Kew Bridge Steam Museum

　　   The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is located in Brentford, west London, England, near the Kew Bridge that spans the River Thames. Established in 1975, the museum houses a collection of water supply and pumping steam engines and is one of the fixed points on the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

　　   The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is housed within a magnificent 19th-century waterworks, which was operated by the Grand Junction Waterworks Company starting in 1838 but later closed due to poor water quality. It is an excellent place to learn about the technology that led to the British Industrial Revolution and the country’s leading position in the global industrial economy during the 19th century. All the steam engines at the museum are powered by real steam and serve as one of the most significant historical landmarks of Britain’s water industry. The site features the world’s largest collection of Cornish beam engines, including the world’s largest working beam engine — the “Grand Junction 90” from 1846. Weighing 250 tons, standing over 40 feet tall, and with cylinders measuring 90 inches in diameter, it pumped water for Londoners for 98 years and was described by Charles Dickens as a monstrous beast.

　　   In addition, the Kew Bridge Steam Museum is also home to one of the operational steam railways in Britain. The 2-foot narrow-gauge railway is managed and run by museum volunteers, attracting numerous visitors for rides. The museum has also been used as a filming location for various movies and TV dramas, such as EastEnders, Doctor Who, and The Age of Industry.

　　   Kew Bridge Steam Museum Must-visit reason: See the world’s largest beam engine Continent: Europe [Europe] Country/Region: Britain [Britain] Province/State: Greater London [Greater London] City: London [London]