STEAM GOES ELECTRIC! Can You Run a Victorian Steam Engine on Electricity?

We’re inside the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, one of the most extraordinary decarbonisation projects in the UK!

This Victorian-era building, built on the site of Liverpool Road Station – the world’s first passenger railway station—has replaced its ageing gas-fired steam system with a cutting-edge electric setup, all while keeping its incredible 19th-century engines running for visitors to see. Here’s how they did it!

For more information

Lead Architect: Carmody Groarke

Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Max Fordham

Timestamps

0:00 Welcome to the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester 0:58 History of the Museum & Liverpool Road Station 1:36 Why the old gas boiler system needed replacing 2:07 The original engineering brief 3:48 Inside the plant room: the new electric steam boiler! 4:46 Groundwater heat pumps & how waste heat is recovered 5:00 Making the decarbonisation system an exhibit in itself 5:11 Government funding 6:05 Challenges 7:14 Energy efficiency 8:18 Running historic machines with no manuals! 9:11 The 1926 steam engine that powered Burnley mills! 9:55 Building fabric improvements: wood fibre insulation, double glazing & LED lighting 11:23 The result! How much carbon is being saved? 11:53 What other heritage buildings can learn from this project 12:25 A once-in-a-generation investment in Manchester’s industrial legacy 13:14 Closing thoughts

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