Many thanks for your time to film. Many years ago I was lucky enough to have a visit to the Humphrey pumps at Chingford but had trouble trying to work out how they worked, you have explained. These engines are absolutely unique in the world and must be preserved at all cost, I wish the UK wasn't so far away as I'd love to help. Please keep posting any videos you can about the museum and these wonderful engines. I have seen another video about the engines with a past superintendent and an engineer, unfortunately the comments have been turned off, if you know the film maker please pass on our great full thanks.
Hi Peter and thanks for your comment. I arranged by meeting in Adelaide here with a gent. to hand over a copy of my original unedited tape that I had filmed at the Humphrey Pump....He wanted it because at the time I filmed, the top cover of the pump was off and you could see the valve mechanism working.....a rare feature that can never be repeated publicly, because of health and safety regs......He wanted to make a film and incorporate a segment of mine in it....He would let me know when the pump could be operated again...I wanted to re-film with modern equipment.....He certainly knew the operation well but I have not heard an update yet......Following the `net info, The pump seems to be loaded against the odds....Since I filmed, the State Water Authority was privatised and they banned picnics etc. at all reservoirs including the area of the pump....This has recently been reversed.... the `Health and Safety' brigade were sent in and the volunteers have had to field out for parts related, and overcome the associated Red Tape......The last knowledge fed to me, was that it could be some time before the pump is publicly operational...... One Item I learnt at the time of filming is that when first initially installed, pressure cracked the top of the cylinder and they had to send for another from `Beard and Co." in the UK...It took over a year to arrive...... I am not connected to the project, but like yourself, anxious to see it working again, up at `Cobdogla'...(232 Kilometers north of Adelaide) ...My sincere thanks Peter for reading ...Regards Gordon
@@odinzoltan Hello Gordon, Many thanks for your reply, I beg your pardon, the quality of your filming made me think it was back up and running. Hopefully common sense will prevaile over the red tape and we can see it running again. Rgds, Peter.
@@peterlewis7292....Thanks again Peter....I must have filmed it about 18-20 years ago, I can't remember.....They have a main web-page at ..... cobdoglasteammuseum.com.au but if you Google in ...`Humphrey Pump working `Wikipedia' have a good run down.....(excuse me if you already know this) .........Regards again ...Gordon
Great video, you covered many of the aspects of this great machine. I spent several years starting it up and I think this technology could easily move large amounts of water across the country wherever a gas supply exists.
...Many thanks for your comment, Brett...I value it even more, that it comes from someone personally involved with the great machine and who would have hands-on experience in it's operation....I have often wondered about the strength of the `explosion' required to move the solid mass of water to the delivery....When it is operational again we will certainly have a visit up there ...Regards...Gordon
Methane burns and expands rather than explodes so the 300 tons of water gets accelerated away. The ignition stroke produces approx. 70psi and when the water bounces back into the combustion chamber 100psi can be generated. The old cast iron chamber blew apart early after installation in the 1920's. happy to answer questions from what I can remember. When did you see it ?
...Many thanks Brett for that information....300tons of water in one delivery stroke means something!.....The longevity and reliance on the monsters, I suppose was due to relatively few working components and over-engineering ( except for the defective chamber) I guess......It must have been a long, slow, hard journey from Port Adelaide and an even more difficult effort installing them in place....When did we see it? ...a good question...my guess between 1992-1995....regards...
The 300 tons is the pipe water volume approx. weight, I could work out how much is delivered each stroke, I think it was 1.2 million gallons per hour. I believe it just recently ran again for the first time in years due to safety issues.
…..That's great news Brett. Maybe sometime soon we will be able to visit the Monster again...The only thing I remember is that a foot head of water exerts 0.5 pound at it's base and when you look at 300 tons, that is an enormous amount of energy required...I believe the old pump could form a good Physics example when teaching hydraulics...thanks again Gordon
What a spectacular pump, thank you for posting this video of the pump in action. We cannot believe that some 'shiney arse' in an office with no life or respect for history and restorations can cause so much drama. There is nothing wrong with the shed from looking at the video, it is just they do not want to see this wonderful project come back to life and live on. The Volunteers have done a great job in meeting all the expectations of S.A. Water in the past now that you have proved you can do it they move the boundaries again. It is simply wrong. Keep up the good fight and keep getting it out there on radio and television as much as you can and shame these mongrels into helping you not hinder you.
Hi cobbadog and many thanks for your comment. I was just fortunate to be there when you could see the valves working on top of the pump. I hear that when it is operational, they have to be covered to prevent the possible escape of gas....I have to admit though, that I am not a volunteer, but I did meet up with Lynn Amos 9 months ago and handed him my unedited video as he wanted to make a training film of it with the valves uncovered. He is a volunteer and has great knowledge of the pump.....I agree with everything you say. It is unfortunate that the State see fit to sell off our resources to overseas interests which then restrict our ability to enjoy them......I dare suspect that the `elf and safety' issues, (rightly or wrong) were useful as blocking devices applied to the volunteers....Thanks again ...Gordon
Have just detected this video, I am one of the team currently working to get the pump to a point where it can be again opened to the public to view the machine in operation. We (the team) believe that we are at a point where we can conduct a final trial where we hope that the gas levels as detected by the recently installed detection system will be satisfied as to safety. The holdup as of this moment is that one of the gas producers has a leak in the upper water chamber (where steam is produced). A new chamber is currently being built by SA Water at the Berri workshops. We took the opportunity, after removing the upper water chamber to examine the gas producer and found that the fire-bricking could do with replacing and the bridges at the fire-bar level were severely distorted and burnt. These bridges hold up the firebricks above the firebar openings. replacements have been ordered, from a local foundry, and we are expecting an imminent delivery when we can re-brick the producer, ready for the new water chamber. Under test the pump works beautifully, I have personally started it a number of times, in the last few months, and it runs like a clock.
Many thanks Lyn, for all that info. I have been wondering how the repairs were progressing ….now I can appreciate some of the final obstacles are being overcome....I am hoping to be up there with a better camera when you are up and running again......Regards Gordon ... Ps..Sorry for delay in reply (I did not receive notification from RUclips...)
Hi, this is the best video that I have seen of this remarkable machine. I am a member of the maintenance and operating team. I would like to contact you if that is possible. regards Lyn Amos
Hi. I will put a comment on here when we are ready for public viewing. Next Easter is the hoped for time. Even with a different camera you will not get the same video as in this post as you happened to be there before the new cover was in place on the pump. This dims the view somewhat. I should very much like a copy of the video in this post, if that is possible. regards Lyn
HI Lyn and thanks for the info and pump update...I did leave a contact e-mail but my security detected spam...so I amended my last message to you...As of July...utube have withdrawn the ability to send private messages so all is now public....I can send a dvd ...SD card..Flash (Dongle) to a post Box etc. .. or stream the video to your e-mail address ( you will have to keep the download page open for about 40mins or more.)....Pity we can't get up close to the pump anymore ....regards Gordon
Many thanks for your time to film.
Many years ago I was lucky enough to have a visit to the Humphrey pumps at Chingford but had trouble trying to work out how they worked, you have explained.
These engines are absolutely unique in the world and must be preserved at all cost, I wish the UK wasn't so far away as I'd love to help.
Please keep posting any videos you can about the museum and these wonderful engines.
I have seen another video about the engines with a past superintendent and an engineer, unfortunately the comments have been turned off, if you know the film maker please pass on our great full thanks.
Hi Peter and thanks for your comment. I arranged by meeting in Adelaide here with a gent. to hand over a copy of my original unedited tape that I had filmed at the Humphrey Pump....He wanted it because at the time I filmed, the top cover of the pump was off and you could see the valve mechanism working.....a rare feature that can never be repeated publicly, because of health and safety regs......He wanted to make a film and incorporate a segment of mine in it....He would let me know when the pump could be operated again...I wanted to re-film with modern equipment.....He certainly knew the operation well but I have not heard an update yet......Following the `net info, The pump seems to be loaded against the odds....Since I filmed, the State Water Authority was privatised and they banned picnics etc. at all reservoirs including the area of the pump....This has recently been reversed.... the `Health and Safety' brigade were sent in and the volunteers have had to field out for parts related, and overcome the associated Red Tape......The last knowledge fed to me, was that it could be some time before the pump is publicly operational......
One Item I learnt at the time of filming is that when first initially installed, pressure cracked the top of the cylinder and they had to send for another from `Beard and Co." in the UK...It took over a year to arrive......
I am not connected to the project, but like yourself, anxious to see it working again, up at `Cobdogla'...(232 Kilometers north of Adelaide)
...My sincere thanks Peter for reading ...Regards Gordon
@@odinzoltan
Hello Gordon,
Many thanks for your reply, I beg your pardon, the quality of your filming made me think it was back up and running. Hopefully common sense will prevaile over the red tape and we can see it running again.
Rgds,
Peter.
@@peterlewis7292....Thanks again Peter....I must have filmed it about 18-20 years ago, I can't remember.....They have a main web-page at .....
cobdoglasteammuseum.com.au but if you Google in ...`Humphrey Pump working `Wikipedia' have a good run down.....(excuse me if you already know this) .........Regards again ...Gordon
Great video, you covered many of the aspects of this great machine. I spent several years starting it up and I think this technology could easily move large amounts of water across the country wherever a gas supply exists.
...Many thanks for your comment, Brett...I value it even more, that it comes from someone personally involved with the great machine and who would have hands-on experience in it's operation....I have often wondered about the strength of the `explosion' required to move the solid mass of water to the delivery....When it is operational again we will certainly have a visit up there ...Regards...Gordon
Methane burns and expands rather than explodes so the 300 tons of water gets accelerated away. The ignition stroke produces approx. 70psi and when the water bounces back into the combustion chamber 100psi can be generated. The old cast iron chamber blew apart early after installation in the 1920's. happy to answer questions from what I can remember. When did you see it ?
...Many thanks Brett for that information....300tons of water in one delivery stroke means something!.....The longevity and reliance on the monsters, I suppose was due to relatively few working components and over-engineering ( except for the defective chamber) I guess......It must have been a long, slow, hard journey from Port Adelaide and an even more difficult effort installing them in place....When did we see it? ...a good question...my guess between 1992-1995....regards...
The 300 tons is the pipe water volume approx. weight, I could work out how much is delivered each stroke, I think it was 1.2 million gallons per hour. I believe it just recently ran again for the first time in years due to safety issues.
…..That's great news Brett. Maybe sometime soon we will be able to visit the Monster again...The only thing I remember is that a foot head of water exerts 0.5 pound at it's base and when you look at 300 tons, that is an enormous amount of energy required...I believe the old pump could form a good Physics example when teaching hydraulics...thanks again Gordon
What a spectacular pump, thank you for posting this video of the pump in action. We cannot believe that some 'shiney arse' in an office with no life or respect for history and restorations can cause so much drama. There is nothing wrong with the shed from looking at the video, it is just they do not want to see this wonderful project come back to life and live on. The Volunteers have done a great job in meeting all the expectations of S.A. Water in the past now that you have proved you can do it they move the boundaries again. It is simply wrong. Keep up the good fight and keep getting it out there on radio and television as much as you can and shame these mongrels into helping you not hinder you.
Hi cobbadog and many thanks for your comment. I was just fortunate to be there when you could see the valves working on top of the pump. I hear that when it is operational, they have to be covered to prevent the possible escape of gas....I have to admit though, that I am not a volunteer, but I did meet up with Lynn Amos 9 months ago and handed him my unedited video as he wanted to make a training film of it with the valves uncovered. He is a volunteer and has great knowledge of the pump.....I agree with everything you say. It is unfortunate that the State see fit to sell off our resources to overseas interests which then restrict our ability to enjoy them......I dare suspect that the `elf and safety' issues, (rightly or wrong) were useful as blocking devices applied to the volunteers....Thanks again ...Gordon
Have just detected this video, I am one of the team currently working to get the pump to a point where it can be again opened to the public to view the machine in operation. We (the team) believe that we are at a point where we can conduct a final trial where we hope that the gas levels as detected by the recently installed detection system will be satisfied as to safety.
The holdup as of this moment is that one of the gas producers has a leak in the upper water chamber (where steam is produced). A new chamber is currently being built by SA Water at the Berri workshops. We took the opportunity, after removing the upper water chamber to examine the gas producer and found that the fire-bricking could do with replacing and the bridges at the fire-bar level were severely distorted and burnt. These bridges hold up the firebricks above the firebar openings. replacements have been ordered, from a local foundry, and we are expecting an imminent delivery when we can re-brick the producer, ready for the new water chamber.
Under test the pump works beautifully, I have personally started it a number of times, in the last few months, and it runs like a clock.
Many thanks Lyn, for all that info. I have been wondering how the repairs were progressing ….now I can appreciate some of the final obstacles are being overcome....I am hoping to be up there with a better camera when you are up and running again......Regards Gordon ... Ps..Sorry for delay in reply (I did not receive notification from RUclips...)
Hi, this is the best video that I have seen of this remarkable machine.
I am a member of the maintenance and operating team.
I would like to contact you if that is possible.
regards
Lyn Amos
Thanks for the comment Lyn .....It is appreciated...
I wonder if a pump like this could have propelled ships.
That's a cool thought Skoda...Thanks for watching....
Hi. I will put a comment on here when we are ready for public viewing.
Next Easter is the hoped for time.
Even with a different camera you will not get the same video as in this post as you happened to be there before the new cover was in place on the pump. This dims the view somewhat.
I should very much like a copy of the video in this post, if that is possible.
regards
Lyn
HI Lyn and thanks for the info and pump update...I did leave a contact e-mail but my security detected spam...so I amended my last message to you...As of July...utube have withdrawn the ability to send private messages so all is now public....I can send a dvd ...SD card..Flash (Dongle) to a post Box etc. .. or stream the video to your e-mail address ( you will have to keep the download page open for about 40mins or more.)....Pity we can't get up close to the pump anymore ....regards Gordon