BSC Moss Bay works, steam rolling mill engine.
Introduction
The photograph on this page of BSC Moss Bay works, steam rolling mill engine. by Chris Allen as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk
![](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/73/96/1739616_50a3cf28.jpg)
Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 13 Nov 1981
This was the last reversing rolling mill engine in a British steel works and it was due to be retired within a week or so. So this was a real last ditch effort to see it at work, including overnight bus and rail travel. This duplex engine was built by Davy Bros, Sheffield c1890 and rebuilt by Walker Bros, Wigan in 1944. It produced 1200 horepower from piston valve cylinders 32" bore by 48" stroke. The reversing gear was Allan straight link and there was a steam reverser on the frame just to the left of the blurred crank. George Watkins published a picture of this but you are unlikely to see many others.