As part of Doors Open Toronto, I visited the High Level Pumping Station. It is the oldest building in Toronto’s water supply system. The oldest part of the building dates back to 1906 with other additions added later until the final one in 1953. The building houses a vertical triple expansion steam engine from 1909 with a huge crank and flywheel, not to mention a lovely set of huge wrenches hanging next to it. The building also houses a steam-geared centrifugal pump. However neither of those are used anymore but instead have been replaced with nine electric motor-driven pumps to fulfill the pumping station’s objection of conveying drinking water to that area of Toronto.
High Level Pumping Station
Entrance Sign
Monitor roof allows light in and original crane can be seen in background
Columns with pressed metal molding and tile on walls
1913 steam engine
1909 vertical triple-expansion steam engine
Original steam engine gauges
Room with electric motor-driven pumps