'Sara' at Skopos
Skopos Fabrics at Providence Mills, Earlsheaton, Dewsbury have preserved in situ a Horizontal Tandem Compound Mill Engine called 'Sara'.
Originally built by W & J Cardwell of Dewsbury in 1883 as a single cylinder engine, Sara was rebuilt in about 1894 by Woodhouse and Mitchell of Brighouse in her current form with a 18" bore x 42" stroke HP cylinder with steam admission by Corliss valves and a 24" bore x 42" stroke LP cylinder with slide valve. Developing 300 HP when supplied steam at 120 psi, the working speed of 88 rpm is governed by a Proell No 2 governor acting on the HP valvegear.
Running until 1965 Sara was left in poor condition, fortunately she was restored by Chris Evans and Paul Ackrigg, the restoration which, finished in 1987 was of such a high calibre that the project was winner of the NCB sponsored Steam Heritage Award stationary steam engine class for 1990.