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The Grand Junction 90 inch Engine |
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The 90" engine is the largest working beam engine in
the world.
 It was built in 1846 by Sandys, Carne & Vivian
of Copperhouse Foundry, Hayle, Cornwall and was the first
engine built in Cornwall specially for waterworks duty. Whilst the engine was being restored by museum staff and volunteers in 1976, presenters from the Blue Peter
television programme climbed into the cylinder through the exhaust valve and held a tea party underneath the piston. The
90" engine has also featured in popular television programmes,
such as Top of the Pops, Murder Rooms and the feature films
Wisdom of Crocodiles and The Golden Bowl. It has provided inspiration for many artists, being a grand example of Victorian waterworks architecture.
The original pump plunger of 33 inch diameter was replaced
in 1863 with one of 38 inches, this upped the rating of the
engine from 5.5 to 7.5 million gallons a day working at 9
1/2 strokes per minute. The rating was later reduced to 6.4
million gallons per day. Today the engine is run at 6 to
6 1/2 strokes per minute and the weight of the plunger has been reduced from 45 to about 32 tons.
The engine is operated on our special Cornish Experience weekends, when all our working Cornish engines are demonstrated. See the Special Events listing for dates this year.
| Date of manufacture |
1846 |
| Cylinder Diameter |
90 inches (2.28 metres) |
| Stroke |
132 inches (3.35 metres) |
| Weight of Beam |
32 tons (32.4 tonnes) |
| Water output per stroke |
472 Gallons (2142 litres) |
| Water output per 24 hours |
6.4 M Gallons (29.1 M litres) |
| Strokes per minute |
6 - 6 1/2 |
| Last worked |
1943 |
| Returned to steam |
1976 |
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