Steam Engine

[NW Mailing List]

Roanoke has an operating steam engine that you can see!

Well, sort of.  The attached photo is of the preserved and restored steam engine in the Crystal Spring pump house in South Roanoke.  It actually runs (powered by electricity).

The engine, in operation 1905 - 1957 pumping water for the City of Roanoke, was manufactured by the Snow Steam Pump Company of Buffalo, NY (later Worthington) and is believed to be a unique survival of its type.  It is a compound steam engine with Corliss valves driving a duplex water pump.  The engine weighs 200 tons and has an eleven-ton, thirteen-foot flywheel!  The spinning flywheel, along with the "monkey motion" of the Corliss valve gear, is impressive.

There are explanatory signs and a video presentation about the engine/pump in the pump house.

The pump house is normally open only on Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 PM, but check at 540 362-5770 to see about other possibilities.  Admission is free.

Gordon Hamilton

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