Ryhope Pumping Engine

[RobWilson]

Afternoon Lads ,

Wile cycling through the East Durham countryside yesterday I realized me and the lad I was cycling with were heading for Ryhope ,being a bank holiday weekend the pumping engine is usually steamed up ,so we headed over for a look see , I have seen the engine running many a time , but it was the first for the lad I was with . Anyway I was glad for the stop/rest as my arse was killing me and I  needed a cup of tea .

http://www.ryhopeengines.org.uk/
   













A few wee spanners ,reminds me of work lol

















Boiler room,just a tad warm .
 





http://www.ryhopeengines.org.uk/


And a wee bit video to finish .

[ Invalid YouTube link ] 


All in all a canny day out 


Cheers Rob

[John Rudd]

Great pictures Rob, shame I didnt know the place was open, I could have visited..
Still theres always next time I'm here in Gateshead...in fact there are a number of places Id like to see....Shildon for one, the Stephenson Museum for another...

[RobWilson]

Hi John

Yeah its worth a look mate , Shildon  ,,,,mumble mumble they took the sole out of that place when it became part of the York railway museum  ,It was great when it was the Hackworth museum .

And the Stephenson , even though its a few miles away only been twice ,its OK ,    Tanfield is much better 


Rob

[philf]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for posting the photos. Another place on my "must see" list.

Glad to see you went on your bike!

 

Phil.

[vtsteam]

It's a beauty. I even like the wrench holders! 

[krv3000]

as per rob good post

[S. Heslop]

That's a real elegant engine, I'll have to visit.

One thing i've always wondered is the pillars and fancy arches in these places; were they made that way to look pretty/ out of pride or was it just because they were available, being mass produced for all kinds of uses?

[vtsteam]

Much capital, low labor, no digital automation, decoration conferred status, status begot investment. Result: engineering art. Case also can be made for increased stiffness by curves, flutes and reliefs in castings, so some reduction in materials costs, though decorations not always sensible that way. Cost cutting not considered an admirable advetising trait. Wonderful stuff!

[appletree]

Very nice, not a place I have visited, I am very fortunate to have Papplewick pumping station just 20 miles down the road, even so I don’t visit often enough.
The first time we went some 25 years ago it was shut, we didn’t know it was there just followed the road sign.
We were stood at the gate with my 2 year old son in his push chair, when an enthusiast working on the engine, he invited us in showed us all round including all the interesting  bits where the public cannot normally go.   

[mcostello]

Very cool place, Would they call those wrenches "knuckle busters?"

[doubleboost]

I was there with Rob 2 years ago

[SwarfnStuff]

Isn't it great that there are enthusiastic people about who preserve these wonderful old machines for all to see. Well, if we visit. Thanks to those who do visit and post videos, we on the other side of this little blue ball get to see them too. Built back when there was pride in the job and built to last. Built in obsolescence was yet to be invented by the money men.
Thanks for posting.
   John B   

[Pete W.]

Hi there, Rob,

Super photos, thank you for posting them.

They're all fascinating but I was particularly interested in 'Section Through Wells Shewing Engine'.  Down in the bottom left-hand corner there are some depth markings.  If I'm reading it correctly, there's 30 feet of sand and then the coal measures.  That asks all sorts of questions in my mind about pumping in the mines.

The drawing also appears to show (shew??) the wells being brick lined - my question there is how do you lay bricks starting from the top (as the well is dug) or do you dig the whole well and then install the brick lining from the bottom upwards?????          

[RotarySMP]

Not a safety or warning placard in site. Hell, if somebody put it in their mouth, they could choke on that!!


Mark