for that is lucky

[@garethparr9482]

@@AEKarnes seems like a really good bloke and proper loves it and knows his stuff. Dying breed unfortunately now 👍

[@Johnketes54]

Coal 34p a pound £750 divided by 2240 pounds

[@AEKarnes]

@@garethparr9482 Never a dying breed. We are everywhere, we are just crushed down by the world.

[@ascasc9957]

​@@Johnketes54 we also have to pay for insurance

[@_c_y_p_3]

@@AEKarnes Actually your nation squanders more of the world’s resources than most others, you just don’t share in the wealth cuz you choose racism, death cults, ceos and snake oils pushers as your masters and THEY “crushed” you down. The WORLD give you the air in your lungs and the blood in those veins.

[@richardswinson4381]

Absolutely phenomenal engineering. Dibnah will be so pleased to know that the Mill is being looked after.

[@sadie77711]

Fred Dibnah. He sure made excellent videos. Surely missed.

[@bobduncalf6468]

Still got my grandad's shovel he used to fire a Lancashire boiler in Failsworth. I had the pleasure of seeing the Dee mill engine running a couple of times, another beautiful machine.

[@MartinZero]

Thats brilliant, keep that shovel 😄👍🏻

[@johnhankinson1929]

That massive machine so gentle it never moved those old coins , great stuff again lads

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, very impressive

[@paulswift700]

Real engineer. No CAD just pencil paper and a straight ruler. Fantastic stuff. Thanks for sharing with us. Paul Thailand.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Paul

[@ray-wm7yd]

I saw this mill running in early 1975 as part of a fire brigade course on cotton mill constuction and fire risks. There were 8 boilers all fired up then to make enough steam to run the spinning machines. The rope race was an amazing and scary sight.

[@causewaykayak]

What a great bunch of volunteers. All the best to them and their trust. Great video you three!!

[@MartinZero]

Yep, totally agree

[@alsonberg]

Fair play to the guys running the engine house, keeping our heritage alive. I wish them every success for the future. Thanks for posting Martin. Great video.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@wacholder5690]

Hats off for the volunteers ! Good to know that industrial heritage is still preserved even by comparatively young people & Thanks for sharing !

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, they do a great job

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

So great to see them keeping history alive, fantastic machines they are

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, really good job the volunteers do 👍🏻

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

@@MartinZero they really do very impressive

[@rideswift]

I work on, and operate, process steam boilers for a living, and although they are gas fired and PLC controlled these days, there is still something very visceral about them. I truly love my job

[@martin4787]

That was fantastic to see. Thank you Martin, James, Roy and to all the volunteers who make it all possible.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Martin, great place

[@martin4787]

@@MartinZero It certainly looks it Martin🙂

[@briwire138]

That's a place I'll be going next year. In the 70s, I worked a night shift in the boiler house that provided the heating for Burtonwood airbase. The old boilerman took me round, showed me the coal hoppers and above the boilers, explained all about forced draught flues, calorifiers, boiler tubes etc with great passion.

[@MartinZero]

That sounds brilliant 👍🏻

[@highpath4776]

@@MartinZero for fluing and the re-start of this engine see the story written by stanley challenger graham on oneguyfrom barlick website - also covers a lot of of other mill engines (inc the Whiteless rebuild at the site) and the ltp (lancashire textile project of transcripted audio reminiscences).

[@robertdodd2087]

Yes, worked on those, very different to Lancashire boilers, can’t remember the name of them, but they were huge in comparison , all automatic. They did replace one of them with a more modern, but still coal fired boiler, around 1980.

[@briwire138]

@@robertdodd2087 All gone apart from those in museums. As an Electrician, I kept fairly clean, but I remember seeing welders replacing leaking tubes, welding each end onto the faceplates. The one who got the short straw had to squeeze through a small hatch and came out of the boiler looking like a Panda.

[@elainemclelland]

Doesn't the fact someone actually dreamed up the idea, designed the equipment and got it working blow your mind? If I'm not mistaken I think one of the boilers on Titanic was a Lancashire Boiler The big fly wheel looks like a massive liquorice wheel you used to get as a kid, with a horse-cake in the middle!!. Well done all the volunteers who keep this bit of history alive. 👏

[@effinog]

'Doesn't the fact someone actually dreamed up the idea, designed the equipment and got it working blow your mind?' Exactly what I was thinking. The scale of it all is almost beyond comprehension.

[@0richbike]

"run of the mill" ...nicely done!

[@MartinZero]

Cheers

[@jetsons101]

Nothing Like Vintage Steam...... Martin, this was such a great watch --- and as a licensed mechanic I fully approve of this video. Thanks to Martin and team "and" all the volunteers at the Steam Museum.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much. We loved it there

[@jetsons101]

@@MartinZero I could be a docent there and enjoy every day I was there. Hmmm That would be kinda of funny a docent in the UK with an American "Californian" accent.... LOL

[@ashleystyles6888]

You certainly did the museum justice. Great video and thank you for making my visit to Lancashire such a joy. You never mentioned about Avro at Chadderton. My father worked on the Avro Lincoln in Singapore during his national service and I have worked for BAE Systems on a few occasions as a contractor both here and abroad. Thank you very much Martin. This was a unique experience everyone should visit.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Ashley

[@ImranKhan-dk8bo]

Another great video Martin , showed my 9 year old son what it used to be like , highly amazed, thanks Martin

[@MartinZero]

@@ImranKhan-dk8bo Cheers Imran 👍

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Martin and team. What a great visit this was, really enjoyed it. Next to no vibrations that's amazing, that 2p was going nowhere. No better place for a bacon butty too!! Great to see and hear the enthusiasm of Jake and the rest of the team. Toreador from Bizet's Carmen worked really well👌👌 Cracking outro!! All the best!!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much David

[@Richard-o6h]

Ho Martin in the 60,s I worked for a firm that used to put new boilers in and take the Lanky boilers outer said we could move anything into anywhere without using a crane. I used to go to Glasgow. John Thomson made the new boilers and it was brought back by low,- loaders,to take the boiler out the Lanky the lagging had been taken off so we could cut it out with gas axes they had plenty of heavy boiler plate and we would load up the trucks and take it to the Smelters there was one in Leeds I always was sorry when we got a job just cutting the Lankies out and no boiler put back that meant the end of the mill ,you do a good job Martin and Team

[@MartinZero]

That sounds fascinating Richard

[@robertdodd2087]

My Dad used to work for John Thompson, commissioning them once in place, his name was Norman Dodd, he loved his job.

[@philippabaker1078]

What a fabulous place to visit. Jake is a nice chap and dedicated to the museum too. I loved the metalworking toolshop. Great video!

[@MartinZero]

One for your bucket list Philippa

[@carlbentley80]

What a fantastic place, on the bucket list. Jake and those volunteers are great, keeping the past alive.

[@cecilwilson5442]

That's a national treasure right there absolutely fantastic 🤩,, when I was 16 and started serving my time,, I was on a factory job with steam blow heaters and the steam trap /condensation sets up ,,steam boiler still used in big Hospitals and large factory's oil fired,, great place to visit ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Cecil 👍🏻👍🏻

[@williamparry9314]

Thank you, love the old stuff.

[@MartinZero]

Me to thank you

[@norfolknchance.500]

@@williamparry9314 I like James as well as Martin and Roy though! Haha!

[@MartinBrenner]

Very cool! It is very rare to see any of these old steam engines being operated with real steam. We have quite a few formerly operating for coal mines here in the Ruhr area but the museums operate them with compressed air. So my first thought seeing that big drum was drive a cable to hoist a cage up and down a mine shaft. What an amazing machine and museum staff!

[@MartinZero]

Yes , so much better with steam

[@markavis7232]

hi there - not so far from the engine in this video we have the Astley Green colliery engine. The drum looks a bit like this rope drum, but it took the cable for the cage as you describe. On this one, the drum spirals down to small radius at both ends so it gives the engine a hand (change in ratio) to get the cage moving, and then slows it down towards the end of the run. Clever stuff! That one runs on compressed air - and a few big tanks full at 100 psi or more only gives it a minute or so running - it is huge.

[@MartinBrenner]

@@markavis7232 Non native English speaker, colliery was the word I was looking for. Heard it many times on this channel and finally looked up the exact definition. Definitely have to look for this detail when I visit one in the area here next time.

[@barbaraprest783]

Steam engines are just wonderful - the noise, the smell 🎉🎉🎉

[@MartinZero]

They are, the smells in there are amazing

[@shekwh99]

Bf loved the steam, oil..coal fire smell

[@AlbertBenajam-ww1db]

Note the scene where coins are balanced on edge on a machine in operation at full speed. Steam power involved EXPANSION of steam, in cylinder rather then the EXPLOSION that happens in internal combustion motors. Steam power is as it were SMOOTH.

[@robertdodd2087]

Excellent film. I worked on these beasts at Sutton Manor colliery, we had five of them. The air compressors were like the mill engine and worked at a steady speed. But for drama, watching a winding engine go from zero to full speed, back to zero, reverse and do it again, and again and again. The power, the speed, the steam escaping, the smell of hot oil, the air moving, the building shaking. Will never be seen again.

[@doodlesbug]

I watched this over an hour ago and ended up down an historic rabbit hole I had no idea existed - The Lancashire Cotton Famine. My lungs are grateful for the Clean Air Act, but I'd love to time travel back for just a day to see and hear what it must have been like with the mills at full strength with the air filled with smoke and steam with the bustle of people on cobbled streets beneath. Like a Lowry come to life I guess. Thank you :-)

[@MartinZero]

Yep, all fascinating stuff

[@AndyFletcherX31]

I've just read the Wikipedia page on "The Lancashire Cotton Famine". I never realised how interconnected the American civil war and other international politics were with it. Fascinating read.

[@davidaspinall496]

Lowry captured what it was really like very well. Just look at his pictures ...

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

Great video lads. The first place I ever worked had a blacksmiths shop like that, except the steam engine had been taken out and replaced with an electric motor. That was fifty three years ago, it's long since gone. Good to see those volunteers have managed to save that engine house and restore it to working condition.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Kevin 👍🏻

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Great video of an astonishing piece of engineering. They've done a magnificent job of restoration and preservation. Thank you.

[@officialbritishtaxpayer5609]

Can I say that as a steam enthusiast in his sixties, how pleased and encouraged I am to see such enthusiasm from a bunch of people who are younger than me! Great video - please make more!

[@bottomman]

That must be the best video I've seen, great enthusiasm, the best of British

[@TheNapalmFTW]

This is bittersweet. I used to be a member of the Ellenroad Engine House radio club. We met in the generator room upstairs. We had keys to the place and would go exploring the whole place. Seen the bottom of the flywheel and been all over the boilers. Great place. One of the things I miss from the UK.

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Convert to natural gas?

[@RailsandRadios-nr2kd]

Excellent program! Thank you for doing this.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@rogerbarton1790]

Reminds me of when I was a nipper in 1950s. I used to "help" the stoker in Accrington laundry, they had a small boiler fed by a hopper like the ones shown in this video.

[@MartinZero]

Great stuff !!!

[@mrbillmacneill]

Martin , i used to work in a sawmill on the fraser river. It still had steam driven equipment. Some of the saws were originally belt drive driven by individual steam engines but had been converted to electric motors. Log handling was all by steam even in my time as was the #2 head saw log carriage . These old steam pots and lines were an excellent way of drying out your gloves in the winter. Excellent video! Full steam ahead!

[@MartinZero]

Hi Bill, cant beat a steam engine and its multiple uses 😄

[@kevinthegerbil2708]

Credit to all, and top marks for the volunteers. Great job lads. From down here in London. Bless you all in keeping the country's heritage.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Kevin

[@andyshacks7812]

What a beautiful machine ! I remember Queen Street Mill in Burnley as a working mill and used to talk nicely to the engine man who’d let me in to see the engine during school holidays. My gran was also a weaver there when she was young. I’m definitely having a day out at Ellen Road soon !

[@highpath4776]

did he live opp Queen Street -

[@andyshacks7812]

@ Not sure tbh

[@MartinZero]

Worth it Andy 👍🏻

[@mkendallpk4321]

Fantastic video and I love how the old time steam engines look. All that wonderful brass and paint. They really knew how to make beautiful equipment back in the day.

[@johngell4842]

Local Steeplejacks Peter Tatham and Tom philips rebuilt the drum top on this chimney in the late 80s One guy from Barnoldswick Stanley Graham played a huge part in the saving of this engine house and he had a huge collection of photographs showing the mill demolition and restoration of the engine house The web site one guy in Barnoldswick/steeplejacks corner used to have a lot of these photographs and are well worth seeing Another cracking video lads well done 👏

[@MartinZero]

I'd love to see those pics

[@highpath4776]

Is Tom steeplejerk on the webforum ?

[@johngell4842]

​@@highpath4776 yes that Tom who worked with Peter Tatham back in the day regular on steeplejack corner And he's also on the steeplejack fb pages top lad

[@ianlambert3693]

@@highpath4776 Tom and Peter used to post in Steeplejacks corner.

[@ianlambert3693]

@@MartinZero The Onguyfrombarlick forum also hosts The Lancashire Textile Project 2013. This is an updated version of the original LTP which now has over 650 images embedded within the texts. The LTP was an initiative to record the passing of an industry before it was lost. Stanley Graham was the engine tenter at Bancroft Mill and he interviewed and taped all the operatives of the mill from management to weavers. All these interviews were then transcribed to create the record the LTP. He took on the refurbishment of the Ellenroad engine and that is also fully recorded on the website.

[@paulmerryman]

Lovely to see Martin, thanks for showing it to us.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Paul

[@NarnianRailway]

Amazing to see some of the preserved industrial history and architectural craftsmanship of the past. British do a wonderful job of preserving bits of history. Thanks from Across the Pond for all the history tour videos you share.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed

[@frankwilson2607]

Splendid explanation and production Martin and lads! Well worth support. Cheers to all the drivers and other volunteers. Right - no, on me bike!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Frank

[@keith800]

That is fantastic Martin , 9000 views and I hope your video boosts their visitors and donations , we are just so blessed this engine house has been saved for posterity .

[@MartinZero]

Lets hope so Keith

[@mikerushford6365]

Thanks!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Mike. I will donate it to the Museum

[@duron700r]

You guys know how to preserve your engines! Here in the states, we get close (privileged to run a 350 horse engine), but you guys take the win on preservation. Thank you!

[@christopherwhittaker2620]

The sound coming from the working workshop sounds exactly like German industrial techno. Not even joking. Excellent video.

[@MartinZero]

Ha great stuff and thank you

[@effinog]

Yes I thought who's the insane drummer. Terrific rhythm.

[@hughmnyks]

Absolutely brilliant piece of film. Lovely people, superb machinery. It warmed the cockles of my heart. A man with a passion and a calling is what keeps the good things turning!

[@jetsons101]

Is that Fred Dibnah at 8:09 Still watching vid..... Great so far.....

[@robertschemonia5617]

What a LEGEND he is/was! I would have loved to have spent an afternoon talking steam with him!

[@jetsons101]

@@robertschemonia5617 I wasn't sure if it was Fred as I'm 5000 miles away in CA..... LOL

[@MartinZero]

His Photo was on that wall. i think he visited at some point

[@robertschemonia5617]

@@MartinZero I believe there was a documentary series made that he hosted that an episode was filmed possibly there.

[@robertschemonia5617]

@jetsons101 hell, I'm in Southern Illinois. So, only a few miles closer than you! Lol

[@grahamridley103]

A great video Martin. Your enthusiasm and that of Jake is infectious! If you want another dose of steam and oil get yerself over to Bancroft Mill Engine Museum in Barnoldswick on Sunday 24th. It's their final steaming for this year until March next year. They might even let you start the engine!

[@toucan221]

Great to see these wonderful old steam engine houses keep on going, its all of our heritage, thanks you all

[@bakertam]

Incredible machines. They are so smooth and quiet, considering their size and weight. There's a much smaller almost identical version used in Balloch on loch lomond. They used it to pull the paddle steamers out of the water and up the slipway for maintenance. It's kept in pristine condition, and they fire it up once a month so everyone can watch it's truly a magnificent experience

[@MartinZero]

That be worth seeing 👍👍

[@trevorhardy651]

that's just because it is only ticking over. in the early 70's i visited a working mill still powered by steam , you could feel the power . all the moving parts were just a blur.

[@TeslaTales59]

Another great video, Martin and gang. Sandwich looked yummy. Greetings from California where it was burning for a while. ❤‍🔥

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yep that bacon was good 👌

[@paulfidler3710]

I come from Milnrow, and the various mills of Rochdale are very much a part of my childhood. There’s still some of them left, Moss Mill Kingsway, for example, but it’s a shame that they are falling into ruin. Thank you for highlighting the obviously brilliant work that the volunteers do in keeping this heritage alive.

[@Sprintcup1]

Another great video Martin and the Lads, great to see the enthusiastic team working on this. The Mather & Platt water pump was great to see, as my dad served his time there in the foundry casting those . I'm working in Liverpo at the moment on Mersey Tunnels elevators, it would be great if they would let you into the Woodside Ventilation building, they have 6 x 100 tonne fans over 3 floors 60 meters high driven by the original David Brown gearboxes think DBS ? Again great video, will have to visit this , good to see Fred Dibnah had been there. Regards Russ...🙏

[@MartinZero]

That would be good to see. We did the Mersey Tunnel tour earlier in the year

[@Sprintcup1]

Yes we work in the George's Dock building as well, and the Ferry terminal, I can email a couple of photos to you of Woodside if you have email, I don't use Facebook or Twittr etc.

[@teescottageguyproductions]

I was down last Sunday for my first visit to this particular steam engine, absolutely love it there!

[@MartinZero]

Great isnt it

[@MrTylerStricker]

Just incredible that the steam plant literally provided EVERYTHING for the mill... electricicity, heat, motive power...we could relearn a lot from beautiful examples like this. Would love to visit one day.

[@danq.5140]

Thanks for the great video Martin. I'd be in there all day being very annoying since I'm a boilerman myself.

[@andyjoyce878]

Hi Martin , thank you so much for putting this video together. We’ve just been to visit today,1st dec , brilliant day out ⚒️

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was absolutely fantastic. It seems to run so smooth, totally fascinating. I would visit if I was over there, I love it. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@kevinoakes1171]

Fantastic to see this kind of heritage being preserved. Great video, Martin and co., never knew this existed, hope to get to see it one day.

[@countesscable]

Those machines are mesmerising. Is lovely to see the machines from when Britain actually made things.

[@MartinZero]

Fantastic to watch 👍🏻

[@davidjames9775]

Amazing video. Just top class. Jake and the volunteers total respect for what you do..

[@davidbing4578]

That was excellent Martin. I love steam engines but that giant was wonderful. Looks like a great day out. Thanks

[@MartinZero]

Thank you David

[@ShawnD1027]

What a wonderful thing to have preserved! Many thanks have to go to everyone who works hard to keep it preserved and operating! As an engineer, I am always intrigued at the multiple ingenious ways old machinery like this was oiled. I've noticed at least two new methods that I'd never seen before!

[@zipperx1865]

Excellent video Martin, Roy & James. I'll definitely be paying the mill a visit next year. Cheers lads!

[@turboslag]

Glorious!!! I can also highly recommend Crossness pumping station in London, magnificent beam engines galore!!!

[@MartinZero]

That sounds good 👍🏻

[@TheSadcyclist]

Looks a fantasic place with freindly volunteers all doing their bit to keep steam and the machines working, will visit next year hopefully, also dont forget Bolton Steam museum working static engines and other stuff.

[@MartinZero]

Ive actually been to Bolton but never filmed it

[@stuartpittard3153]

In the mid sixties I was an apprentice electrician, the electrician I was working with had worked in the mills, I was taken to see a working mill steam engine in Morley Leeds. The ropes going to the upper floors was quite scary, there was no safety guarding. The video took me right back, even to the 6 gang light switch. Great video Martin.

[@tharkthax3960]

Tragic the original mill burned down, great they rebuilt it. What a beutiful peice of history, and i always enjoy your detailed, passionate, well organised information that goes with the video and pictures! I so love the old technology. Thankyou for showing us this 😊

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much 😄👍🏻

[@niallh8129]

A great video showcasing a magnificent mill engine, there is also one at Queen St mill in Burnley (mentioned in the video) another stand alone engine at Bancroft mill in Barnoldswick which recently celebrated its 100th birthday and there Is one currently under restoration at Grane Mill in Haslingden, all worth a look at! Keep up the great content 😊

[@MartinZero]

I need to go visit that one in Burnley

[@highpath4776]

@@MartinZero always seemed closed to me (strictly its up the hill in Harle Syke) , had a chat a few years back to someone who lived over the road whose father and uncle (I think) had been engine tenters / cooperative members of the mill prior to closure - inc the other weaving shed on other side of road (I think both strictly, like Bancroft , were weaving sheds). Still worth going to Burnley - site of Burnley Ironworks (how they made so much from such a small site is amazing !) , Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Thompson Park minature railway.along with sites of some of the lancashire coal fields. ( half a wheel on the north side of Thompson Park marking it)

[@niallh8129]

@MartinZero you will like Queen St Mill

[@markavis7232]

Leigh Spinners also have a big cross-compound mill engine in restoration.

[@andyhill242]

Thanks for that, Martin; it was brilliant! As I was watching the engine running, I was just thinking "I can just Imagine our Fred there", and then.....

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Andy, it was fascinating to watch

[@metrotechguru5863]

What a brilliant adventure. Great machine. Great people. An important piece of history preserved for all to see. Thanks, Martin.

[@stuartbridger5177]

Great video, fascinating. We discovered Claymills Pumping Station at Burton Upon Trent this year. Very similar setup and equally worth a visit. I will have to add this one to the list.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers , one to go and see

[@caminojohn3240]

Great job Martin! 85 tons on the fly wheel gives plenty of momentum to keep things turning. My "light bulb" moment on terms of mill architecture / layout came because of this video. Namely, you have these three to six story mills full of spinning and weaving machines requiring a central power source to run the whole place. This is a PURE example of economies of scale. One large 3000 hp steam engine and drum can power a lot of machinery at the same time and is much cheaper to run per unit than two mills half the size. Until the widespread use of electric motors, this was the only way to scale up.

[@davidhodkinson5164]

Absolutely brilliant , visit pending! Cheers Martin Zero team

[@MartinZero]

Thanks David

[@uwattie]

Absolutely fan****tastic, I do enjoy your videos and this is as so many are, truly amazing. I was born just 2 miles from the mill and fully intend to visit when I'm back home again. Keep up the brilliant content Martin and team.

[@jeffjones6107]

It's great to see old heritage kept alive thanks to the volunteers. That was a really great video. Thanks, Martin and the crew. 👍

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Jeff

[@christopherescott6787]

Absolutely wonderous. My Grandfather was a loco engineer. One of the machines he operated from 1913 still pulls trains in a museum. I love this more than I can express. Thanks ever so much for documenting this incredible place. I stillhave the British railway book for you I spoke of if you wish to have it.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Christopher. Where is the museum. The book sounds great thank you

[@christopherescott6787]

@@MartinZero PM me pls with shipping info and I'll post it straight away to you.

[@AndrewMartinIsHere]

Great video Martin, thanks a lot for sharing this, and getting access to what looked like some BTS bits too.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, they gave us a good mooch around

[@ralphwest8156]

Amazing video Martin, great bunch of people care taking this wonderful heritage '

[@admiralcraddock464]

When I started my apprenticeship on the Railways in1970 my year were taken to a safety exibition in London`s Docklands. where were given various talks about safety around machines and fire hazards etc. At the end we were shown their "black museum"; pillar drills with remants of a girls hair wrapped around it, an electrical bus bar that had an arc burnt in to it where a man fallen on to it. with the arc vapourising his head The most vivid one, however, was a grainy black and white photo of a mill machinery drive shaft where a man had climbed up to to oil a bearing. The shaft was still running and somehow his clothes were caught in the revolving shaft. The photo showed the remain of his spine and ribcage twisted around the shaft. As a sixteen year old those memories have given me the utmost respect for machinery and electricity. On a lighter note, we have untold quantities of coal underground but the eco zelots have stopped us using it, so we have to go to Columbia for it....you couldn`t make it up.

[@memorialgardens1664]

Very interesting 🧠💪 Thanks for sharing your memories 🤝🙋‍♂️Nathan.🙏

[@MartinZero]

Scary stuff !!!

[@technofishy8533]

Always good to have a Martin zero video

[@MartinZero]

Thank you 👍🏻

[@johnn8244]

This is another fantastic video Martin. I will have to try to get to see this when im down in that area.

[@MartinZero]

Its well worth it

[@malcolmherbert5127]

Seeing how impressed you were with that engine, you really must take a trip to see Bolton Steam Museum. It’s easy to get to, there’s plenty of free parking (it’s next to a Morrisons supermarket) and there are many different types of steam engines demonstrating the evolution from the beginnings of steam power right up to the last types built in the early 20th century. The drive ropes turned what was known as line shafting and each spinning frame had its own drive belt taken from the overhead line shaft. This was turning constantly, so if it was needed to stop the frame for any reason the operator worked a lever which moved the drive belt off the driving pulley onto one which was loose on the shaft. The drive pulley was fast on the shaft, hence the saying “playing fast and loose”.

[@MartinZero]

Ive actually been, but it was just a visit. Great place

[@bramcoteelectrical1088]

Lovely to see the volunteers and there pure enthusiasm its fabulous 👌 👏. Great to have these fab machines 😀 preserved Great work and thanks for video

[@stevengordon3407]

Another cracking video Martin. It's amazing to see that awe inspiring machinery being kept going

[@MartinZero]

Yeah, they have done a great job

[@theopenreview702]

Absolutely fabulous video. Lovely bunch of lively guys with obvious enthusiasm. One of the best videos -if not the best - I have seen.. congratulations on the brilliance…😊

[@TonyGoacher]

My grandfather was chief engineer for one on Dukinfield in the day. Got hit by the face by the crankshaft while it was running. I was very impressed by the scar when I was a kid!

[@MartinZero]

Bloody heck !!!

[@anthonyhoult152]

Brilliant video and so glad I have found your channel. I'm proud to be Yorkshire and definitely think I was born in the wrong generations. The days these amazing mill engines engines were working was the days people had amazing knowledge/skills and knew how to graft. It's sad to think how many Mills are now closed and demolished - wouldn't it be great to see our Mills working again to produce good quality products for Britain and not importing foreign rubbish. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@johnnytarponds9292]

Good video, Martin! Thank you very much indeed.

[@garybrindle6715]

Astonishing thanks, my mum and grandma used to work in a Lancs mill as cleaners under some of the machinery while it roared overhead crawling ! This must be a cathedral for steampunkers.

[@Hairnicks]

Definately up for a visit there, brilliant video, great exposure for an excellent project.

[@MartinZero]

Yes, its actually a great day out

[@Senior_Mustard]

Excellent video. they have a vintage car show there a few times each year, amongst other events on steaming days, I usually take my old car along for the show and always visit the engine house while I'm there, I never get tired of watching that magnificent engine running. Don't forget there are two more working engines in the cafeteria and shop as well as a number of working model engines in a side room next to the BIG engine.

[@MartinZero]

Oh yes we saw those. I need to go back really. Be good to go on a Vintage car show month

[@julielowe7462]

What a Marvellous place to visit, so nice to see a young man so interested and knowledgeable on this technology, we must visit, one of my favourite subjects industrial archeology and I Love Steam 😊Julie

[@ffrancrogowski6263]

This is a most unusual museum, with the mill long gone. It's very impressive indeed, and run by a great bunch of guys. Long may it keep going, and many thanks to yourself Martin, with Roy and James for this great presentation.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Ffranc

[@haroldsmith45302]

Great video of an engineering masterpiece. Thank you, Martin Zero.

[@Wulfbear99]

Great look around the working mill engine, I worked in engineering from the 70s till 5yrs ago and recognise the machinery in the boilersmiths workshop as similar to what we learned on.🙂

[@Munguy-i8j]

Thank you Martin and team. That engine could push a very large ship.

[@charlesemerson6763]

I love seeing old technology like that. I worked as boiler fireman most of my adult life and to see old tech is great. The last boilers I worked on were rated at 245bar/600C steam or 3554psi/1112F. We circulated 90tonnes of water in a closed loop to drive a 3 stage alternator to produce 450MW of electricity. We consumed 250tonnes of coal an hour, 24hrs a day, seven days a week.