Description
The Bolton Steam Museum is operated by the Northern Mill Engine Society who has been working since 1966 to preserve and restore some of the steam engines that powered the North-West textile industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The museum will be open exclusively for the IMechE network, with all steam powered engines running.
Refreshments will be provided. Non-members are also welcome.
The museum is located in a large warehouse that used to store the bales of raw cotton for the Atlas Mills complex in Bolton, originally operated by the Musgrave Spinning Company, at one time one of the largest cotton spinning companies in the world.
The Society, which is a registered charity, has no paid staff and operates with volunteers, relying almost entirely on donations.
Some 30 engines – all rescued from mills in the area - are on display and will be operating in steam for the visit. Engines include beam, non-dead-centre, vertical and horizontal types ranging in age from 1840 to 1920 and the museum is now one of the largest collections in the UK.
NMES volunteers will explain each steam powered machinery.
When: Wednesday 16th September 2026: 18:00 for 18:30 start
Where: Bolton Steam Museum, Mornington Road, Bolton, BL1 4EU
W3W: ///teach.laptop.deep
Maximum numbers: 60