Hafod Works - reversing rolling mill
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Hafod Works - reversing rolling mill 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
Hafod Works - reversing rolling mill
Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 28 Jul 2012
On the right (just out of the view) is a very large rope driven second motion wheel that was turned by a 600 horsepower uniflow engine. The copper plate rolling stands are out of view to the left. In the middle is part of a gear reversing chain that is selected by a pair of multiplate friction clutches by the steam clutch engine in the centre background. I have never seen anything like this and having heard that this engine was reversing I needed to have a closer look for myself to see how it was done. The driver of the mill operated the reversing mechanism from an elevated platform out of sight to the left. This engine was in perfect working order on closure in 1980 and its promised preservation was in part the reason that a smaller uniflow of 1911 vintage was ultimately scrapped. However, its building has now been restored and work is commencing on the enormous task of restoring the wrecked engine therein.
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
51.637123
Longitude
-3.934976