Today's photo is of a tower bridge Steam engine. One of two identical engines, it is housed under the south approach to the bridge. The two engines pumped water into hydraulic accumulators that would be activated to raise and lower the bridge decking. It only took about a minute for this hydraulic system to lift the deck to it's maximum 86 degree angle.
Until I visited, I didn't realize that this steam powered system powered the lifting of the bridge for over 80 years! The bridge opened in 1894 and different sources say the steam system was replaced with an electro-hydraulic (oil) system in 1974 or 1976. Whichever date is correct, these steam engines served for over 80 years!
During WWII, in 1942, a third steam engine was installed in case one of the original two suffered bomb damage. The third stationary steam engine was removed to the Forncett Industrial Steam Museum in Norfolk when they switched the bridge system over from steam in the 70's.
The two original steam engines were rated at 360 hp each. the third engine was only 150 hp.
If you take the tower Bridge Exhibition tour, you enter the North tower and exit the South Tower. You then need to complete your walk to the south side and down a staircase to get to the engine rooms located under the approach road.
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