The grade II listed Victorian pumping station was constructed by the Sunderland and South Shields water company . In 1866 orders were placed for 2 100hp beam engines and their pumps . The engines started pumping water from the permeable magnesian limestone 250 feet down into a staple well at a depth of 150 feet . The engines stopped working in 1967 .
Originally 6 cornish boilers raised the steam , however these were replaced with 3 lancashire boilers 2 of which are still run under steam (Easter Friday to Monday) . i’ll be paying a visit .
An authorized visit with many thanks to the volunteers who put up with me climbing on top of things to take photos .
The building with the chimney in the background
Looking up the chimney
It had to be done
Inside the forge
I was thinking nice bbq bellows
Valve from one of the pumping rods
One of the fire boxes
The fire boxes inside the boiler
250 feet down
The centre of the flywheel
A look up the connecting rod to the beam
One of the governors used to stop the engine
A look down the manhole to the staple well
The makers
Now thats some spanners
An oil dispenser feed with a wick
An oil filter , i thought it was an old tea urn at first
]http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i428/shinyduck/ryhope%20pumping%20station/200320112331.jpg[/IMG]
The manual starting levers
cheers