Museum of Science and Industry

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of real operational steam engines that powered mills all over the North West and helped to shape our world.

The Power Hall houses one of the world's largest collections of working steam mill engines as well as gas, oil, hot-air and diesel engines, operated daily by our experienced Presenters. Find out how they work and learn about the amazing history of power, from the early water wheel and the horse gin, through to vast horizontal steam engines. Look out for the impressive 1907 McNaught engine, which powered Firgrove Mill.

At 11.00am on weekdays, there is a also fascinating, in-depth demonstration of one of the many engines on display by one of our experienced Presenters.