"Museum of Science and Industry ..." a Manchester Travel Page by tvor

The Museum of Science and Industry is in the Castlefield area of Manchester on Liverpool Road. It is housed in 5 or 6 buildings some of which used to be warehouses and a passenger train station.

The Baby is a replica of a 1946 mainframe computer. It was the first computer in the world able to run a stored procedure. It is housed in the 1830's Warehouse and is only open to the public one day a week. The staff will, however, take you up to look at it on request. They are in the process of renovating a new computer space for it. Stay tuned...

The 1830's Warehouse was a railway warehouse and now contains the Electrical Gallery, The communications Gallery and The Baby,

In the northwest of England, the textile industry was one of the mainstays. All around were mills and factories manufacturing various kinds of textiles, clothes, hats etc. The museum has lots of machines that were used in the textile industry including this one. The main museum building was a warehouse. It now contains the textile gallery, shop, cafe, Xperiment and a computer room.

In the Power Hall, you will find many examples of steam engines, some of which are functioning and are running. The air is damp with the steam and noisy with the clatter but it's fascinating to see these huge engines that ran the factories. There are also examples of pre-steam engines powered by water, and also post-steam engines powered by hydraulics and electricity.

Also in the Power Hall are some old train cars and engines

Across the road is another building, a light filled glass walled and roofed building housing the air and space displays. The building used to be a market hall. Lots of planes of various ages and use are on the ground and hanging from the ceiling. There are also antique cars, motorcycles, and other interesting vehicles and motorized equipment. I think i saw an old treadle sewing machine! Also in this photo you can see a Gnome 50 h.p. rotary aircraft engine in the front.

Planes used in battle, like this one, are also featured.

This mural is on the side of one of the buildings that you see as you walk to the Electrical hall. Another interesting fact for Coronation Street fans: If you go to the science center on the top floor of the main building and go to the back, you can look out the windows onto the outside set of Coronation Street on the lot of Granada Studios, located right behind the museum.