The world's only full-size working replica Newcomen atmospheric steam engine is at the Black Country Living Museum in the English Midlands.
We made a very detailed HD recording of the beam engine, starting with setting and lighting the fire in a cold boiler, and thoroughly checking all the equipment. Then when steam was raised, the engine was operated manually as must have been done with the earliest prototypes.
Technical details of mechanisms, the hot and cold water circuits and the techniques and tricks needed to work with it safely and efficiently were seen, including how to shut down the engine quickly in the event of low water in the boiler!
This Snippet is a short edited excerpt from the introduction section of our 46 minute DVD "On Mighty Arms": iarecordings.org/productions/p21.html
With thanks to Mike Dunn and the BCLM.
