News From Previous Years
Year-by-year reports of the restoration work carried out by the volunteers. The more recent 2021-22 newsletter is also available.
2002
- 3 marine engines from National Maritime Museum
- ‘Agnes’: overheating bearing.
- Sisson Marine: restoration and first steaming
- ‘Reliant’: restoration started: time capsule discovered; arrival of crankshaft and paddle hub.
- Holmes Triple; pistons and valves missing.
2003
- ‘Reliant’: restoration started; working on paddlewheel.
- Yarwood Marine: restoration started;
- JS White Marine: rebuilding started.
- 3 engines arrived from Bradford Industrial Museum.
2004
- ‘Reliant’: crankshaft machined and welded together;
- started on paddle feathering gear;
- crankshaft fitted.
- Yarwood marine: progress report.
- JS White marine: rebuilt and steamed.
- Flemming & Ferguson: large flywheel fitted.
- Qualter Hall engine: restoration started - steamed
2005
- Yarwood Marine: trial steaming.
- ‘Reliant’: progress report on paddle wheel.
- Holmes Triple: removed from the museum..
- Engine from Bradford: restoration started.
- 2 Weir boiler feed pumps arrived.
- 2 marine engines on loan from Salters of Oxford.
2006
- ‘Reliant’: progress report on feathering gear’
- Extension to the museum started..
2007
- Extension to the museum completed.
- Thornewill & Warham: repairs to valve rods etc.
- Mill Engine ‘Rhoda’ arrived.
- ‘Reliant’: restoration started on the steering engine.
- Small engine by Farmer Bros. Restoration started.
2008
- ‘Reliant’: steering engine completed and steamed.
- rudder mechanism under construction.
- Farmer Bros. Engine: progress report: trial run on compressed air.
- Robey two cylinder: adjustment to cross head.
2009
- Cameron Pump: restoration started.
- Farmer Bros.: is it a steam engine or a vacuum pump?
2010
- Beam Engine: dismantled in College grounds.
- arrived on low loader; restoration started
- Plenty Marine Engine: completely rebuilt.
2011
- Ship’s capstan and steering engines: update.
- Beam Engine: update - excavating for foundations; concreting base and walls etc.
- various rods/shafts cleaned and polished;
- badly corroded bearing journal.
2012
- Worthington Pump: restoration started.
- Beam Engine: update on foundations/walls etc.
- work on cracked bedplate;
- working on the entablature.
- Ship’s capstan and steering engines arrived; restoration started.
2013
- Steering and Capstan engines: update report.
- Beam Engine: grinding rig designed and in use to refurbish the crankshaft journal.
2014
- Beam Engine: finished grinding crankshaft journal;
- machining bottom half of brass bearing.
- Steering and Capstan engines: completed restoration;
- trial steaming etc.
- Cameron pump: machining bent crankshaft.
- Evans pump: restoration started.
2015
- Beam Engine: Alignment of main bearings;
- Crank shaft installed;
- Barring engine designed and installed.
- Evans pump: restoration continued;
- New piston rods made;
- Renewed inner main bearing.
2016
- Beam Engine: HP & LP cylinders fitted to bedplate;
- HP & LP eccentric rods and slide valves
- fitted;
- Entablature restored to original length,
- walkway & safety hand rails installed;
- Entablature hoisted and secured to top
- of columns.
- Hayward & Tyler Steam Pump:
- Restoration completed.
2017
- Beam Engine: Parallel Motion assembled and fitted. Painted, and lining detail added. Lifted into place onto the columns. Aligned with cylinders etc.
- Piston rods and pump rods attached.