On a very wet evening in November 2014 Barnsley Metropolitan Council held a spectacular light show to mark the Official opening of the Elsecar Atmospheric engine after a period restoration to working order. This engine is one of only 9 surviving Atmospheric engines and the last on its original site This work had been funded by the local authority, the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage. Prior to the opening a number of short papers on the engine had been given.
Over tea we discussed the idea of a major conference to pull bring together researchers and enhance our knowledge on early steam engines prior to Watt. We were able to raise support from bodies such as the Newcomen Society, Northern Mine Research Society, Historical Metallurgy Society, The South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group as well as Barnsley Museums. To hold such a conference a call for papers went out. Barnsley Council kindly offered the use of the Elsecar Ironworks Building for the main conference sessions. Steve along with John Tanner negotiated a number of extra visits and events to enhance the potential conference.
The first International Early Engines Conference was therefore held at Elsecar in South Yorkshire in May 11th–13th 2017 and we think it can be counted a success. Over 120 delegates including some from Europe and as far afield as New Zealand attended over the three days. The quality of the 22 papers presented was of a very high standard and the post conference feedback was very complimentary. The process of designing and running the conference was intensely cooperative.
We are delighted that we have been able to publish this first volume of the IEEC Transactions in this journal within sight of the conference anniversary. Thanks to everyone concerned. The process of editing has been challenging. Decisions had to be made to try to consistently name Newcomen’s invention. It is not a steam engine but an atmospheric engine. In most cases it is not a Newcomen Engine either since he died in 1729 and most of the engines discussed were constructed after that date. We have tended therefore in editing the draft papers to call the engines Atmospheric engines or Newcomen-type.
The second volume of papers, most of which are already typeset, will follow shortly.