Help dating machine shop photograph - somewhere in England

[Pinetree]

I would appreciate help with dating the attached photograph.  I think it relates to my Gr Grandfather and may even feature him.

I know the following about his career as an engineer/machine fitter:

1872-1878 - apprentice fitter and erector- R & W Hawthorn, Newcastle, steam locomotive builders
1881 census - engine fitter - Nash Mill papermill, Hemel Hempstead
1891 census until 1920s - machine fitter - Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield.

I wondered if anything in the photograph would date it to one of these periods.

Any help much appreciated.

Pinetree

[japeflakes]

A guess, but looks like a loco works to me.

[mazi]

A guess, but looks like a loco works to me.

I will go along with that, it definitely not the small arms workshop, I can see what look like boiler tubes in the lower foreground, and possibly loco cylinders minus their end covers.

Wiki tells me that John Dickinson had their engineering works at Nash, presumably they had to make their own machines back then, but I still think railway even though it looks small, but then hawthorns mostly produced small engines.

Mike

[jim1]

The style of clothing of a couple of the men is typical 1890's.
I also notice electric lights.
So late Victorian-Edwardian Era I would suggest.

[mazi]

As far as I can tell Hawthorns also made marine engines, the cylinder that I thought may be loco minus its end cap looks very similar to the vertically mounted cylinders of a marine engine.


Mike

[mazi]

Just looking at jim1s post and they do look like electric lights which throws a spanner in the works 

It surely cannot be any part of the small arms factory making rifles and swords.

[mazi]

I’m no photo dating expert but would that photo be possible indoors with poor lighting in 1878.

Mike

[Treetotal]

My first impression was early Edwardian, also the style of photo looks be a postcard. It would be good to see the back.
Carol

[tomkin]

My first thought was 1920. On the right is a Shaper, next to it looks like a grind wheel driven by

 a flat belt. In the middle is a metal saw and on the left is a metal turning lathe. All reminiscent

 of a small engineering workshop.