This steam-powered winch is an example of an application of ‘steam’ in the maritime sector.
It was secured to the deck of boats and was used for retrieving or releasing the nets on one side of the boat and for retrieving or releasing the anchor on the other.
These two tasks required a lot of strength.
Specifically, this winch is equipped with slide valves and a helical worm gearbox.
It is on display at the museum and is in perfect working order.
The work machinery on display at the museum also includes a cable-driven balance plough and a cultivator that used to be fitted to the two Fowler BB locomotives.
Both machines are in working order.
As for the balance plough, the machine was in very poor condition, almost a piece of scrap, when it was recovered between 1996 and 1999.
Nevertheless, it was restored to perfect condition.
This plough was used with a cable ploughing system and a pair of Fowler portable engines took it in turns to pull it (exactly as seen on display at the museum), and at each stroke the operator on the plough would reverse the driving position.
This movement is therefore the reason why it is called a ‘balance plough’.