May be worth watching?

Saw a trailer for this yesterday, bit of stationary steam, traction engines, locos , etc. I will have a look at the first one to see what its like.

thanks JasonB

lets hope it has more focus on the content rather than the presenters.

I'm watching it

Anyone else notice that the governor was not connected on the beam engine they were running?

Russell.

I also wonder if that was the first time that boiler had been fired foir 60yrs, I think they would have had the boiler inspector round beforehand.

Also the first time I've heard the term "Barn Engine" used before? were they different those used in mills and factories!!

J

"Barn engines" are smaller stationary engines, though sometimes mounted on wheels. I think the term originated in the US.

Programme was the usual "Ooh look at me with a spanner", 2 fat hairy Geordies pissing about basically.

But the one with glasses could be useful, you could use his hair to grease axles.

Hopefully it will get some publicity for the restoration projects and lead to some (usually much-needed) income for them.

2 fat hairy Geordies pissing about with a spanner , sounds like me serving my time ( except I'm not fat).

I found the programme as expected, but it was interesting.

I now know that mine winding engines have a connector rod rather than a connecting rod - so I learnt something.

The rivets on the 'barn engine' boiler looked nice and shiny so it must have been ok, unless it was a dummy end of course.

Well I have come to the conclusion that "Barn Engines" are specific to Hollycombe. If you put "barn Engine" into google the only steam ones that come up are at Hollycombe, there are the odd old hit and miss engines but I expect Google is throwing them up due to a combination of "barn find" and "engine"

Also the engine featured worked in a tannery as part of its past life, was it a barn engine then?

J

Edited By JasonB on 12/08/2013 12:38:37

ME had a design for a 'dairy engine' about 20 years ago as asmall steam engine on wheels. I would associate 'barn engine' with IC engines as there was probably a reluctance to run a steam plant in a barn.

Sounds like they are using that term because Hollycombe have it running farm equipment and they need something to differentiate it from their other steam engines. Around that time you could purchase similar small beam engines from many suppliers for a relatively modest cost in comparison with other types of steam engine and hook it up to what ever you fancied. From about the 1840's most farms would have purchased portable engines for agricultural use.

As entertainers I wish the two of them would come across a little more natural and not make it sound like they were reading off a script.

One day I should go and visit Hollycombe as it is on my door step .

Jo

For information the egg ended boiler running the "Tulk & Ley" Beam engine is a modern replica.

The Beam engine was discovered in the Tannery in Whitehaven in 1958 where it had been used to drive line shafting. Newcastle University rebuilt it in 1968. It seems to have had a rod added since its days at Hunday when both the condensor rods and the condensor were missing... It is a cute little thing: 9ft beam, 11" bore 25 1/4" long.

Jo

Don't know if already posted but. BBC4 tonight at 8.pm episode 1 0f 3, Metal, how it works. Presented by a scientist chappie so no ooohs and aaahs.

Just watched "Metal" ... glad we recorded it; I think it's a "keeper".

MichaelG.

Good to see it again. The use of a pigtail to choose a single crystal on a turbine has always struck me as being an amazing bit of lateral thinking.

Rod

Thanks JasonB and MichaelG for the heads up.

Will be watching them tonight on BBC iPlayer.

I don't watch live TV, so can't record.

Geoff - Girding ones loins to do battle with the stick welder.

Watched 'Metal' last night.

Now I knew RR made their turbine blades from a single crystal, but not how that crystal was grown.

Seeing metal 'moving' when viewed with that super microscope had me sitting up! Flipping heck.

Facinating, and the presenter was actually interested in presenting

Well done BBC.

Geoff - As expected, my stick welding is abysmal.