IEEC2 – 2021 Conference

Theme

“A wider view of early engines and their operating context – beyond valve gear and famous engineers”

Image of the old Bufferty pumping  engine in the West Midlands from 1872 (contemporary sketch)
Buffery engine

IEEC2 Conference, 2021

The Second International Early Engines Conference (hereafter IEEC2) will now run over 3 days in October 2021 – Friday 8th- Sunday 10th October 2021 (postponed from May 2020 and May 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic).

The host venue is the fabulous Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands.

The purpose of the conference is to provide a continuing forum for the presentation and discussion of new research into heat engines prior to 1812.

Venue

Black Country Living Museum

Arrangements for October 2021

Registration for delegates will open on the Morning of Day 1 (Friday 8th October) and the conference programme will run from 12.00 that day, through Day 2 (Saturday 9th October) and finish at noon on Day 3 (Sunday 10th October).

Approximately twenty presentations, including long papers (thirty minutes) and shorter research updates (10-20 minutes) are planned, plus visits to local industrial engine sites and the fabulous BCLM museum itself. Catering will be provided and relevant publications will be on sale.

As with the inaugural IEEC Conference in 2017, the Proceedings of the Conference will be published.


Programme


Booking Options

Booking options for the conference delegates include tickets for the whole conference, or individual day delegate tickets, with or without the optional trip.

FULL CONFERENCE TICKET ~ £135

Includes ALL short and long papers, lunch, AND evening meals on Friday and Saturday, refreshments (coffees & teas) on all three days, PLUS copies of the final published Conference Transactions.


CONFERENCE DAY TICKETS ~ £30-£60

  • Day 1FRIDAY 8th October 2021
    • DAY ONLY (morning and afternoon sessions) – £40 Includes papers, lunch, and tea & coffee
    • DAY & EVENING – £60 As above, plus evening meal at Sandfields and coach from Dudley and back.
  • Day 2 – SATURDAY 9th October 2021
    • DAY ONLY (morning and afternoon sessions) – £45 Includes papers lunch, and tea & coffee
    • NB the optional evening additional event – The BCLM’s “Red by Night” active engines working from 7pm. This requires an extra BCLM entry cost of £12). BCLM recommend delegates book in advance, follow this link to book.
  • Day 3 – SUNDAY 10th October 2021
    • DAY ONLY (morning session) – £30 Includes papers and tea and coffee


Booking Form

Please use the Booking form below which provides details of the options and how payment can be made (cheque or electronic bank transfer).

10% Discount for EARLY BIRD BOOKINGS available when paid in full before the end of June 2021

Any booking or payment queries can be directed to: admin@earlyengines.org


Getting There

The Black Country Living Museum is situated in the heart of the Black Country on the A4037 between Dudley and Tipton. The Museum is well signposted from the M5 and M6, with good parking and public transport links.

Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ

Dudley A4037 road sign with brown visitor attraction information for the Black Country Living Museum
Wayfinding
6 September 2021 – 31 October 2021Opening hours: Seven days per week, 10am-4pm

Accessibility

Detail information about site accessibility including a useful guide to the attractions in the BCLM site can be found here:

Local public transport

Rail

The Museum is one mile from Tipton railway station (TIP), on the Birmingham to Wolverhampton line operated by West Midlands Railway. See National Rail Enquiries for journey planner services.

Bus

Network West Midlands operate a number of services that stop outside the Museum, including:

  • 24 Foxyards Estate to Merry Hill via Dudley
  • 229 Bilston to Dudley via Coseley, Sedgley
  • 311 & 313 Walsall to Dudley via Wednesbury
  • 610 Wednesbury to Dudley via Great Bridge, Tipton

For bus information from Wolverhampton, Birmingham please use the NWM journey planner above, or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 to plan your journey.

Car

Main motorway route directions:

  • M5, Junction 2: Follow the A4123 northwest toward Wolverhampton/Dudley. After three miles, turn left onto the A4037 Tipton Road heading south. The entrance is 150 yards on your right. Note: these directions are from the M5 junction 2. Please note that the Black Country ‘i’ (information) signs at junctions 1 and 3 do not direct to the Museum.
  • M6, Junction 10: Follow the A454 (A463) ‘Black Country Route’ toward Wolverhampton and Dudley for 4.4 miles. Turn left onto the A4123 Birmingham New Road toward Dudley heading southeast for 2.4 miles. Turn right onto the A4037 Tipton Road heading south. The entrance is 150 yards on your right.

Parking: There is ample car and coach parking at the Museum. A parking charge of £3.50 applies to cars for the whole day. See also the BCLM Visit guidance.

Accommodation

Specific hotel and accommodation arrangements are not being handled by the conference organisers directly, but there are a wide variety of places to stay nearby, i.e. within 20 miles of the venue/under half an hour’s drive.

Some nearby hotel accommodation, within walking distance, includes:

  • Travelodge, Dudley (Discovery Way, Dudley DY1 4SQ) Tel. 0871 984 6517
  • Premier Inn, Dudley (Castlegate Way, Dudley DY1 4RJ) Tel. 0333 321 9306
  • Village Hotel, Dudley (Castlegate Drive, Dudley DY1 4TB) Tel. 01384 888830
  • Other hotel, Guest house/B&B and apartment options are also available in the local area

Please contact us if you require further guidance (admin@earlyengines.org).

Preparations for the Conference

DateActivity
February-
July 2019
Initial publicity and Call for Papers
July 2019Booking arrangements publicised
Sept 2019Additional venue and local accommodation details available
Oct-Dec 2019Draft programme prepared
Jan-March 2020Programme finalised and Delegate packs prepared
March 2020Due to Coronavirus emergency the Conference is being postponed until November 2020. Dates TBC.
April 2020Following feedback from delegates and speakers and the state of the Coronavirus epidemic, the conference is further postponed until May 2021.
May 2020Conference runs
May 2020 -Sept 2021Revised programme agreed and advertised. Conference rearranged again for October 2021. Early access to papers prepared during COVID-19.
May 2021BCLM confirm final dates for “Red by Night” Steaming events to fix IEEC2 dates
October 2021IEEC2 Conference runs from Friday-Sunday in October 2021
Volume 1 of Transactions published. Full delegates receive copies.
October 2021
– April 2022
Volume 2 of Transactions edited and published – Full delegates receive copies.
2022-2023Assessment feedback and outline planning for potential IEEC3

Conference Partner and Sponsors

The Organisers are grateful to the following for their assistance and support in preparing and delivering the 2nd International Early Engines Conference.

Conference facilities provided by Black Country Living Museum
Association for Industrial Archaeology logo (AIA logo)
Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) are sponsoring the event.

and the South Gloucestershire Mine Research Group (SGMRG) are sponsoring the event