Record #00312Technology archive
First Practical Industrial Piston Steam Engine
Thomas Newcomen erected a practical atmospheric piston steam engine near Dudley Castle in England in 1712 to pump mine water, a landmark recognized by the Science Museum.
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Achievement date
1712
1712
- Location
- Near Dudley Castle, England · United Kingdom
- Record status
- VerifiedReport an issue
Verification basis and limitations
VerifiedThe record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Verification explanation pending
- Last editorial review
- 2026-11-04
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
Overview
Archive NoteNewcomen expanded on Thomas Savery's earlier steam pump by creating a practical piston-driven atmospheric engine that used condensation to produce a vacuum.
Newcomen and John Calley built an operational machine near Dudley Castle in 1712 to drain a mine. The installation preceded James Watt's later refinements and enabled wider industrial pumping applications.
Record history
1 Milestones- First achievementNewcomen atmospheric steam engine (1712)Near Dudley Castle, EnglandFirst achievement
Sources
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