HISTORICAL CROSSLEY ENGINE

The Crossley Engine in Bourke is an oil-fuelled stationary engine manufactured by the Crossley Brothers in 1923. Over the years more than 100,000 Crossley oil and gas engines were built, and it is a testament to their quality that many are still in use today.

It is an example of an early water-cooled four-stroke diesel-type engine, which followed the steam era. With two cylinders sitting side by side and a 6-ton flywheel between them, the 6,562 cubic inch engine produced 138bhp at 260rpm or 108.6 litre with 103kW of power using modern measures.

This particular engine was initially used from 1923 to 1938 in the Sydney Power House to generate electricity for Sydney. From 1938 it was used in the Allowrie Butter Factory in Coffs Harbour until 1949, when it went to a property in Narromine to pump water for irrigation until 1964. (Brian, B. & W. 2018)