Ellenroad Ring Mill Engine
Encyclopedia
The Ellenroad Ring Mill Engine is a preserved stationary steam engine
in Milnrow
, Greater Manchester
. It powered the Ellenroad Ring Mill
from 1917, and after the mill's closure the engine is still worked under steam as a museum display.
At 3000 hp, the twin tandem compound engine is possibly the most powerful in preservation. The two engines are named Victoria and Alexandra, multiple ropes around the flywheel drove the line shaft
s on each floor of the mill which in turn drove the ring spinning
frames.
Stationary steam engine
Stationary steam engines are fixed steam engines used for pumping or driving mills and factories, and for power generation. They are distinct from locomotive engines used on railways, traction engines for heavy steam haulage on roads, steam cars , agricultural engines used for ploughing or...
in Milnrow
Milnrow
Milnrow is a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, and forms a continuous urban area with Rochdale...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. It powered the Ellenroad Ring Mill
Ellenroad Mill
Ellenroad Mill was a cotton spinning mill in Newhey, Milnrow, Rochdale in England. It was built as a mule spinning mill in 1890 by Stott and Sons and extended in 1899. It was destroyed by fire on 19 Jan 1916...
from 1917, and after the mill's closure the engine is still worked under steam as a museum display.
At 3000 hp, the twin tandem compound engine is possibly the most powerful in preservation. The two engines are named Victoria and Alexandra, multiple ropes around the flywheel drove the line shaft
Line shaft
A line shaft is a power transmission system used extensively during the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the widespread use of electric motors small enough to be connected directly to each piece of machinery, line shafting was used to distribute power from a large central power source to machinery...
s on each floor of the mill which in turn drove the ring spinning
Ring spinning
Ring spinning is a method of spinning fibres, such as cotton, flax or wool, to make a yarn. The ring frame developed from the throstle frame, which in its turn was a descendant of Arkwright's water frame. Ring spinning is a continuous process, unlike mule spinning which uses an intermittent action...
frames.