The Kempton Weekend of Power!

Alan Cullen reports from the recent Kempton Weekend of Power, which saw many interesting stationary engines gather in the spring sunshine.

Over the weekend of 20th and 21st May, the Kempton Steam Museum, Snakey Lane, Sunbury, Middlesex, provided the Sussex & Kent Weald Stationary Engine Group with a wonderful venue to show off its members’ engines. 

The museum was holding its annual ‘Model Fair’ alongside the Kempton Waterworks Railway 10th Anniversary, so there was a lot to see. A large marquee was full of models of Mamod Mill engines, plus some self-built exhibits and a variety of model boats on the temporary boating lake. We – members of the S&KWSEG – had a splendid array of engines over the two days and, of course, the museum was open for guided tours around the large residential engines. It was 10 years ago that the attraction first opened, so all the rolling stock and locos were on display. There were also numerous activities for the children to enjoy. 

Moving on to the stationary engines, John Fewster had his Bamford EV1 and Girdlestone water-pump sited alongside Ashley Goldfinch’s Wolseley WD2 and Argosy pump. Keith West was showing his WW1-era Stuart Turner generator unit, (mounted on a half-track trolley) producing 1¼kW at 2½hp. He also had a steam charging set plus a small, compact tool set for generators. Another group member, Jerry Scholefield, brought along his Industrial Lister B (Serial No. 230063). I was exhibiting my Moffat-Virtue MV2 and Mill.

On Sunday we were joined by John Webber with a very smart model of a Stuart Launch engine, together with his 1910 Heinrci hot-air engine, both of which generated a lot of interest among the visitors. Neil Harris had the Lister CS Diesel – which was recently acquired for Oldland Mill – ran smoothly all day. Ollie Goldsmith had a Lister D and Godwin pump, which he showed alongside the Lister D owned by Andrew Gisby. 

While having a walk around the railway, I noticed that Planet, the 1955 Anglia Water Board diesel Loco, is powered by a 21hp twin-cylinder Lister CS (Serial No. CS78470). This locomotive spent most of its working life at the Marsh Farm Sewage Works before passing into private ownership, and is now on loan to the railway. Visitors could also enjoy the sounds and smells of a locally-owned Aveling and Porter steam roller, dating from 1921. It had spent 43 years working in Scotland, before returning to England. 

My wife Lynne and I have attended events at the Kempton Steam Museum for many years, and think this year’s event was the best attended of them all. 

This feature comes from the latest issue of Stationary Engine, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE