Abbey Pumping Station

These four steam massive steam engines were used to pump sewage out of Leicester up to the treatment works at Beaumont Leys. They were completed in 1891 and ran until 1964 when they were preserved. They can be seen running at special events throughout the year.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• abbey
• pumping
• station
• victorian
• steam
• beam
• engine
• leicester
• england
• museum
• gimson
• woolfe
• compound

[JimTLonW6]

Really enjoyed watching this video! Awesome machines; thanks for sharing them with us. The pumps seemed to work quite fast compared with most beam engines I've seen.

Jim

[jaholden28]

@Jim - I think their normal working speed is 12rpm. They do seem to be running faster than this, but that's probably because they're not actually doing any work because the pumps are running dry these days.

[mikesolejazz]

We've finished the last engine in the house, we have all four operational! Come see it running in 2012! :)

[CVRealMan]

@deathtoucher i saw a video of one that was opened in 1875 and closed in 1984!

[deathtoucher]

I'm surprised we used them for that amount of time. Steam power FTW.

[orcapod]

great machinery!! Thanks.

[amethystducky]

thanks for the publicity :) its nice to see the engines running from a different veiw because I'm usually driving it(my dad not me!)

[fortynin3]

Cool, I live in Leicester, I go to school at beaumont leys.