Ryhope Engine Museum
Ryhope pumping station was constructed in 1868 at a cost of
£9000 and worked for almost a century, it stopped pumping water in 1967 and was
later turned into a museum of water supplies, it can still be seen in action
today mostly Bank and Public holidays and is staffed by volunteers.
It has two double compound rotative steam engines with
centrifugal over-speed cut-outs, these are powered by the pumps. The beams weigh
22 tons each, and the flywheels weigh 18 tons
each, these are in the engine house,
the power house has three large boilers supplying the steam for the
engines, outside there are two cooling ponds one to the
north and one to the south of the main building.
I would recommend a visit to this Museum, especially on bank
holidays when the engines are in steam and other attractions are often on i.e. vintage cars, steam
tractors etc.
Prince Charles visited the site on 9th January
2004 and tried his hand at turning on the main beam engines.
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Ryhope Engine Museum
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Cooling pond with old managers house in background now tearoom.
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At work in power house
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Worker on top of boiler
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Controls of the Engine
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Top of the Piston Engine
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The two beams of the engine
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One of the connecting rods to the Beams.
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The Flywheel ( one of two)
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Some of the many exhibites on display.
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Blacksmith at work
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Museum at sunset
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