International Early Engines Conference, 2024

The Third International Early Engines Conference (IEEC3) – Preliminary Announcement


Ensuring Scottish contributions to early engine developments are recognised and celebrated
the Early Engines Conference team are delighted to confirm that Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life at Coatbridge near Glasgow have kindly agreed to host IEEC3 from the 22nd to the 24th of March 2024. Summerlee is Scotland’s flagship museum of industry and amongst its many attractions is the UK’s only surviving rotative Newcomen Engine, from Farme Colliery outside Glasgow.


Format and timings will follow those of successful previous conferences, kicking off at midday on
Friday 22nd and running through to 12.00 on Sunday 24th. An evening excursion/buffet at one of
Scotland’s significant early engine sites is planned for the Friday evening.


Whilst the conference venue in Coatbridge may require delegates to travel, we believe this will be
more than compensated for by the range and variety of local sites related to our topic.
We are working with appropriate local bodies to arrange a series of excursions on Thursday 21st and
Monday 25th to local sites. Further details will follow.

Most importantly, we are determined that IEEC3 maintains its non-elitist and welcoming culture –

plus of course delivering the highest quality papers. Reflecting the theme we expect to include:

  • The Caprington Colliery Engine and its reconstruction at National Museums Scotland
  • Some lesser-known early engines in Scotland
  • Carron Ironworks’ contribution to early engines
  • The history of Farme Colliery and its Newcomen engines


We invite further papers on Scottish as well as on English, Welsh and European engines
Prices will be in line with previous events and will be confirmed in due course. Tickets will be
available for all or part of the event and partners are actively encouraged to attend too.


If you are interested in attending or have any questions please contact admin@earlyengines.org.
For more information about IEEC please go to https://www.earlyengines.org/


Please circulate this preliminary announcement as widely as possible.


We hope to see you in 2024!
The Early Engines Team