London Museum of Water and Steam

TW8 0EN Brentford, London, Great Britain (UK) (Greater London)

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Overview

Come and discover the story of London’s water supply and witness stationary steam pumping engines in action.
The museum is also home to London’s only narrow gauge railway which visitors can ride as part of their admission every weekend.
As a result of the refurbishment, visitors can now enjoy the new Waterworks interactive gallery with hands on exhibits that bring the story of London’s water supply to life. Prepare to get wet in the outdoors “Splashzone” where little and big kids can turn wheels, gears and pumps to move water by hand to create amazing outcomes. Witness the awe and magic of stationary steam pumps every weekend the amazing power of the world’s largest operating beam engine on special event weekends
 

Steam Pumping Engines at Kew Bridge

The heart of the museum is its collection of magnificent steam pumping engines. These comprise the Cornish engines, which are in their original engine houses, and the rotative engines, which have been collected by the museum trust from pumping stations across the country. Together the collection demonstrates the major developments in steam engine technology. In addition to these engines, we have also collected examples of diesel, electric, water and animal powered pumping engines.

Every weekend throughout the year you can see either the Cornish or rotative engines in action. Steam is generated by a 1927 Lancashire boiler, originally from the Battle Hospital, Reading, and donated to the museum in 1975.
 

The Cornish Engines

The term "Cornish" refers to the operating cycle of these engines, although three in the museum collection were also manufactured in Cornwall. The main characteristic of a Cornish engine is that pumping is done by a falling weight which is lifted by the engine. This weight is positioned above the pump, which is linked to a beam, with the piston attached to the opposite end of this beam. The weight is lifted by a combination of steam pressure above, and vacuum below, the piston. During the pumping stroke, as the weight falls, the piston returns to the top of the cylinder because an equilibrium valve opens to allow steam to pass from above to below the piston. The speed of movement varies during the cycle, making a Cornish engine both exciting to watch and to drive. The museum has the largest collection of Cornish engines in the world, including the world's largest working single cylinder steam engine and the only complete in-situ Bull engine.
 

The Rotative Engines

In the Steam Hall there are four large rotative steam pumping engines plus a number of smaller ancilliary engines. In the rotative engine the linear motion of the piston is converted into rotary motion by the crank. The use of both cranks and large flywheels balance out the varying thrusts and loads, thus allowing the engines to operate steadily and smoothly.
 

Engines

* 90 inch Engine (1846)
* 100 inch Engine (1869)
* Bull Engine (1856)
* Maudslay Engine (1838)
* Boulton and Watt Engine (1820)
* Waddon Engine (1910)
* Easton and Amos Engine (1863)
* Triple Expansion Engine (1910)
* Dancers End Engine = James Kay engine (1867)
* Waterworks Railway
* Waterwheel (1902)
* Allen Diesel Engine (1935)T

The museum also operates an 1860 Shand Mason Fire Engine on selected event days

Railway

The museum runs a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway which in 2009 saw the introduction of a new-build Wren Class steam locomotive, Thomas Wicksteed. The railway had previously been operated by visiting loan locomotives. The line runs for 400 yards around the Kew Bridge site, and passenger trains are operated at weekends and on other special event days.

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