Shrewsbury Steam Trust
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A member of Shrewsbury Steam Trust checking the fuel in one of the two Cornish Boilers at Coleham Pumping Station, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Steam Trust was originally founded in 1992 under the 'umbrella' of The County of Salop Steam Engine Society Ltd. to restore the steam engines at Coleham Pumping Station, Shrewsbury. It is now an independent charitable trust with the same aim and has applied for Charitable Trust status with the Charity Commission.
The Coleham area of Shrewsbury has an industrial past that is, perhaps, second only to Ironbridge as far as Shropshire is concerned. Coleham Pumping Station is the last remnant of that past and the only industrial museum in Shrewsbury.
Coleham Pumping Station, resembling a Victorian Chapel in style, was built in 1900 to house two massive steam-driven beam engines. They were built in-situ by Renshaws of Stoke in 1897/1898. They were used to pump sewage as part of Shrewsbury's new sewerage system. These coal-fired pumps were used until 1970. Ownership of the building, pumps and grounds was transferred to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council in 1974.
The Museum comprises the Pumping Station buildings, in-situ beam-engines, ancillary equipment and grounds (belonging to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council) plus other items belonging to Shrewsbury Steam Trust.
The Pumping Station is one of three historic buildings operated as museums by Shrewsbury Museums Service (part of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council). The building is currently opened to the public as a museum on pre-advertised weekends during the spring and summer. Since one of the cornish boilers was restored to steam by members of the Trust in 2002, one of the beam engines is normally operated under steam during these weekend openings.
The main aims of Shrewsbury Steam Trust are to:-
a) conserve the machinery and equipment in Coleham Pumping Station (in association with Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council);
b) research and document the history of Coleham Pumping Station and its equipment;
c) repair and bring the beam-engines and associated equipment back into working order so that they may be operated by steam power;
d) exhibit Coleham Pumping Station in association with Shrewsbury Museums Service as a working industrial museum;
e) interpret Coleham Pumping Station and its past and present function to visitors through the use of guides, graphics and other means;
f) collect, document, conserve, exhibit and interpret machinery and other items associated with the sewerage or water-supply system of Shrewsbury;
g) collect, document, conserve, exhibit and interpret industrial items manufactured in Coleham or elsewhere in Shrewsbury.
A view inside the pump house at Coleham Pumping Station, Shrewsbury
A major milestone in the development of Coleham Pumping Station Museum, an icon of Shrewsbury's industrial history was achieved on 27th September 2004, when the second historic beam engine, housed in the Victorian building, was successfully steamed after restoration.
It means that both engines, more than 100 years old, can be worked simultaneously, recalling the days when they formed part of Shrewsbury's complex drainage system. The successful steaming of the restored No 2 engine marks the culmination of years of painstaking work by volunteer members of Shrewsbury Steam Trust. Engineering Manager John MacLean, a marine engineer who led the team, says: "This has been one of the most satisfying weeks in the life of the Trust. Over the past ten years we have put in many hundreds of hours, probably thousands, first to restore a boiler and then the first engine to working condition. This allowed us to run a series of successful steam open days. But we always had the restoration of the second engine in our sights so that both machines could be steamed at the same time - as they did for more than seventy years before being replaced by the electric engines which are still operating."
The pumping station, an official Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council museum, held one of its regular steaming days last Sunday when around 100 visitors came from all parts of the UK - and a New Zealander. Mr. MacLean says this underlines the fact that the Shrewsbury machines - the only steam engines in Shropshire in their original working location - are generating interest nationwide. He adds: "We were close to getting the second engine in steam on Sunday, but we were not quite ready with our extensive checks. Once these were done, and having kept the boiler fired up from Sunday, we were able to carry out the test. It worked very well. These two machines run like sewing machines - a tribute to their Victorian makers." The second machine had been "cold" for 34 years but ran with few leaks and creaks, said Mr. MacLean.
Trust Chairman Russell Mulford says: "The dedication shown by members of the Trust and the skills of the engineering team have really paid off. It has been a very satisfying ten years, the result of which is that Shrewsbury now has an industrial museum of national standing."
The two engines were built by Renshaws of Stoke on Trent as part of a major environmental upgrading of Shrewsbury's sewerage and draining system. The pumping station was opened by the then mayoress in 1901. Mr. Mulford says: "We will be spending the winter ensuring that both machines and boiler will be in first class condition ready for our series of open days next year. Meanwhile we will be 'saving up' to buy coal which is now very expensive."
Open Days 2007
Sunday April 22nd 'Steaming'
Sunday May 27th 'Steaming'
June 10th: A special opening, 'Painting at the Pumping Station', as part of the Belle Vue Arts Festival (no 'steaming')
Sunday June 24th 'Steaming'
Sunday July 22nd 'Steaming'
Saturday September 8th & Sunday September 9th 'Steaming'
Sunday October 28th 'Steaming'
Admission: Adults £1, Children 50p.
Admission for groups may be arranged on the Mondays following the Open Days, to take advantage of 'steam up' and at other times, without steaming. Please call 01743 361196 in the first instance.
For updates on opening times at Coleham Pumping Station please check the Shrewsbury Museums Service website by clicking on the following link:-
Russell Mulford, Chairman, Shrewsbury Steam Trust, 1a Victorian Arcade, Hills Lane, Shrewsbury SY1 1QH. Tel. 01743 352710 or 01743 353010. e-mail: museums@shrewsbury.gov.uk
Links
The Shropshire Railway Heritage Trust website may be found by clicking on the following link:-
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust
Images and information about Shrewsbury's and Shropshire's railway heritage can be found on the Darwin Country website by clicking on the following link:-
Railways on the Darwin Country website
The Shropshire Railway Society website can be reached by clicking on the following link:-
Copyright © 2007 Shrewsbury Steam Trust. All rights reserved.