The James Kay Engine
The James Kay engine, also known as the Dancers End engine, takes its name from Lord Rothschild's
estate at Dancer's End, near Tring, where it was used to
pump water from a well. The engine was built in 1867 by James
Kay of Bury. It was donated to the museum by the Thames Water
Authority's Chiltern Division, where it had been kept on
standby since the 1930s. It was found to be in good working
order and was re-assembled at Kew Bridge in 1978 - 79.
The engine has two high pressure cylinders, each connected
to its own beam and crank, the flywheel being common to
what are, in effect, two separate engines. This was a typical
feature of engines used to drive textile mills in Lancashire
and Yorkshire, and it is possible this engine was converted
from textile to waterworks use.
The engine drove a set of well pumps which used to be connected to tailrods driven
directly from the main piston rods.
| Date of manufacture | 1867 |
| Cylinder Diameters | 14 inches (355 mm) |
| Stroke | 30 inches (762 mm) |
| Flywheel Diameter | 11 feet (3.35 metres) |
| Water output per stroke | unknown |
| Water output per 24 hours | unknown |
| Power Rating | 36 horse power at 36 r.p.m. |
| Last worked | c.1930 |
| Returned to steam | 1979 |