IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Killiersfield, REDRUTH, TR15 3LS

The derelict remains of the former boiler house for the pumping, winding and compressor engines on this site. The weather was vile and a drop of water on the lens has defocussed part of the picture. The red weatherboarding to the right is around a modern lift providing access to the pumping engine.

For more details see Image The metal trunking in the foreground is part of the ventilation equipment which used to draw air up Taylor's Shaft to ventilate South Crofty Mine when that was operational.

This vast machine that weighs about 100 tons was built in 1892 in Hayle and installed second-hand in this new engine house by 1924. It worked until 1954 and is now preserved by the National Trust. This shows the top of the 90" diameter cylinder with its piston rod rising to the beam above. Arrayed across the front of the cylinder are three valves in a box called the 'top nozzles'. The furthest away is the governor valve, which is a hand worked throttle that controls how much steam passes. Next is the steam valve that actually puts steam on top of the piston to push it down to raise the pump rods at the other end of the beam. This valve is closed part way through the stroke to allow the steam to expand and be used more efficiently. Closest to the camera is the equilibrium valve that opens at the end of the downwards stroke to allow steam to pass to the lower side of the piston, so that it ascends under the weight of the pumps. If you want to see this for real, I would recommend Kew Bridge Steam Museum or Crofton Pumping Station.

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.

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 right 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).

This vast machine that weighs about 100 tons was built in 1892 in Hayle and installed secondhand in this new engine house by 1924. It worked until 1954 and is now preserved by the National Trust. This shows the top of the 90" diameter cylinder with its piston rod rising to the beam above. There is a displacement lubricator feeding steam oil to the cylinder - the brass object on the left. Arrayed across the front of the cylinder are three valves in a box called the 'top nozzles'. The nearest is the governor valve, which is a hand worked throttle that controls how much steam passes. Next is the steam valve that actually puts steam on top of the piston to push it down to raise the pump rods at the other end of the beam. This valve is closed part way through the stroke to allow the steam to expand and be used more efficiently. On the right is the equilibrium valve that opens at the end of the downwards stroke to allow steam to pass to the lower side of the piston, so that it ascends under the weight of the pumps. If you want to see this for real, I would recommend Kew Bridge Steam Museum or Crofton Pumping Station.

Seen through the ruins of the boiler house for the pumping engine on a wet and windy day in June. The weather boarded red structure is a modern addition housing a lift for disabled access at this National Trust property. The 90" cylinder non-rotative 'Cornish' beam engine was built in 1892 by Harvey & Co of Hayle and was installed in this new engine house by 1924. It ceased work in 1954 and had been purchased while still working by the Cornish Engines Preservation Society with a donation from Mr Greville Bath of Florida.

This is the large 90 inch cylinder, clad to improve thermal efficiency.

A Cornish engine; these pumping engines were huge! They worked for long periods to pump the deep mines. The workings got to some serious depths where it was very hot (owing to the granite). This is the driver's position. ompare to the whim engine nearby Image

Once housing a collection of Cornish boilers, the flues connecting to the chimney in the background.