Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology in HDR

The Old Pump House

This is a place near and dear to my heart. Many years ago back in the 80’s, while I was working as a Stationary Engineer in the Utility Plant at the Steel company of Canada (Stelco), I stumbled across this ornate old pumphouse in the City of Hamilton, Ontario. This pump house used 2 Gartshore Walking Beam Steam engines built in 1859, to supply water to a reservoir on the side of the escarpment, which in turn delivered water by gravity to the houses in the lower part of the city. A branch of the Institute of Power Engineers in the Hamilton/Burlington area spearheaded by a fellow by the name of Tom Salisbury, gathered a group of volunteers from the Institute and was allowed by the City of Hamilton, to provide minor maintenance and guiding/interpreter services on weekends and holidays for the general public to come in and see these beautiful old steam engines. For a time the engines were actually run by 15 psi exhaust steam which we received from the city’s waterworks plant on which property this museum resides. I spent many years on Wednesday evenings and even more Sundays and Holidays at the museum for which I am profoundly grateful to the city for giving me that opportunity. Every time I am back home I try to take a run by the old museum as it certainly does bring back some fond memories. I did indeed meet some fabulous people, both as workmates (fellow volunteers) as well as people from all around the world, who took time to visit the museum. Here are a few of my favorite images. Hope you enjoy your visit. Comments are always welcome and appreciated.