AN IMPORTANT piece of Rugby’s engineering heritage will find a new lease of life after it was loaned to a steam museum in Wales to be restored.
General Electric Rugby’s central valve engine recently made the 217 mile journey to the Internal Fire Museum of Power in Cardigan.
The engines were used to provide power in factories and for electricity generation for private companies before the advent of steam turbines.
The 18 tonne GE engine – based on designs 125 years ago – was first built by Willans and Robinson in the Rugby factory and supplied to a furniture shop in London.
It was viewed by The Queen on a visit to Rugby in 1967 and in 2011 the engine was granted an Engineering Heritage Award.
During its time at the museum, it will be stripped down and restored, and returned to operation under steam power.
GE Engineering leader David Bell said: “I will be delighted to see this great piece of engineering heritage on public display.
“It has been a pleasure working with the Museum and I am tremendously excited at the prospect of seeing it restored to operation. My thanks go to Clive Foote, Phil Derges, John McCoach, Mick Manzella and the Internal Fire Museum of Power for making this happen.”
GE, which celebrated its 125th anniversary earlier this year, provides 30 per cent of the world’s steam turbines with teams in more than 70 countries around the world.
