Taylor's Shaft pumping engine, East Pool Mine

Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 9 Apr 1991

This is the 'indoor end' of the beam that is attached to the piston in the steam cylinder via Watt's parallel motion. The pivot point is seen on the lower left and the 'outdoor' end is literally outside the engine house with the pump rods attached. The steam piston makes a 10' stroke and the pumps make a 9' stroke. The green cross beam above is known as the 'catch wings' and if the engine makes too long a stroke, engages with massive wooden 'spring beams' to try to prevent damage from the piston striking the cylinder bottom. The beam consists of two massive cast iron flitches and in total weighs 52.5 tons. The National Trust helpfully equates this to 290 cows (why? - Mini cars would perhaps mean more to the youth of today). The maker's name and date are cast onto the surface of the beam in raised letters - Harvey & Co Limited, Hayle, 1892.

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