The pioneering pumping station: Smethwick's revolution in water transport

The New Smethwick Pumping Station, situated on the border of Smethwick and Birmingham, was first opened in 1892. It replaced an existing wooden beam engine at Bridge Street, Smethwick, marking a significant advancement in water transport. The station's purpose was to pump water from the low Birmingham New Main Line to the high Old Main Line Canal. However, it closed in the mid-1920s due to reduced traffic on the canals. The New Smethwick Pumping Station was later restored in the late 1980s and is now part of the Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre. Tours of the original site can be organized through the museum in Galton Valley.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons