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Shrewsbury Steam Engines Roar Back to Life!
2 Sep
Summary
- Historic steam engines at Coleham Pumping Station are operational again.
- Safety concerns over an unsafe chimney halted operations for four years.
- Volunteers from Shrewsbury Steam Trust spearheaded the revival efforts.
Volunteers at the Coleham Pumping Station heritage site in Shrewsbury are celebrating the return of two steam engines to service. These powerful engines, which pumped sewage in the town until the 1970s, had been switched off for four years. Operations ceased in 2022 following safety concerns about the site's tall chimney, leading to fears that steam power would never be restored.
The dedicated work of the Shrewsbury Steam Trust volunteers has resolved the issues, including repairing the unsafe chimney and replacing vital boiler pipework. Following successful testing on September 1, 2026, steam has once again been restored to the pumping station. This milestone enables the museum to resume its schedule of public open days and steam demonstrations.
