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trentbradbury · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject: Pumping Station in Boston. Mass

The Chestnut hill pumping station in Boston Mass has been saved featuring 3 large engines it is now a museum.
http://www.waterworksmuseum.org/
No word on a gift shop or tshirts..
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46u · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject:

Wish I know that when up that way on the bike in 03. I will say Boston has the scare-us drivers I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!

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trentbradbury · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject:

Actually the museum has only been open a year or so this was slated for demolition
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The most fun you can have with a glass of water...

Trent Bradbury

ferrysteam · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject:

How could they even think of demolishing such wonderful place.
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Swift Fox · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:13 pm Post subject:

trentbradbury · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:37 pm Post subject:

I will be making the joutney soon its around 100 miles each way. It was a short bike ride from my home as a child. I always wndered what it was
_________________
The most fun you can have with a glass of water...

Trent Bradbury

fcrammond · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:57 pm Post subject:

If my memory serves me rightly this station had two sets of engines pumping to different reservoirs. The High Service set were preserved but the Low Service Engines were cut up to make room for a housing development and there were some horrific videos on the net showing a man with a Thermic Lance butchering these fine engines

My all time favourite US pumping station has to be the Colonel Francis G Ward pumping station in Buffalo.....Five huge triples in a row

http://community.webshots.com/album/552474152OhpPvP

http://www.buffalowaterauthority....epartments/ColonelWardPumpStation

Fantastic.

trentbradbury · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:27 pm Post subject:

Thankfully this station stayed intact all 3 engines survived. Ten miles west of here the aquaduct went through a stone bridge called echo bridge also in Newton, I believe the portion pf the project you are refering was at the MWRA in Weston Mass which was a botch job all the way. A couple of years ago the union between the old pipe and the New let loose and left the entire Greater Boston area without water for days (like 39 cities and towns) The source is the quabbin reservoir wher they flooded an entire valley early in the 20th century and flooded three entire towns to create the system. When we were kids we would ride our bicycles on the path atop the aquaduct.
_________________
The most fun you can have with a glass of water...

Trent Bradbury

fcrammond · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject:

The Low Service Building was next door. It's still there but it's housing now. New England Model Engineering Society have a webpage with pictures of the scrapping of the three triple expansion engines a few years ago.

http://www.neme-s.org/Chestnut_Hi...s_of_the_low_service_building.htm

Swift Fox · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:06 am Post subject:

I remember you mentioning about those engines that got gas axed before Fred, very sad to see.

Thanks for the links on the pumping station in Buffalo, certainly a great place with five massive engines under one roof.

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trentbradbury · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject:

I totally missed that..I apologize. In the end of the 90's they revamped the MWRA and flattened a giant pumphouse in Weston Mass. as well thank god they saved what they did. My emails to the museum have so far gone unanswered.
_________________
The most fun you can have with a glass of water...

Trent Bradbury

fcrammond · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:22 pm Post subject:

I suspect the High Level Pumping Station survives because the Levitt Engine is listed as an American Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. God bless the ASME.

trentbradbury · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:08 pm Post subject:

You are correct with some pressure from MIT. I wonder if they will ever run them again. Also compared to the engines in Britain the condition of the engines is deplorable at least paint them and polish the brass...
_________________
The most fun you can have with a glass of water...

Trent Bradbury

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