Internal Fire Museum of Power

This collection of over 80 engines traces power technology from the steam engine through the evolution of internal combustion engines. Most engines are run regularly and at least eight work every day for visitors to experience the sights, sounds and smells of industry. They were rescued from many sources, for example a Penn oscillating engine of 1879 from a paddle steamer, a Hathorn Davey triple-expansion steam engine from a waterworks, a 1929 Tangye horizontal diesel engine from a cider factory and a 1959 Bristol Proteus gas turbine that generated peak power for the national grid. The Sulzer injection diesel made at Ludwigshafen in 1912 is the oldest working diesel engine in the UK. A separate building is devoted to electronic technologies, including working telephone exchanges, equipment from a BBC transmitting station and ships’ radio rooms. A gallery is also devoted to vintage motorbikes. Run by dedicated enthusiasts, the museum opened in 2003 and has continued to expand to accommodate the growing collection.