Down the coast from Ty Cwch on the way to Cardigan, is one of the more unusual museums in Wales. The Internal Fire Museum of Power holds the largest collection of working engines in the country. Steam engines, diesel engines, and everything in between most of them still running.
It’s an odd thing to find in the middle of rural Ceredigion. Nine halls, over 200 tons of engines, and a paddle steamer engine that once powered a Victorian pleasure boat. The oldest working diesel engine in the UK is here too — a 1912 Sulzer, built to Rudolf Diesel’s original design.
At least eight engines are running at any time the museum is open, with more started up through the day. You can hear them and smell the oil before you see them. There’s also a room of old telephone exchanges, dating back to the 1920s, still wired up and working.
When it’s open
The museum runs weekends and bank holidays until the end of October, 10:30am to 5pm. There’s a small café on site for coffee, cake, and sandwiches — no hot food, but a decent cappuccino by all accounts.
Two events worth planning around
Twice a year the museum puts on a “Crankup,” when as many engines as possible are running at once.
- End of Season Crankup, 10th–11th October — the last big one of the year, with the paddle steamer and the Willans engine running alongside the rest.
- Last Night at the Museum, 25th October, 6–9pm — the only evening event of the year, and free to get in. Engines running in the dark is a different experience altogether.
We’ve still got availability at Ty Cwch for those dates so it’s easy to combine a stay here with a visit.
If you’re staying with us and want to make a day of it, the museum is a short drive from Cwmtydu — easy to pair with a walk on the coast path or a stop at y Bryn a’r Bragby for supper
