And so down into the basement….
Well actually it’s not really a basement as such. Four triple expansion compound steam engines were installed into a new building adjacent to the original one in 1897 to provide additional pumping capacity, but these were removed not long after in 1913 and replaced with Crossley diesels.The diesel engines were installed below the original floor level of the triple expansion engines in what amounts to a huge pit.
And so ended my brief time as a professional photographer! It was 4.00 on Friday afternon and I was south east of London on the banks of the Thames, watching ocean going ships going up the river – along way from the sun drenched lowlands of Chorley where I live. Time to battle my way through London to Euston – the gateway t’north.
One of the large diesel engines. The huge pipe to the right is a sewage pipe.
A sewage pump, made by Gwynnes, a long defunct London engineering company.
Can’t remember exactly what this was, but it was manufactured by Alldays and Onions of Birmingham.
I saw this as being a big rusty industrial elephant – can you see the two eyes above the ‘trunk’?
The internet doesn’t know much about the Light Production Company, alas.
Down in the pit
Panoramic view of the giant sewage pipe.
A rather old Health & Safety sign.
Mechanical Landscapes 
Fascinating set – really atmospheric journey into a mysterious world now fading. It would be good to see some data like pumping volumes/rates/outputs etc from this archaic equipment.
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Thanks Keith. I don’t know any technical details of the engines, but I think there might be some on the Crossness website.
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Thanks Andy – what kind of drive was attached to the output end of these big diesels to make them able to move sewage through these enormous pipes?
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Not sure Keith – the only manufacturers names I saw were as per the pictures – Alldays and Onions and Gwynnes. I think Gwynnes were the pumps, but my guide didn’t tell me too much about this area really.
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Hmmm….another eye-wateringly good set of photos, and a very interesting subject indeed. Where to begin…the photos of the fluid measure gauges, the amazing encrustations of the rust…superb. Thanks for such a great selection of thought-provoking photos, Andy.
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Thanks Iain. I really was in my element here, so much to see and appreciate as a photographer and an engineer (well, truth be told ex-engineer these days……).
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Some textures there!
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Oh yes! I could probably have spent a lot longer down in there but I had a train back t’north to catch!
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