Located on the banks of the Steeping River about 2 miles from Wainfleet All Saints sits Thorpe Culvert Pumping station. Unlike some other pumping stations on the Fens, Thorpe Culvert looks a little unassuming from the outside, been simple looking concrete building. However the inside of the station is much different and is like an Aladin’s cave for engine enthusiasts.
The Station was commissioned in 1938 and was fitted with a pair of Ruston 9XHRC twin cylinder horizontal diesel engines. These 2 engines each drove a Gwynnes 36” centrifugal pump which were designed to move 22,400 gallons (or 100 tonnes!!!). These large engines are started by air, which is provided by a Ruston 1VTO which in turn drives a Ruston BCD, twin cylinder air compressor to charge the air bottle up to the required pressure.
The station falls under the control of the Lindsay Marsh drainage board and was in regular use until the mid 1970’s when it was superseded by a new electric powered station built next door. This wasn’t the end for the diesel site though as the original station was retained by the board as a standby in case of emergency or for backup at times of very high water levels. This situation continued until the early 1990’s when an approach was made by the board to well known local engine enthusiast Dennis Quincey to see if he could gather a group of volunteers to take over the maintenance and restoration of the site. By 1994 a small band of volunteers had been formed and they quickly set about the task of re-commissioning one of Ruston 9XHRC’s which had been allowed to fall into a state of semi disrepair.
As well as carrying out maintenance work on the site and the engines, the volunteers are also responsible for running the engines and pumps if called upon in times of emergency, as the pumps are still officially listed on the drainage board’s standby list. The station has been called on a few times over the years to help out when power cuts have hit the electric station, but the most important use came in 2007 when due to prolonged heavy rainfall in 2007 both engines were called upon to assist the electric pumps to prevent flooding in the local area.
Following the passing of Dennis Quincey in December 2002 the station was officially renamed Quincey’s pumping station, in memory of all of the work he had done. It is fitting that the same band of about 15 volunteers, still run the station. One such volunteer is Dennis’ son Andrew, who has a history of working with drainage engines as he worked for the Witham Fourth internal drainage board until his retirement a few years ago.
Qunicey’s Pumping Station is open to the public several times throughout the year where the volunteers usually have one of the engines running. Entry is free, but there is a box for donations, which go towards helping with the upkeep of the station. More details of opening times etc can be found by emailing enquiries@lmdb.co.uk
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Country: GB
