Dear all,
Recently I came across a reference to an engine on a lead mine site in the
Sierra Almagrera, south-east Spain. I contacted various people in Spain and
last week went to have a look at the engine.
The engine occupies a remote site and is in an excellent state of
preservation. It is a horizontal winding engine mounted on a cast iron base.
Cylinder about 10 inches diameter. All gearing and lever work intact. Two
boilers about 5ft diameter complete with pressure relief valves. Two iron
and wood flat rope reels - wood rotten, and a small wooden headgear, leaning
but complete with winding wheels. Small square stone chimney stack plus
collapsed walls of engine house. The engine bears the makers name plate:
P. Colson, engineer
Reading Ironworks Ltd
Constructors
England.
(The words 'engineer', 'constructors' and England' are in Spanish suggesting
that it was specifically manufactured for the Spanish market)
My gut reaction is that the engine is unique. The Reading Ironworks company
was first registered as a limited company in 1864. The Sierra Almagrera
Mining Company was working in the area in 1872 but there are also other
English companies ( and Spanish and French come to that) that also worked
mines in the area. My contacts in Spain realise they have something very
special here and would like to know more about the engine and its history.
Does anyone know anything about the Reading Ironworks? I suspect the company
may be more famous for locomotives or agricultural machinery rather than
mining. Any known archives for the ironworks?
Has anyone come across P. Colson, engineer?
Any help would be appreciated and duly acknowledged
Thanks
Rob Vernon
|