The Fabulous 1812 Crofton Steam Engine
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- English / Deutsch
Crofton Pumping Station near Hungerford, Berkshire, was built in 1807 to raise water approximately 40 feet (12 m) to the summit level of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Pumping work was done by two steam engines, the 1812 Boulton & Watt and the 1846 Harvey & Co. of Hayle until 1959. Starting from the early seventies of the last century, the whole station, including both engines, boilers, pumps and the chimney was restored into working order.
'It's the oldest steam engine, that can still do the job it was originally designed for ...' I cannot add anything to this brilliant comment of Guy about the 1812 Boulton & Watt engine. Still today the Kennet & Avon Trust doesn't need electric pumping, when the engines are in steam. And that's it, why I call the 1812 engine fabulous
Both engines work with the Cornish cycle, that means, they are single acting only with the downward stroke, the return stroke is caused by the excess weight of the plunger. Work is done by expanding steam (the inlet valve opens only for a very short time, as you can see) at the top side of the piston and sucking condensor vacuum on the bottom side. At the beginning of the working stroke therefore both valves -- inlet and exhaust -- are open at the same time. Because of the low steam pressure vacuum's force (in fact nearly atmosheric pressure) is even larger than steam's force.
The most fascinating thing for me about steam engines is, that you can see and understand their working quite easily, there are no dark electronic secrets and black boxes.
If you are interested in the station's details, please have a look at the excellent homepage of Crofton Beam Engines www.croftonbeam... . And if you want to visit Crofton, you will find competent persons for answering even very detailed questions. (Thanks!!)
Just another complementary information, if you have seen the Tottenham House pump in the video: the landowner has demanded in 1807 to get a pump for his watersupply at -- Tottenham House!
My animation of the Cornish cycle was designed with the program Cinderella 2, the music is a version of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Valse by Kayser Medienverlag, ( www.fimmusik.net ) Germany.
Die legendäre Crofton Dampfmaschine, Baujahr 1812
Der Kennet-Avon Kanals verbindet für kleine Boote das Meer bei Bristol mit der Themse. Die Pumpstation Crofton in der Nähe von Hungerford (ca. 120km westlich von London) wurde 1807 gebaut, um Wasser über eine Höhe von 12m auf die Scheitelstrecke des Kanals hinaufzupumpen, da in dieser Höhe keinerlei Quellen vorhanden sind und das durch die Schleusen verlorene Wasser ersetzt werden muss. Die Pumparbeit erfolgte mit Hilfe von zwei großen Balancierdampfmaschinen, der 1812er Boulton & Watt und der ähnlich gebaute 1846er Harvey & Co. of Hayle bis zum Jahre 1959, ab dann kamen elektrische Pumpen zum Einsatz. Die Dampfmaschinen wurden allerdings durch die Voraussicht des leitenden Ingenieurs vor dem Verrotten und dem Abbruch gerettet. Ab den frühen 1970er Jahren wurde die komplette Station (Maschinen, Pumpen, Kessel, Gebäude) schrittweise wieder restauriert und der mehr als zur Hälfte abgetragene Schlot wieder neu errichtet. Heute ist Crofton in arbeitsfähigen Zustand.
I used to live in Abingdon (just South of Oxford) in the early 1970s and have fond memories of visiting Crofton Beam Engines on "In Steam" weekends and remember being amazed as to how quiet it was, the noise-level being just a "whoosh" as a ton or so of water was lifted on each stroke. Amazing video, thank you so much for making it, and sharing it with the world! (I now live in N.E. U.S.A)
if my life was spent looking after this beautiful thing i would consider it a life well spent. thank you for this video.
i can really watch these babies work all day . i think we were much better off with mechanical stuff then computers ! thanks for the great video i really enjoyed that
Im a massive computer geek, but no computer will ever be quite as awe-inspiring, (or long lived!) as these great old engines.
@@arandomsteve2251 My 10 year old computer is considered an antique from a dark past!
I was there a couple of days ago, and it is really nice to see in motion! What strikes me is the lack of noise! it runs really smooth!
Most impressive video, that's a real work of art to get those titles on the machinery especially the valve gear. I've visited scores of times without getting the hang of what's going on with the valve gear, but now I know!
There was a recent break down with the electric pumps, and the canal people had to get the steam pumps going to maintain the level.
The story is still up, if you google 'gazette herald crofton steaming to the rescue' you should find it.
I feel like the people who work there are like monks who are tirelessly preserving all the information about these machines so that the knowledge is not lost to history. Seems like a real labor of love keeping that giant happy.
👍👌👏 Simply fantastic! Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing this fantastic old example of ingenuity.
Best regards luck and health to all involved people.
i love these old machines . so glad t they were perserved
This engine was pressed back into work in 2009 when the electric pumps which replaced it broke down on the Kennet & Avon Canal. It worked flawlessly for the entire time the electric pumps were down, burning a ton and a half of coal a day.
Absolutely excellent video; thank you so much! The words on screen really aided my understanding of this fine old machine. Thanks for the work you put into this.
Thank you very much for your friendly comment! A pleasure to read!
Jay Leno had this joke. *"Before TV, people just sat around and watched their steam engine run."*
Thank you very much, it's a fine compliment! I've tried myself to understand the working of this engine and to show that in my video. Well and it's really pretty to hear, that a nearly 200 years old steam engine could do the emergency job for broken down electric pumps two years ago (Gazette & Herald). There is nothing like steam energy! Greetings from Austria!
Masterpiece of engineering.
Despite it initially been build as Watt's engine in 1812, it is not Watt's engine now.
This engine cycle and primary design was invented by Jonathan Hornblower in principle few decades earlier, but revieved and commercialized by Arhur Woolf around 1800 (after Watt patents expired, for governor, parallel motion linkage, and few other things). The currently operating engine in Cofton Pumping Statuion was actually rebuild and modified into Cornish engine around 1840. They are more efficient.
Thank you very much for watching and your interesting story comparing rather modern electric and 200 years old steam pumps. I've read about, but I didn't know the details. It's absolutely amazing, this nearly indestructible classic steam technology! Greetings from Austria!
I contacted the Crofton Trust and asked them if they had considered putting your UA-cam hyperlink on their website and they had a distinctly "not invented here" mentality. I think you have the best Crofton video around. Sacramento, California
Thank you very much! (The trust's gentlemen obviously are very conservative.) Greetings from Austria to CA!
Thank Y O U for watching, 'thumbs up' and your kind comment! Happy New Year and greetings, Harald
Possibly the best video anywhere of these wonderful engines! Thanks for posting!
Your video is excellent and very educational. This steam engine is a very fine example of early 19th century mechanics and technology. Thanks very much for a great video.
Really amazing. Astosnished by the machine and by your video. I hope one day I can see this live, in person. Regards from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
40 seconds in I was going to complain about the "music" over the real music of the motion. However, the video was so good that I continued and I'm glad I did - excellent work. Thanks. (But no music next time please!)
Great to see a decent video of this engine, i've been there several years ago while it was in steam.
Interesting story, the canal was having some work done, so the electric pumps were turned off so the stretch could be drained, they had to finish before a bank holiday, when it came to starting the electric pumps to fill the canal, they had several problems, so they called in the team to start up the engines to fill the canal again, so much for modern technology being beaten by steam :D
Awesome! You get 5 points for the steam works - and another 10 for the outstanding musical selection - I LOVE organ music!
You're welcome. You obviously are interested in old engines.
ad 1) the frame and beam were casted, the rods are probably made of wrought iron.
ad 2) low pressure engines used hemp sealings, high pressure engines demanded metal sealing rings.
ad 3) and 4) have a look at the page of 'Alex den Ouden' concerning lubrication of early steam engines.
When the Pumping Station is in steam, it actually carries out the job for which it was built, the electrically powered pumps that now normally do the job being switched off. Some years ago, when the electric pumps had a real failure, the steam engines did the pumping job for a couple of days without any problem. Thanks for viewing and fine comment!
Thank you for your friendly feedback and the 2 'thumbs up' (this one and the other one for my Crossness sewage station video)! Well appreciated!
@SteamCrane
Thank you very much, it's a real pleasure, to get such a comment!
And it does the same. work since 200 years. Thank you too Doug for watching and friendly comment! Harry
Thanks for watching and the friendly comment! Greetings from Austria
Amazing technology for the early 1800s. Thank you for sharing.....Doug...=)
@WilHenDavis Thank you very much for watching and the friendly feedback. Greetings from Austria!
I would much rather hear the sound of the engine and the people talking, than the loud pointless music.
One thing is always certain, and that's no one wants music in videos. Yet everyone still keeps putting music in their videos.
@dlrion That's very good to hear such a comment: Thank you and greetings from Austria/Europe
This is a superb video, thanks so much for posting this!
verry good vidio,,nice to see such an old steam engine still working,thanks for poasting
This is a fantastic video. History Press is publishing my Steamboat Stories about Hudson River steamboats in October. They are all gone and this is the one place I can see what one of those engines really looked like, no photograhy in early days, later, no body cared. Animation is great, will you give me permission to include photos I've taken on my TV from your youtube, I'lll give you lots of credit and tell everyone to go to your site and see for themselves. You love your steam
@Initefly I am flattered at your comment, thank you very much! Cheers from Austria, H.
@MrNik1001 No, this kind of engine was exclusively built for pumping use and did not need a flywheel - the downwards-stroke was done by steam pressure and condenser's vacuum, the upwards-stroke by the weight of the pump plunger, similar to the eldest atmospheric Newcomen steam engines of the 18th century. In spite (or rather because) of this simple construction these engines did, as you can see, a very good longtime job. Thanks for watching and greetings from Austria.
Ja der Mechanismus ist wirklich killer
Hello Thomas, just got your printed book by Amazon . It's very well made and illustrated, congratulations! For me personally it's a rather unknown interesting chapter of US history. I like it!
Greetings from Austria, Harry
Yes it does. The development of steam engines shows more and more sophisticated ways to save steam by variable setting of the steam cutoff, e.g. Corliss valve gears. The first Boulton & Watt engines couldn't use expanded steam because of the rather low steam pressure. (With the technology in the late years of the 18th century it was not possible to handle a higher steam pressure - boiler explosions etc.). Thanks for watching and comment!
@DaBoogie049 .. war im Prinzip Thomas Newcomen, der als Erster gebrauchsfähige Dampfpumpen für Bergwerke baute. Die Dampfmaschine wurde dann von Superman James Watt perfektioniert. Deren Steuerung (Crofton-Machine!) war danach 'zig Jahre state of the art. Einfach genial, dieses Automatisieren der manuellen Steuerung, die aber auch das händische Steuern der Maschine erlaubt (z.B. beim Anfahren!). Grüße aus Österreich!
Really beautifully done video
@formiga1950 Thank you for your kind feedback. And sorry, the allowance for making comments only with approval was not made on purpose - I have just changed it. Greetings to Rio from Austria!
harryolynx: Greetings from Brazil and keep up you beautiful work.
@Donkelo Thanks for your friendly comment and greetings to Sweden!
@ArchitectOfRapture No, it is electric light in the basement, but you are right, the water tubing there looks similar to gas pipes. I don't think, that ever lighting has been done in Crofton station by gas lamps. Gas lighting in the 19th century usually needed gas works, which were situated only in bigger towns.
Outstanding video! Thanks!
@206Wheels Thanks!
I want one!!!
@MrJOHNdx
Thanks a lot for your comment!
A-frickin'-mazing!
@ian29d
Thank you, I am pleased! Some months ago I had no idea, how these engines really work, but when I saw the other youtube videos, I tried to understand the 'how it works' . I'm sure, if you are really interested in these subjects, you will soon know them better, than I do. Cheers, HarryO
Thanks for your very friendly comment. I hereby give you the permission to use photos of my Crofton-video in your documentation (with the usual information about the youtube-source). But would you be so kind and send me a link after publication. I'm sure, I'll like the story. Good luck and greetings from Europe
Neat
كم يعز علي ان انقل هذا العلم الي بلادي الاسلامية، ولكن حكامنا الخونة هم من يمنعوننا من التنفيذ #قوميتي_مسلم
That's what some other people say too! Would you please excuse my late answer, your posting is not listed in my letterbox. Thanks for watching and greetings from Austria!
Was that a gas lamp in the basement next to the pipe above the cold water injector rod?
Great video! I have a few questions: the engine predates steel production-I assume most of it is cast iron? (2) the seals and packing-did they use leather as the material? (3) lubrication-the attendants keep this engine clean-what was originally used (tallow)?(4) the bearings on the crank beam/rods-babbit?
Thanks again!
Thinking of making one yourself? 😄
Considering that making steel on an industrial scale wouldn't be perfected until the 1850s, I'd imagine that it would probably be made of cast iron. But would leather hold up under pressure?
Oil as we know it today wouldn't be practical until the first wells were dug in the 1850s. Before that, animal fat was probably used.
Hi Harry, I asked permission to use stills from the video for my book Hudson River Steamboat Catastrophes Contests and Collisions. It's now available as a book and as"" e book on Amazon.com hope you'll enjoy it. My editor said that it was very unusual to use stills from youtubes as illustrations. hope it brings you a lot more hits. J. Thomas Allison Albany NY
2:12 Der Typ, der sich das ausgedacht hat...
Is there not a flywheel on this? It doesn't move like it does...?
so the engine saves steam by using expanding steam?
Great video except... sssslllloooowwww the diagram and actual engine motion waaaaay, waaaaay down. Some of us are a bit on the slow side.