Pumping plant at Eccles, Greater Manchester, 9 October 1924.

Pumping plants pumped underground water to the surface, often to top up reservoirs or to docks if the water level was low, particularly in the summertime. Several water troughs, which were used by the railways to add water to locomotive boilers were positioned close to Eccles. It is therefore likely that this pumping plant was used to add water to these troughs when the levels were low. Two locomotive engines have been converted for the purpose.