The Merryweather Fire Engine 1880. by JeffG7BRJ
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Steam Pump with Horsepower
The men of the North Eastern Railway’s Gateshead Works Fire Brigade must have been proud to receive their new Merryweather Steam fire engine. In the year 1880, it was the most modern fire appliance available. By using a steam pump, this fire engine was able to deliver 125 gallons (568.26 litres) of water a minute onto a fire.
When the fire alarm sounded, the men of the brigade would rush to their posts, harness the four horses that pulled the engine and light the steam boiler. Once lit, it took just ten minutes for the steam pump to be ready for action. Within those ten minutes the fire brigade would be at the scene of the fire and into action.
This example came to the National Railway Museum in 1986 and was restored to its current condition by the apprentices of British Rail Engineering, Derby, between 1986-88.
Fact File
Object: Horse drawn steam fire engine.
Made by: Merryweather & Sons of London
Date: 1880
For: North Eastern Railway’s Gateshead Works.
Pump: Steam powered, delivering 125 gallons (568.26 Litres) of water per minute to a height of 120ft (36.58m) It was able to reach working pressure within ten minutes of lighting.
Thanks for stopping by for a look and for any comments you care to make.

Comments (35)
Great story to the shot, must have been a great step forward for these firefighters. what we owe to the age of steam! Excellent image and work Jeff, I didnt even try to get a shot of this with dissappointing light conditions in here, I deleted most shots from this side of the building, you have done well! Bravo!
Oh, gorgeous color and detail!!
BEAUTIFUL CAPTURE & PERSPECTIVE :)
Totally cool. And older than the one I put up, I was just out at lunch and saw a display of fire trucks with their ladders all pulled up and an American flag raised and stretched across a church parking lot, and then realized they were have a benefit luncheon, but it was really a nice site to see. Didn't have my camera though darn it... Have a great day !!
As you can see by the details I had my ISO at 1600 because of the lighting in this place, like Alan has said it was very bad, it took some postwork to bring it out, still a bit grainy though.
Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Jeff what a thrill that would have been I think anyway awesome capture sweet sunshine to you warm hug, Linda
Beautiful old engine and capture, dear Jeff you did so well in the low light. Have a happy day. Hugs. Di. xx
A great registration of a gone era in technology, you,ve done a great job, using1600 ISO, a wonderful result! RS
Very interesting! Great shot!
Great old engine Jeff and I think the capture is glorious! A real beauty! :)
Great capture Jeff i wonder how long it took this thing to get to a fire must have been ages LOL, wonderful capture mate, excellent well done..
really colorful Jeff.if someone did not see these coming they were color daffy
WOw 1880!! love the colors on it wonderful historical capture!!
Great shot of a fascinating piece of history.
Superb Jeff! They don't build 'em like they used to ;) 5+
wonderful shot of this old fire engin.
What a treasure! Great shot!
A wonderful shot of this lovely old fella. You did a great job of bringing out the colour if the lighting was bad..Well Done!!
Wonderful capture - It must of been a great advance but can you imagine sitting on that driving feeling it all come to pressure beneath you! Wonder if some engineer put a warning on it like danger dont tip!
Interesting capture!
I see a price tag hanging, did you check it out? Excellent shot!
Fantastic color and wonderful capture.
Excellent capture Jeff.
A very quaint and charming steam engine! A world of history is this museum you have captured for us!
Look's very cool! Stunning nice!
These are very interesting images, Jeff! You'll do a very good work if you'll try to capture some of those very beautiful old textures too! :)
A splendid treasure ;O) (Thanks for your info Jeff about the Weeping Bottlebrush, I had a look in internet and now I found lots of info about this original plant. My photo is still from a young tree, maybe about 1m tall). Have a nice day, Elizabeth.
What a great old engine! I cant imagine it had that sort of power, but again I read that it is steam technology that enables them to push concrete up into the super sky-scrapers! Having seen to our industrial revolution! And maybe about to start another!
Hello my dear friend, Wowww!!! What a beautiful and excelent photography,Super Wonderful!!! Congratulations!!! A million stars from me!!!************ Thanks you very much for you comments. Have a marvelous Wednesday.Hug and kiss in heart. Luminous blessings. Ludy (Sorry by signing so late)