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Wigan Pier’s famed Trencherfield Mill
Engine, reputed to be the biggest of its type in the world, has
officially ‘gone green’.
The mammoth metal powerhouse that has been churning out 2,500 horse
power for around 100 years is now eco-friendly. The Wigan Pier team has
ditched traditional heavy oil in favour of state-of-the-art biofuel in a
bid to reduce the visitor attraction’s carbon footprint.
When the mighty mill engine began turning for the first time in 1907 it
was at the cutting edge of technology. Now the ever-hungry machinery
that helped drive Wigan forward as an industrial powerhouse is green in
spirit as well as colour.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Heritage Engineer John Garvey said:
“When it is running the engine can use up to 400 litres of fuel a day.
In today’s climate we are trying to reduce the use of traditional fossil
fuels and look at greener alternatives. So it was decided that we should
start to run the engine on biofuel when the new efficient steam boiler
was installed.”
Technically biofuel can refer to any number of green fuels made from
things like wood pellets, chipping or straw and even the methane
produced from animal droppings. More recently it has come to stand for
ethanol, diesel or other liquid fuels made from plant material or waste
oil, which is what the Trencherfield Mill Engine runs on.
John continued: “The important thing is that it is a clean and renewable
form of energy which can not only help reduce the carbon footprint of
the mill engine but actually saves a little bit of money as well.
“Thanks to the ‘energy recovery system’ that has been installed on the
engine it can create extra electrical power when turning which can be
re-used. We harness some of this extra energy to pre heat the feed water
to the boiler which supplies the engine at no extra cost.”
The Trencherfield Mill Engine will be at the heart of a new
multi-million pound arts and heritage centre currently being planned as
part of regeneration of the Wigan Pier Quarter.
Although the Way We Were visitor attraction will close to the public on
Thursday 20th December, the Trencherfield Mill Engine will remain open
to the public on Sundays throughout the regeneration programme and will
also be open by advance appointment during the week on request.
There are also lots of opportunities for people interested in heritage
or engineering to get involved with the new cleaner, greener machine.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Head of Heritage Services Carole
Tyldesley said: “We are actively looking for someone interested in
heritage work to take up an option of a bursary to improve their
heritage skills. In time we hope to be able to offer an engineering
apprenticeship to a young person to come and work on the engine. We are
always on the look-out for volunteers to come and work with the engine
both on the technical side and in its role as a visitor attraction. If
you’re interested please give us a call.”
For more information about becoming a Trencherfield Mill Engine
volunteer or to find out about the engine, visiting times and entrance
fees, contact Wigan Pier on 01942 323666 or visit
www.wlct.org\heritage.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Photographs: The attached images show Heritage Engineer John Garvey at
work on the new greener Trencherfield Mill Engine.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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Picture of Trencherfield Mill Engine |