We are still at the High Level Pumping Station, in this room which was added in 1911 to the previous 1906 room where the steam engine was located. The electric pumps were replaced in the mid 1950s and the 6 units in this room pump water to west and central Toronto. My water actually comes through these pipes! The one thing that struck me about the whole pumping station was how clean and shiny it was as you can see from the gleaming floor.
There was something about the neat and tidy arrangement of these wrenches hanging on the side of the steam engine at the High Level Pumping Station that I liked. Like everything else in the building they looked like they had been carefully maintained for many years!
These very cool gauges were found on the end of the steam engine which I showed you yesterday from the High Level Pumping Station. There is something fascinating about a control panel like this don't you think!
The first thing you see when you enter the High Level Pumping Station, which I showed you yesterday, is this wonderful old steam engine. It is a vertical triple-expansion steam engine built by John Inglis of Toronto in 1909 and there were stairs beside it which led you down to the pipe gallery below where the water was pumped. This engine and all of the other historic engines in the building were in immaculate shape and there were a lot of very proud City of Toronto people around, such as these 2 men, explaining things to all the visitors. I've always wondered what was inside the building and wasn't disappointed. More pics to come for a few days.
This wonderful building is the High Level Pumping Station, with the 3rd largest capacity of the 18 pumping stations in Toronto. Toronto's water comes from Lake Ontario and the city goes uphill from the lake requiring the use of pumps to deliver the water to the higher elevations. This building was built in 1906 in Edwardian Classical style and it has heritage designation but is still totally functional and is the hub for controlling the transmission of tap water across the city. It was open to the public during our Doors Open event in May but somehow I never got around to posting any pics till now. More pics for the next few days.
It is hard to read it but there is a sign over the door and I am taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
