Washpit Mill - steam engine

Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 31 Mar 1989

Agnes is one of my favourite engines but is no longer at this location, indeed the engine house's site has been cleared. Agnes is a horizontal tandem compound condensing mill engine built in 1909 by Pollit & Wigzell of Sowerby Bridge. The Corliss valve cylinders are 18" & 36" bores by 4' stroke. Operating speed was 80 rpm on steam at 160 psi and it developed 600 indicated horsepower. The 16' flywheel drove via ropes to a large alternator next door and to some limited machinery in part of the mill. The engine was in regular use until early 1980 and was then run just for show, usually on Friday afternoons. This view is from alongside the high pressure cylinder looking towards the crank. The latter is in the starting position and a few moments later the engine was running. This is Pollit & Wigzell's patent three piston rod design with the two low pressure rods passing either side of the high pressure cylinder. The shiny rod coming from the right hand edge is one of the low pressure rods. This made for a slightly shorter and more compact engine. The plastic pipe above the engine is not original and was a replacement condensing water supply. The little shelf on the end wall once held a gas meter.

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