Bolton Steam Museum — Attraction in Bolton

Great museum, actually bigger than you expect. The pictures, even on their own website don't do it justice. And you will find your self spending a little longer there, than you initially thought. The lady at the entrance was really helpful and explained to me that the engines are all running on electric, but every so often, the engineers take turns in powering them up by steam so you can see how they would really operate. Which was great and makes you want to stick around a little longer. This seems to be 15 minute intervals for different engines. You can tell, as an engineer will often be oiling up one, and pulling levers and cranks, getting it ready. And you only truly appreciate the power of them when they fire them up with steam.

It's also impressive (and a shame) that they have run this museum and got it to this state without any exterior funding besides donations and personal funds, what so ever. Despite applying to the local council and National Lottery heritage fund. Images and slide shows detail them refurbing the engines and parts, setting them up, cleaning, installing things for the public. It really is a labour of love.

In short, well...

Bolton Steam Museum is a museum in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which houses a variety of preserved steam engines. Based in the cotton store of the former Atlas Mill in Mornington Road, it is owned and run by the Northern Mill Engine Society (NMES).

The NMES is a registered charity (No 532259) and the museum has received Accredited Museum status from Arts Council England, the government body responsible for museums policy. The museum is open most Wednesdays and Sundays between 10 am and 2 pm when visitors can view the engines statically when volunteers are working at the museum. Special Open Days are held each year on Bank Holidays weekends when the engines are working under steam power. However, visits by genuine enthusiasts or organised groups can always be accommodated by prior arrangement. (See website). Vehicular access is via Morrisons's Supermarket car park. Parking is free for museum visitors.

The following is a list of the mill engines that have been preserved and are on show at Bolton Steam Museum. For further details of the engine types, see...

An absolutely fantastic place, my wife and I were the only two people in the museum at the time we went. We were asked if we would like to see some of the machinery in action...silly question of course we would. The chap that showed us around had such an intricate knowledge of each machine in operation you could not help but be both impressed and interested. It is clear that all the volunteers are extremely passionate about not only the machinery but the museum itself. Please be generous as you enter the museum as they do not charge but rather ask for a donation. Without people and places such as this an important part of our industrial heritage will be lost, and that will not only be a crying shame but need not happen with support from all who vist and enjoy the great era of steam power....