Gas Booster Engine

Vital Statistics

Type - Single Cylinder Horizontal Engine

Manufacture - Waller of Stroud, Glos.

Cylinder - " Bore & " Stroke with an eccentric operated slide valve

Governor - Watts centrifugal, operating the main steam valve

Flywheel - ft Diameter

Transmission - Coupling on crank shaft

Details

This was one of a pair of engines used in Kendall Gas Works to pressurise the gas main.

The big advantage of steam engines in this environment was that boiler could be at a safe distance while the engine itself created no sparks and so there was no risk of fire or explosion. Electric motors have now been developed that do not create sparks and can be used for this job.

Both engines drove the same gas booster, with a coupling being provided on the end of each crank shaft. The two engines were handed, but unfortunately only one was saved.

This engine is currently demonstrated to visitors using Compressed Air

This Engine is Owned by Mr. Ken Hawley

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