diff --git a/records.py b/records.py
index 9193860..2ea413b 100644
--- a/records.py
+++ b/records.py
@@ -259,7 +259,13 @@ class Database(object):
         # Create an engine.
         self._engine = create_engine(self.db_url, **kwargs)
         self.open = True
-
+        
+    def get_engine(self):
+        # Return the engine if open
+         if not self.open:
+            raise exc.ResourceClosedError('Database closed.')
+        return self._engine
+        
     def close(self):
         """Closes the Database."""
         self._engine.dispose()