Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

The Abbey Pumping Station Steam Days are a chance for people of all ages to take a trip into our industrial and domestic heritage from street organs to chips "Fried the old way" and toys from Christmases past this festive look into the past is sure to bring the memories flooding back quicker than any beam engine could ever pump it back. We begin with Leonard (Lenny) the loco letting off some steam before we hear the distinctive sound of a street organ playing well known songs , whilst the organ plays on we see a long queue forming at the Chip Van which fries chips in the "old Style" in oil giving them a crispy coating. As the organ continues to play outside we head into the building to see the toy displays with model boats and is that Nessie on holiday ?. Next up the spectacular twists turns and trains of Charlie`s railway where TGV trains run through Knapford station alongside Thomas and his friends . Next we take a look at the Storm Pig Magical Flying S...

Join us at the Abbey Pumping Station as it`s resident narrow gauge engine Leonard is called upon to pull a special service for the coronation of King Charles III. The little green engine, which runs around the perimeter of the pumping station site, was decked out in bunting and featured a specially created headboard proclaiming it to be the King Charles III Coronation Express. Filmed onboard and trackside we see Leonard make his way from the station and around the site with both the spectacular Abbey Pumping Station building (featured in previous films on this channel) and the modern space-age National Space Center rocket tower nearby visible to passengers. At the end of the line engine is decoupled and pulls the express back to its starting point bunting waving in the wind as it steam`s along. Look out for regular steam days at the museum on the Visit Leicester website.

Join the team from LMTA ( Leicester Museums Technology Association ) as they take us on a tour of Leicester`s Abbey Pumping Station and it`s spectacular Beam Engines. From top to bottom, the tour titled "Steam With The Team" takes us on a trip through history and the levels of these unique and awe inspiring feats of engineering. The various LMTA team members, in dress appropriate for the era, lead the group from the ornate and cathedral-esqe upper levels, down to the hissing, gushing, high pressure valve and gear filled basement areas, with the massive beam engines in constant movement above and around you really feel like your in the presence of a living breathing iron giant. This film is a taster of the full experience which can be booked on various dates throughout the year on the Leicester Museums website; www.leicestermuseums.org . To find out more about the LMTA and the work they do preserving and maintaining Leicesters industrial and technological heritage please vis...

I take a look at the annual Christmas Toys & Steam Day held at Leicester Museums Abbey Pumping Station. Featuring Meccano creations of every conceivable type and model railway layouts of various gauges. These are the toys young and old dreamt of finding under the tree on christmas mornings though the decades.

In my first film of 2019 I take a trip to the Abbey Pumping Station in Leicester for a look at the LMTA (Leicester Museums Technology Association) Steam Toys In Action event. In the 29th year of this popular event various toys and engines could be seen in steam including Formula Mamod (a steam powered slot car style race track featuring miniature steam roller racers)  Also in steam was the narrow gauge railway giving rides pulled by Leonard the Steam engine. My film starts by taking a look at a traction engine with traditional gas lamp headlights before following Leonard as he`s taken for the last run of the day and the boiler is cleared.