For the reopening of the pumphouse at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MoTaT), Nextspace provided a 3D animation which shows the mechanical operation of the beam engine and pumping system.

The pumphouse and beam engine are an important heritage site for Auckland. Prior to 1877, the citizens of Auckland had very inadequate water supplies and suffered huge losses from major fires in the city. In 1874 William Errington (1832 – 1894), an engineer trained in United Kingdom, was commissioned by Auckland City Council to design the Western Springs Pumping Station with associated pipelines and reservoirs. Coal fired boilers operated a steam engine driving a 16.3 tonne, 6.25m diameter flywheel and 7.3m beam operated twin pumps raising up to 13,600m3 water per day, 71.6 m to the Ponsonby Reservoir.

This system brought huge health benefits to the city when first commissioned in March 1877. The pumps served Auckland until 1910 when adequate water from the Waitakere Ranges became available. From 1920, when the springs showed significant signs of pollution, they were used in emergency only and heavily chlorinated. By 1936 it was recommended the machinery be scrapped and the original boilers were removed in the following year.