the PDMHS consiervation team have started collating the findings of the dig at Silence mine, and in the course of this we've come up with another head-scratcher about the engine.

We know the engine was a horizontal one, it was definitely driving pumps and we're pretty sure the actual arrangement wasn't quite how it was depicted on a contemporary plan. As far as we know the engine was also being used for winding and possibly powering jigs.

The query we have is this: would a horizontal engine of this period which was used for multiple purposes have a single main driving axle, or would it have one for driving the pumping gear and one for running the winder?

If anyone can suggest some good pictures or diagrams of a contemporary system for both winding and pumping it'd be much appreciated - it'd be useful to have something to base on when suggesting how the engine was linked to the mine equipment...

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well yet again Cwm Ciprwth is a great example... Ok if the crank axle is horizontally driven there is no reason that winding / pumping could not have been achieved... the only difference being the power is provided by a steam engine as against the waterwheel working straight off the crank axle!!
🔗Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-027[linkphoto]Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-027[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-026[linkphoto]Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-026[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-016[linkphoto]Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-016[/linkphoto][/link]

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I'm sure I've seen a drawing on here somewhere of a multi function engine, sadly cannot remember where.

I suppose it's safe to assume that pumping would be continuous with intermittent power to the winder through a clutch of some sort?

Is it possible to disclose any drawings of the site layout?

Oh .... I have shed loads of pics if this helps/

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Thanks, our posts must have crossed.

The pics you've posted clearly show the clutch type I had in mind. 🙂

Probably a countershaft or two with a steam set-up.

Thanks ICLOK, this is the sort of thing I was after - the plan is to try and base the reconstruction drawings on something contemporary and plausible. :flowers:

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If you go the album mate there are shed loads of pics... help yourself! :thumbup:

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Do any of these help?
🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-48269[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-48269[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-48270[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-48270[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-48271[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-48271[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-48272[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-48272[/linkphoto][/link]

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Don't worry if the above photos aren't showing for you. They will appear to some, but not to others.

In a few more hours when all internet providers have updated their DNS records with the server move then they'll show for everyone 🙂

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Thanks for these Spitfire, based on what we found on site I think something like the Cwm setup is more likely but perhaps I'll annoy John Barnatt by mentioning the possibility of separate cylinders driving the winding and pumping... :devil:

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Just going completely off topic for a moment, would any of our railway enthusiasts like to comment on this?
While looking at the surviving bits of a former barytes mill just outside of Whaley Bridge last Saturday, I took these photos of some fishbelly rail on site - some other bits have been used as lintels, they're probably not in their original location but it'd be nice to have a rough idea what date they are and/or who might have made them? One of my PDMHS colleagues has suggested they may have come from the Peak Forest tramway.

🔗Personal-Album-431-Image-48289[linkphoto]Personal-Album-431-Image-48289[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-431-Image-48290[linkphoto]Personal-Album-431-Image-48290[/linkphoto][/link]

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I'm sorry to disappoint you AR but those are not fish belly rails.
They are fire bars from the firebox of a boiler of some type. Possibly a small loco' or large traction engine

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Thanks Spitfire, that's not disappointing at all - we know there was a 16hp steam engine on site in its later years as a barytes mill so it's very likely they were left behind when the engine was removed. :flowers:

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Ahh, I can see the pics now, excellent pics Spitfire. 🙂