MOTAT beam engine LIVE again after 80 Years
It once pumped two million gallons from Western Springs every day, but for the past 80 years Motat”s beam engine has lain unused and rusting.
On Saturday 19th April, the engine was started again and the public were treated to an authentic piece of history in motion.
Former Prime Minister and Local MP Helen Clark opening the restored working pumphouse
Volunteers including engine enthusiasts from all over Auckland have dedicated hundreds of hours to bringing the engine back to life.
Steam section manager Ken Pointon has led the project.
An engine fitter and turner by trade, Mr Pointon says getting the engine working again has been very rewarding.
“No one ever really thought it would go again, but we decided bugger it. It”s a national treasure of New Zealand, we”re lucky it”s still here.”
Built in Scotland in 1877, the engine was shipped to New Zealand in pieces and assembled at Western Springs, where it has stayed ever since.
Click on movie above to play
Chief engineer Mike Austin says the pumphouse is now Motat”s oldest building.
“This building is the reason Motat is here.”
During it”s 51 years of use, it was the city”s main water supply, pumping water to reservoirs in Ponsonby, Mt Eden and Khyber pass.
It was decommissioned in 1928 after the dam at Waitakere took over as the main water supply.
It has become the biggest operational beam engine in the southern hemisphere.
Mr Pointon says it has been a huge task to restore it completely as parts of the machine had seized solid, requiring hours of piping and plumbing work.
Other work has included rebuilding valve spindles and installing a new cooling tower.
As for actually pumping water again, Mr Austin is optimistic.
Mike Austin with the Scotch Boiler that supplies steam for the pumphouse and the various other engines he maintains!
He says the next phase of work after the open day will hopefully see a pump hooked on to the engine but for now it is “one miracle at a time.”
In the most recent test run in December last year, the engine was able to sound Motat”s steam horn for the first time in 80 years.
Motat”s marketing and events co-ordinator Bridgette Johansen says it was exciting to hear the horn blow.
“People came running out of their offices all around Motat to see what was happening.”
Miss Johansen says they hope to spread some of their enthusiasm to the public on the open day.
“It”s getting people excited about history while tying in a quintessential piece of history, especially kids.”
Mr Pointon says there is a huge educational story behind the engine and the way water pumps work.
“Kids today just turn on a tap and see water come out.
“They don”t know how it got there.”
Miss Johansen says Motat”s April school holiday programme will also centre around water and steam.
The open day was a steam celebration day featuring a Victorian theme.
