Page:Walker (1888) The Severn Tunnel.djvu/224



had been thought up to the time when the spring flooded the works that we had pumping-plant upon the ground more than sufficient to deal with the greatest quantity of water that could be met with.

We had first a 75-inch Cornish beam-engine, with a 35-inch bucket-pump; two 50-inch engines with a 26-inch pump each; a 70-inch engine, with a 28-inch and two 18-inch pumps; a 41-inch engine, with a 28-inch pump; a horizontal engine, with 18-inch pumps; and nine 15-inch pumps worked by horizontal engines. It was evident that we must more than double this plant before we could hope to complete the tunnel, and then the more serious question arose, ‘Where should the pumping-plant be fixed?’

It was almost universally supposed that we should have to sink another shaft in which to place this pumping-plant.

It was advisable to obtain the plant ready made if