Stationary Steam in Mauritius

Torsten Schneider reports on his January 2007 explorations. See also his steam locomotive report and James Waite's report of his 2005 trip with its tantalising suggestions. Since the report was first filed, Torsten has sent some images, the functions of the engines represent my half-educated guesses!

Bel Air: I have no idea about the equipment inside the mill. It can be visited by organised tour (White Sands Tours). 

Beau Champ: apart from the two locomotives, also on display in the open are two stationary engines, among them one by Harvey Engineering, Glasgow 1907.

Beau Plan: outside the L’Aventure du Sucre sugar museum near Pamplemousses on display is an engine by W.&A. McOnie Engineers, Glasgow 1860.

Bois Cheri tea factory: They acquired two ex Government Railway locomotives in 1961. The boiler of one of them (engine no. F4268, built in the U.K. in 1925 according to a description) was used between 1968 and 1982 and is now displayed in the museum. The other one (unidentified) was used during my visit to produce steam. Yes, I saw “working“ steam on Mauritius in 2007 ! 

(James adds: I had some interesting correspondence from two individuals who picked up on the notes I sent Rob, both working on trying to identify which locos the two boilers come from. It was evident that they were both expert on the MGR and they eventually reached a consensus on the locomotives concerned, partly based upon speculation that the MGR bought two new (but different) spare boilers towards the end of their existence and that it's likely that it would be these two boilers which would have been sold to Bois Cheri when the railway closed as they were then still quite new. To cut a long story short one of them wrote a series of articles about all the MGR locos in great detail in 4 issues of the Stephenson Locomotive Society Journal in 2006.).

Mon Trésor Mon Désert: When I went for the O&K loco, I was given a short tour through the mill. Inside, obviously still working during sugar production, was Mirrlees Watson, Glasgow no.11735. Some other antiquated equipment seemed to be driven by more modern motors. 

St. Félix: Also displayed outside the factory are several stationary steam engines, among them:
Mirrlees Watson, Glasgow no. 8139 and no. 11094, and A.& W. Smith & Co. Ltd., Glasgow no.1291. 
Inside the mill there seemed to be only fairly modern equipment.

Finally, James had hinted to me that Mon Désert Alma sugar mill still has working stationary steam engines. I could not get in. Asking the guard and ringing the mill did not lead to any information. 

Here are the images:

This preserved engine at Beau Champ bears the legend " SE, Harvey Engineering, Glasgow 1907". It may be a compound engine of unknown function or if not since there is no obvious connection between the cylinders it will be a compressor (less likely a vacuum pump with this larger size cylinder).

This engine at Mon Désert, Mon Trésor, Mirrlees Watson, Glasgow, no.11735, appeared to be still working during sugar production (July to mid December), 
but not during the visit. It appears to be a vacuum pump.

This is milling equipment at Mon Désert, Mon Trésor. It has a modern drive, but basically it seems to be a dual drive for two mills.

Outside St.Félix, is a fine array of old engines. This Mirrlees no.11094 looks to have been a vacuum pump.

This engine is marked as A.& W.Smith & Co.Ltd., Glasgow, no.1291. It seems to be an incomplete belt engine which maybe will have driven the crystalisers or most likely the centrifugals given its larger size.

This is another Mirrlees, no.8139, judging from its size it was a compressor.

The king of preserved steam in Mauritius is this magnificent beam engine at the museum L'Aventure du Sucre (on Beau Champ SE), W.& A.McOnie, 
Glasgow, 1860. Note the gear wheel on the crankshaft, I guess this was a milling engine.

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