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Williams Terrace, CROYDON, CR0 4HZ

The UK's last reciprocating steam engine waterworks pumping station. Stopped regular service 1982 but officially closed down 1983. Two horizontal cross compound steam pumping engines with well and force pumps. One preserved at Kew Bridge Steam Museum and the other at Strumpshaw Hall. The site also had three Cornish boilers, a Green's economiser and steam engine and two steam winches. Magnificent! Sadly missed.

These were the last reciprocating steam waterworks pumps in the UK and were formally retired in 1983. The station contained a pair of horizontal cross compound engines with slide valve cylinders. The piston tail rods drove well pumps on one side (low pressure) and a double acting force pump on the other side (high pressure). One engine was 1910 by James Simpson & Co and the other 1920 by Worthington-Simpson Ltd. Both survive off site. The building is seen here - Image

The boiler house with three Cornish boilers. The one furthest from the camera was still in use. You could have eaten your dinner off the floor. Not bad - especially when you consider that these were hand-fired with coal (nasty dirty black stuff).

These were the last reciprocating steam waterworks pumps in the UK and were formally retired in 1983. The station contained a pair of horizontal cross compound engines with slide valve cylinders. The piston tail rods drove well pumps on one side (low pressure) and a double acting force pump on the other side (high pressure). One engine was 1910 by James Simpson & Co and the other 1920 by Worthington-Simpson Ltd. Both survive off site.

This is the top of the Green's economiser with the scraper drive mechanism. The small steam engine driving it is at the far end and the belt comes towards the photographer to drive the scrapers via the self reversing mechanism on the right. Examples of this may be seen at the British Engineerium, Hove, Mill Meece Pumping Station, near Eccleshall and Claymills Victorian Pumping Station, Burton-on-Trent. See - Image

This was the last site in the UK to use reciprocating steam engines to pump drinking water. It closed in 1983 and has been demolished. There were two horizontal duplex steam winches used to service the wells and built by Clarke, Chapman & Co Ltd, Gateshead. One was removed for preservation and the other was probably scrapped. I don't know where the removed one is currently. These were hidden in the basement but I had a trusty guide to UK engines that alerted me to their existence so that I could seek them out.

Waddon was the last waterworks in the UK to run reciprocating steam engines, stopping in 1983. This view shows the tops of the three hand-fired Cornish boilers. The crown valves are seen to the left. On the right are the superheaters at the rear of the boilers with the vertical pipes going to supply the mains (top right) supplying the two horizontal cross compound pumping engines. The big cylindrical objects are deadweight safety valves. The pulleys and wire ropes are connected to the dampers. This is one of the less common views of what was a popular site with enthusiasts.

Waddon was the last waterworks to use reciprocating steam pumping engines that were built in 1910 and 1915 and retired in 1983. This is one of the air pumps that is driven off a crankpin above. There are also two small auxiliary pumps - one is the boiler feed pump and the other looks to be able to act as a sump pump (bilge pump on board ship). The condenser is a surface condenser in the discharge main.

Waddon was the last UK site to operate reciprocating steam engines for pumping potable water and closed in 1983. The two engines were horizontal cross compounds driving lift and force pumps. This photograph was taken at low level between the two slide valve chests and shows the diagonal duplex steam barring engine that engages with teeth in the flywheel rim to slowly turn the engine for starting and maintenance.