A Tick on the Bucket List

My Father’s Day treat was up to expectation and Crossness Sewage Pumping station is truly a cathedral of Victorian ironwork and an amazing testament to the dedicated group of volunteers involved in restoration and maintenance. It is fair to say that even Anne was impressed……

The one hour bus ride from Lambeth in Central London to Plumstead proved how long the intercepting sewers protecting the Thames River are. Another interesting fact is the pumps last were operational in 1953 when used to assist with flood drainage. Following this the whole facility was targeted for removal, however, the scrap value of the installed equipment could not match the cost of demolition so it was left until a trust was formed to care for and restore the engines.

The first of four engines to be restored was operating, and periodically stopped to demonstrate how the main crank is positioned by a small barring engine prior to start.

The engines are quite sophisticated, driven by a high and intermediate pressure cylinder operating in series on one shaft with a low pressure cylinder operating on a second shaft, both shafts being connected to a rocking beam linked to a 52 tonne flywheel. In effect a triple expansion design with a condenser to improve efficiency and recover boiler feed water.