Geograph - photograph every grid square

The Stretham Engine is an industrial site in the Cambridgeshire. The 1831 engine house was part of a drainage network that replaced the windpumps, wind carried on in Norfolk until the 1950s. Progression of technologies can be seen here as the peat of the fens contracted leaving the scoopwheel unable to drain. A 1925 Mirrlees diesel engine was installed, however this couldn't cope so draining into the Ouse was abandoned for electric pumps running into the Cam.
Butterley ironworks constructed the machinery for £4950 (£421,000 in 2011)SK4051 : Entrance to the Butterley Company.
Inside are three gravity fed boilers, a large double acting beam engine, a large scoopwheel and a 1925 airblast diesel engine. Also visible is the stokers house (private), coal yard and two steam engines unconnected with the site. The beam ran until 1925 when the diesel was brought in before this was replaced in the 1940s. Stretham Engine is now a scheduled ancient monument and listed. grade II*.

Early diesel engines can be seen throughout the UK. For example 1920s built Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day preserved engines at the MOSI, Prickwillow and Stretham engine.
Rudolph Christian Karl Diesel developed the 'diesel' in the late 19th C with a patent granted in 1892.
Diesel engines use compression to ignite the fuel as opposed to petrol using sparks plugs. Air is put into the cylinder, the piston compresses it until its at a high temperature, diesel fuel is injected causing combustion. Due to a high air pressure in the cylinder a jet of compressed air (1000psi) is injected taking the fuel into the cylinder. After the 1930s this method of air injection was abandoned for mechanical injection. Its a four stroke, so air is drawn in, compressed (800 degrees), ignited with fuel before exhaustion.