Cruquius
This week's Saturday Timewatch features a marvel of Victorian engineering - the Cruquius Steam Pumping Station near Haarlem, Netherlands.
Commissioned in 1849, it and a similar station emptied the massive Haarlemmermeer Lake in just over three years, the land then being reclaimed as a polder. Cruquius itself could drain up to 320,000 litres of water every minute. A huge amount!
In this photo, you can see water that might need to be drained (e.g. after heavy rain) at the bottom left. The engine, unchanged since installation except that it is now hydraulically not steam powered, is in the round house where five of the eight beams can also be seen protruding from the building. Water is lifted up to a level below the white railings. From there it can be discharged into the adjacent Ringvaart Canal on the far side of the buildings. Beyond the chimney stack, the boilers were housed in the square building.
Below you can see a photo of a photo, date unknown, showing the steam boilers are in action and also how little the building has changed.
Secondly, you can watch a short video taken by Miss Kim of the engine in action!
Flickr Explore # 262 on Sunday, October 29, 2017.
Cruquius
This week's Saturday Timewatch features a marvel of Victorian engineering - the Cruquius Steam Pumping Station near Haarlem, Netherlands.
Commissioned in 1849, it and a similar station emptied the massive Haarlemmermeer Lake in just over three years, the land then being reclaimed as a polder. Cruquius itself could drain up to 320,000 litres of water every minute. A huge amount!
In this photo, you can see water that might need to be drained (e.g. after heavy rain) at the bottom left. The engine, unchanged since installation except that it is now hydraulically not steam powered, is in the round house where five of the eight beams can also be seen protruding from the building. Water is lifted up to a level below the white railings. From there it can be discharged into the adjacent Ringvaart Canal on the far side of the buildings. Beyond the chimney stack, the boilers were housed in the square building.
Below you can see a photo of a photo, date unknown, showing the steam boilers are in action and also how little the building has changed.
Secondly, you can watch a short video taken by Miss Kim of the engine in action!
Flickr Explore # 262 on Sunday, October 29, 2017.