Francis Thompson's engine as re-erected at Pentrich Colliery in 1841. Engines like this helped Britain produce 10 million tons of coal a year by 1800.
Image: Science Museum / SSPL
Newcomen's principles applied
Atmospheric engines were built new for over a century, often incorporating improvements taken from later types of engine. Many were considered worth rebuilding at an even later date.
The Science Museum's Newcomen engine was built by Francis Thompson at Oakerthorpe Colliery, Derbyshire, in 1791. In 1841 it was re-erected at Pentrich Colliery, near Ripley, where it worked until 1918. Its working life of 127 years is among the longest recorded.
How did the engine change over its lifetime?
