Nortonthorpe Mills, Scissett - steam engine

Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 29 May 1990

This is Violet - a horizontal tandem compound engine by Pollit and Wigzell of Sowerby Bridge. Originally built in 1886 and rebuilt with a new Corliss valve high pressure cylinder and smaller low pressure cylinder in 1931. The cylinders are now 13.25" and 25.25" bores by 5' stroke. As rebuilt it took steam at 120 pounds per square inch and generated 250 horsepower at 55 rpm. After 1970 the engine was on standby to drive a generator but the company went into receivership in 1984 and by 1990 the engine was well disused. It was restored later and returned to steam for a period but I have not seen it since about 2006 when it was in good order but not in steam. This view shows the patented 'three-rod' design with two piston rods from the low pressure passing either side of the high pressure cylinder and connecting to the crosshead slide blocks. The end of the Corliss valve high pressure cylinder is seen on the left with its metallic packing for the piston rod. The governor is a Whitehead 'high-speed' type. The 14' diameter flywheel is on the right. Hidden in a wooden 'cupboard' behind the flywheel are two large spur gears that took the drive to the mill.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0