Boiler, Engines and Pumps – Key Data
No.1 (Boulton & Watt) | No.2 (Harvey) | ||
Engines | Bore | 107cm / 42inches | 107cm/42 inches |
Stroke | 2.1m / 7ft | 2.3m / 7ft 8″ | |
Strokes/min | 11 | 10 | |
Cylinder capacity | 1900 litres / 67 cu ft | 2180 litres / 77 cu ft | |
Steam pressure | 1.4 bar / 20 psi | 1.4 bar / 20 psi | |
Vacuum | 0.9 bar / 26 inches Hg | 0.9 bar / 26 inches Hg | |
Beam weight | 6 tonnes | 4.5 tonnes | |
Date built | 1812 | 1846 | |
Cost at the time | £2,244 | £1,636 | |
Pumps | Bore | 76cm / 30 inches | 76cm / 30 inches |
Stroke | 2.4m / 8ft | 2.4m / 8ft | |
Lift | 12m / 40ft | 12m / 40ft | |
Type | lift | force | |
Water Volume per stroke | 1100 litres / 245 gall 1.1 tonnes | 1100 litres / 245 gall 1.1 tonnes |
Boiler, Engines and Pump – A brief history
1809 | 36” Boulton and Watt engine installed with wooden beam. Replaced in 1846 |
1810 | Kennet & Avon Canal opened |
1812 | Current 42” (later to become No. 1) Boulton and Watt engine installed |
1836 | Wilton Water formed to provide main source of fresh water for pumping station |
1843 | Two new Cornish boilers installed to replace three ageing Waggon boilers |
1845 | No. 1 engine converted to Cornish steam cycle |
1846 | 36” Boulton and Watt engine replaced with Sims compound engine (now known as No. 2 engine) |
1859 | Brick chimney built |
1906 | Two Lancashire boilers in place |
1908 | The No. 2 Sims engine converted to Cornish cycle by Harvey & Co. of Hayle |
1959 | Chimney failure and engines unable to run |
1968 | Kennet & Avon Canal Trust bought Crofton from British Waterways for £75 |
1971 | Both engines restored and steamed |
1987 | Current Lancashire boiler installed |