Report - Dalton Pumping Station, County Durham, May 2013

[ZerO81]

Dalton Pumping Station

Designed by Thomas Hawksley with the build starting in 1873, The first engine was fired up in 1878.

The engines are a pair of 72” single acting Cornish non-rotative beam engines, manufactured by Davy Brothers Limited, of Sheffield with an operating steam pressure of 30PSI.

It is thought that Dalton was the only example of Cornish engines running on superheated steam. The build was complete in 1879.

In 1937 repairs were made to damage caused by mining subsidence. 1940 Pumps recommissioned after enemy action had cut power to the station, but it was found the engines had deteriorated and pumping spears below ground level had fractured (again likely mining related).

The engines have been stationary ever since. The electric driven engine house (still in use now) was built on site that year. Since then the boilers and cold store and chimney have since been removed from the old pumping station but leaving in place the magnificent engine.

In 1997 an English heritage grant was awarded and works from that were mostly completed by 1999.

It's been a while since I had seen anything from this place, when found out a permission visit had been organised with the owner of this building I knew this one was one not to be missed.

After an early start and a wholesome breakfast at a truckers cafe, we arrived at this magnificent building, which seems to appear on the landscape out of nowhere.

Shortly after the owner arrived and asked the usual questions as to what our strange fascination was with this place, gave us a brief tour then left again, telling us to just give him a call once we were done and he would come back and lock up after us - super, no mad rushing round then!

I have to agree with the sentiments of most who have visited in the past that its a bugger of a place to shoot, (especially with the overcast/rainy weather outside, dark coloured machinery and big windows, that aside though, its a magnificent place and quite possibly one the best places I have visited.

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[1] - View from the roof.

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Visited with Explorer62 & two non-members.

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