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Introduction
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The
Bratch Pumping Station,
Bratch Lane, Wombourne, South Staffordshire
WV5 8DW |
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The
Friends of the Bratch regret that the
Summer steaming has been cancelled.
AGM 2010 === Monday 19 April -- see DIARY PAGE
The
next scheduled steaming is due to take
place Christmas 2010, see the Diary page.
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This
is the site of The Bratch Pumping Station,
visited by Fred Dibnah for his last Television
series |
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The
Friends of the Bratch regret that the
Summer steaming has been cancelled.
The
next scheduled steaming is due to take
place in December 2010, see the Diary page.
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*
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| The
Grade 2* Bratch Pumping Station at Wombourne
is one of only 50 remaining steam pumping
stations in England. Built in 1895 by Bilston
Corporation, it comprises a wonderful Gothic
style “fairy castle” pumphouse,
within which are two huge vertical triple
expansion steam engines. These were used for
65 years to raise pure drinking water from
deep boreholes, and pump it to a purpose built
reservoir in Wolverhampton. |
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The steam engines were replaced by electric
pumps in 1960, and fell into disrepair, but
in 1991 Severn Trent Water commissioned a
major refurbishment of the building and of
one of the engines, Victoria. The restoration
to full working order was undertaken over
a period of 5 years by the well-known Wolverhampton
steam engineer Len Crane, together with a
small team of enthusiasts. |
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engines are steamed for open days and galas
two or three times a year by Len with the
assistance of the Friends of The Bratch. |
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Site
last Updated April 2010 |
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