What improved?
Mines filled with water. A steam-powered pump could help remove it so miners could work deeper underground.
THE ENGINE ROOM / 03
Small parts. Big discoveries.
A little steam. A clever machine. Let’s see what makes it move.
ON THE WORKBENCHAtmospheric · Mine pump1712 principle · Early steam age
Explore the steam history timeline
3D MODEL
A little steam. A mighty push from the air.An atmospheric pumping exhibit; no rotary flywheel.
Drag to turn · Scroll or pinch to zoom · Right-drag or two-finger drag to panTap a part to discover it
Ready when you are
FROM THE HISTORICAL RECORD · 1712 principle · Early steam age
THE ENGINE’S STORYSteam begins underground
Imagine a mine slowly filling with water. Newcomen built an engine to help pump it out. First, steam fills a cylinder. A spray of cold water turns that steam back into water. The pressure inside falls, so the air outside pushes the piston down. The beam lifts a pump at the other end.
Original, replica or teaching model?
Read the source Our exhibit explains the operating principle introduced in 1712. The photograph shows the preserved Elsecar engine, a later example, rather than the first machine.
Air does the pushing
Cooling steam makes liquid water and lowers pressure inside the cylinder. The atmosphere above the piston supplies the working push.
People and fuel
Pumping helped mining grow, but these engines used a lot of fuel. Miners still faced difficult and dangerous work.
In the archive
Select a photograph to look closer. Captions distinguish originals, replicas and related examples.
The preserved atmospheric engine at Elsecar.
Chris Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0Archive record ↗
YOUR NEXT DISCOVERY
Look closer. Have a go. Find out.Think like an engineer.
THE ENGINEER’S CHALLENGE
APPRENTICERescue the mine
- 1. Learn the job
- 2. Put it in order
- 3. Take the controls
Water is collecting at the bottom of a mine. Your pump can lift it out, using steam, cold water and a push from the air.
Your goal
Complete three pumping shifts and empty the mine sump.
First, discover how the engine works by choosing the steps in order. Then adjust three controls for each round. You can try again, ask for help, or restart at any time.