Day 2 at the MOSI.

This morning we said farewell to Richard and Pam on Nb Halcyon as they headed off due to other commitments and a tight schedule.

As the forecast for today was going to be persistent showers we thought that it would be a good opportunity to spend some more time at the Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is housed in 5 buildings covering 13 floors and has something for everybody. Even after a day and a half in the place we have only picked out the highlight’s and skimped over some of the other displays but there is still much that we haven’t even looked at.

1904 Imperial built in Manchester.

With over 200 years of current history of Manchester to cover in subjects such as housing, health, employment, industry, transport there is so much to take in. Then there is the sections of famous scientists and what they had invented, all in Manchester. Water, waste, sewage, gas and electricity, they all are well documented with working displays and historical film footage. Did you know that Manchester was the first town council, as it was then, to build it’s own coal fired gas works in 1817 and the first to on sell its gas to outlying districts in 1824?

Dot couldn't resist this one. Dot motorcycles were built in Manchester using Villiers and JAP engines.Shackleton bomber converted to early warning radar plane. Built 1945 & was capable of 24 hour flying. De Havilland DH89 Rapide first succesful British short haul passenger aircraft of the 1930's.See what used to happen when you broke a street light. 

From what we have seen and read at the MOSI, Manchester was certainly in the forefront of the Industrial revolution not only in Britain but the world.