Preserved steam engine, Rugby
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Preserved steam engine, Rugby 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.
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Preserved steam engine, Rugby
Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 2 Feb 1994
On a mezzanine in the turbine erecting shop at the Willans Works of Alsthom (formerly GEC). This was a little museum area with nothing of commercial sensitivity. The turbines below could not be photographed. The Willans engine was a compact high speed design that could be direct coupled to a generator and revolutionised electrical generation. For a time it was the dominant design and it is claimed that in 1892 68% of all electricity generation was by Willans engines. However, they were progressively ousted by double acting, pressure lubricated high speed engines and then by turbines. The Willans Works moved to turbine production and thus stayed afloat and turbines are still made here today; in a works dating in part from 1897. This is the star of the show - a three crank engine with compound cylinders on each crank and developing 140 horsepower at 360 rpm and direct coupled to a dynamo with an open commutator. The engine is now preserved at Internal Fire Museum of Power in mid-Wales. See - Image
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Image Location
Latitude
52.379144
Longitude
-1.268656