Newcomen Engine House & Engine
In 1712 Thomas Newcomen built the first successful steam engine in the world used for pumping water from the coal mines on Lord Dudley's estates.
In 1986 after much research, the Black Country Museum completed a full scale working replica of that 1712 engine.
The 'fire engine' as it was known, is housed in an impressive brick built engine house. The engine’s wooden beam operates pumps at the bottom of a replica section of shaft raising the water to the surface. The engine itself is simple, with only a boiler, a cylinder and piston and a simple valve and valve gear arrangement.
The cylinder is more than 2m long and 52cm in diameter and made of brass/bronze. The steam in the cylinder is condensed by injecting cold water and the vacuum beneath the piston pulls the inner end of the beam down and causes the pump to operate.
22/08/2009