For more than a decade, NMIH has been working with staff and volunteers to restore a massive 115-ton stationary steam engine to working order.  Now, with the contributions of local companies and thousands of volunteer hours, the museum’s Corliss water pumping engine runs again, 105 years after being built by the Snow Steam Pump Works in Buffalo, N.Y.

The engine was used by the York Water Company and pumped eight million gallons of water per day.  Today the engine, the most powerful operating water works steam engine in North America, is a focal point of the museum’s 13,000 square foot exhibit space, where it has painstakingly been mechanically restored to its former glory and repainted its original color.  From May 31st through June 2nd the museum will debut the operational engine to the public for the first time. Patrons will be able to see the engine at work and hear from museum experts and guest lecturers during special programming throughout the weekend which is generously sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and York Water Company.

The weekend will have a host of activities and running times detailed below.

Friday, May 31st
10am – Corliss operation/demonstration
11am – NMIH Corliss & Phillipsburg ‘Big Allis’ Presentation and Tour
3pm – Corliss operation/demonstration

Saturday, June 1st
10am – Corliss operation/demonstration
11am – Restoring a Giant: Bringing a 115 Ton Steam Engine Back to Life 
12pm – Corliss operation/demonstration and special ‘steam whistle blow’ event
3pm – Corliss operation/demonstration

Sunday, June 2nd
10am – Corliss operation/demonstration
11am – Restoring a Giant: Bringing a 115 Ton Steam Engine Back to Life 
12pm – Corliss operation/demonstration and special ‘steam whistle blow’ event
2pm – Modern Marvels: Waterworks Engines
3pm – Corliss operation/demonstration