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Hydraulic Pumping Engine
Hydraulic pumping engine, including instrument panel, made by W. J. Galloway & Sons, Manchester, c.1909, and converted to electric drive by the Hydraulic Engineering Co. in 1927, with accompanying papers consisting of: 1 bound photographic record of the rebuilding and rehousing of the engine; a group of 5 black & white photographs showing the engine at Water Street Pumping Station; 2 interpretation panels; 110 engineering drawings relating to the construction, maintenance and modification of the engine throughout its working life.
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Made by Galloways Ltd in Manchester, this engine was installed in the new Water Street hydraulic pumping station in 1909 and remained in use until 1972. Manchester's three hydraulic pumping stations supplied power to business customers within the city centre. This type of large steam engine pumped water under extremely high pressure through a network of cast-iron pipes, which ran under the streets.
The hydraulic system in Manchester operated from 1895 to 1972. At the height of its use in the 1920s, there were 600 consumers and 35 miles of pipework. Hydraulic power was used to operate lifts, hoists and presses in warehouses, small workshops and buildings across the city. It even wound the Town Hall clock, pumped the Cathedral organ and raised the safety curtain at the Palace Theatre.
The Water Street pumping station is now the People's History Museum.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 15 m x 14 m x 14 m,
- Materials:
- cast iron
- Object Number:
- Y2002.21/1
- type:
- hydraulic pumping engine
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
