This event is both an in-person and on-line event. Sign up link coming soon.

Built by Davy Brothers in 1904 to drive the armour plate rolling mill at Charles Cammell’s Grimesthorpe works, the River Don engine is the last surviving example of four 12,000 hp (8.9 MW) rapid reversing engines constructed to the same design.

The talk will explore the history of the engine through stories and facts, including photographs, working drawings, and a 3D computer model. These show the engine and rolling mill at work at Cammell Lairds from 1913 and subsequently at River Don in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. The engine’s move to and restoration at Kelham Island in 1978 and again after the 2018 flood will be described and the development of the 3D virtual model of the engine created for the museum by the speaker will be outlined.

About the Speaker

In 1989 Greg attended Parkwood Art College in Sheffield to study Art and Design. He obtained an NVQ in Auto Cad and then achieved his H.N.D at Norton College. Out of the blue he received a phone call from a small games company in Sheffield offering him a job. He really enjoyed the work and found like-minded people to work with. He also got the chance to work with game pioneers and learnt to use 3Ds Max which helped him to produce the virtual model for Kelham Island Museum of the River Don Engine which he will discuss.

After finishing off working with games in 2012, Greg became a self-employed artist and went on to produce a large range of illustrations depicting Sheffield past and present which is on sale in local galleries & museums throughout Sheffield. He also designed the mural for the Special Olympics held in Sheffield 2017 which was displayed on Pond Street and was invited onto Radio Sheffield to talk about creating the mural. Greg also sculpts, as well as volunteering at Kelham and the Lowedges Community Centre, supporting the craft group.