Says Maurice Cass:
The engine houses were broken into and the main bearings for the flywheels were stolen. These were huge bronze bearings and they were taken by the thieves to a scrap merchant who put them through a nibbler to check they were solid bronze. They also took lead flashing from the roof. The undamaged bearings were recovered. In order that the exposed metals didn't rust they were painted with an oil which solidified and left a coating that proved very difficult to remove.