Peter Waterman backs MOSI campaign to steam up!

10th November 2010

Categories: Modern History News

Pop record producer and steam locomotive enthusiast Pete Waterman has lent his support to a new fundraising campaign at MOSI to help bring the Museum’s popular steam engines back to life. 

MOSI has one of the world’s largest collections of working steam engines, including a replica of the Newcomen – the first practical working steam engine (built in 1712), and the impressive 1907 McNaught engine from Firgrove Mill. The Head of Steam campaign aims to raise £50,000 towards the cost of installing a new, more efficient boiler to run the steam engines in MOSI’s Power Hall.

The Museum is currently undergoing an £8.5 million redevelopment of its main warehouse building, which includes two new galleries, conference facilities, restaurant, a learning centre, coffee shop and gift shop. As part of this redevelopment the old boiler will be replaced with a new, more efficient model and moved elsewhere on the site. The boiler has already been bought but has not yet been installed due to high costs of this specialist job.

Pete Waterman said: “When I visited MOSI’s Power Hall last year, its magnificent steam engines were fired up and their combined clanking and hissing really made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“The smells, heat and noise of the machines are part of MOSI’s unforgettable experience and that is why it is so important to get the engines up and running again as soon as possible."

“By giving a donation, no matter how large or small, you will get MOSI closer to its £50k target towards the cost of fitting the new boiler. When the Power Hall is back to its former glory, visitors will once again be able to learn about how the steam engine transformed our world. You never know, it may just inspire our young people to become the great engineers of tomorrow. Please help MOSI build up this head of steam and donate a tenner today.” 

As well as his work as a successful record producer, Pete Waterman is also passionate about steam locomotives, railways and railway models. He owns several locomotives and has his own railway maintenance company, based in Crewe. He recently published a book on railway modelling called ‘Just Like the Real Thing’