Took the kids to East Pool mine on Thursday, East Pool and Agar mine in Pool near Camborne was one of the last active Tin mine sites in Cornwall (South Crofty was the last) It was opened in 1922 after and continued until 1945, it would have closed soon but the government subsidised the mining of Tungsten during the war for artillery shells. Once the subsides had finished the mine close and the steam engine and pump turned off, this caused flooding in South Croft, turned out they were having shafts pumped out for free! So they had to buy the engine to pump out their shafts for another 9 years until converted to electric. The engine was built by Harvey's of Hayle in 1892, EPAL (East Pool & Agar Ltd) bought the engine and engine house from a near by Carn Brea mine and dismantled it and brought it too the new site about a mile away as the crow flies no mean feat in 1920! it thought to be one of the largest beam engines in situ in the UK with a 90" piston and 31 1/2" beam. The largest which was also built by Harvey's of Hayle is in the Netherlands and has a massive 144" piston! IIRC the President Engine house in America had a 110 1/2" piston.
Sadly like many engines in Cornwall it has been locked off so no longer turns under steam, very few turn on Electric, I can only recall one that still turns by steam in Cornwall.
For those interested here is how it used to look down here about 1890 before we had to rely on tourism.... Carn Brea on the right east Pool mine is thought to be the furthest stack in the left. Photo was taken on a Sunday or feast day as there is no smoke from the chimneys so no one at work.
Anyways my photos..... again Mate 9
The formidable engine house
Valve gear
The operators position.
A view from the beam floor
An oiler on the 90" cylinder.
And the engine inspector for the day.....