Air Pressure Collection

Pump Governor - Westinghouse Air Brake
Today, the air brake is the standard, fail-safe train brake used by railways worldwide. Early train brakes were hand operated and largely ineffective

The Atmospheric Railway at Dawlish, 1847, (1945). Creator: Unknown
The Atmospheric Railway at Dawlish, 1847, (1945). Railway line running along the sea front in the town of Dawlish on the south coast of Devon

Equilibrium and movement of the air, c1851. The effects of pneumatics and barometric pressure underwater and in the air, showing ballooning, a diving bell, divers in diving suits, an air gun

Leading carriages, showing the tube, piston, heater, closing wheels &c. 1845. Diagram showing an atmospheric railway, a system using air pressure for locomotion, invented by Clegg and Samuda

Viaduct on the Croydon Atmospheric Railway... 1845. Creator: Unknown
Viaduct on the Croydon Atmospheric Railway, crossing the Dover and Brighton lines, between Norwood and Croydon, 1845. Trains travelling on tracks using air pressure for locomotion, south London

Portion of the tube on the line, 1845. Creator: Unknown
Portion of the tube on the line, 1845. Diagram showing part of the track of an atmospheric railway, a system using air pressure for locomotion, invented by Clegg and Samuda

Dawlish, Devon, c1860. This viewshows the track of Isambard Kingdom Brunels (1806-1859) South Devon Railway. The South Devon was an example of an atmospheric railway, which did not use locomotives

Kingstown and Dalkey Atmospheric Railway, near Dublin, 1845. This was built on the Samuel Clegg Jnr (1814-1856) and Joseph Samuda (1813-1885) system, also used on the Croydon, the South Devon

Clegg and Samudas atmospheric railway, 1845. Designed by Samuel Clegg Jnr (1814-1856) and Joseph Samuda (1813-1885), this was the system adopted on the Croydon Atmospheric Railway

Von Guerickes demonstration of the power of air pressure, 1672. A platform was suspended from the bottom of an evacuated sphere made up of two copper hemispheres

Von Guerickes demonstration of the strength of a vacuum, 1654 (1672). The man on the right is using an air pump to create the vacuum

Otto von Guericke, German inventor, engineer and physicist, 1672. Portrait from his Eperimenta Nova, ut vocant, Magdeburgica, de vacuo Spatio (New Magdeburgian Experiments, as they are called)

Title page of Experimenta Nova, ut vocant, Magdeburgica, de vacuo Spatio, (Amsterdam, 1672). New Magdeburgian Experiments, as they are called, relating to a Vacuum) by Otto von Guericke (1606-1686)

Von Guerickes demonstration of the strength of air pressure, 1672. In the mid 17th century Otto von Guericke used an air-pump to remove the air from between two large close-fitting copper

Robert Boyles second air pump, c1660 (1725). The pump is being used to evacuate a bell jar to examine the effect on an animal inside it

Air pump built for Robert Boyle by Robert Hooke, 1660. Robert Boyle (1627-1691) was a physicist and chemist who carried out many experiments on air, vacuum, combustion, and respiration

Robert Boyles experiments with air pumps, 1725. Using this apparatus, similar to Guerickes water barometer, Boyle (1627-1691) found that water could only be raised 33ft 6ins

KENTUCKY: GAS STATION, 1942. Virginia Lively, a wartime gas station attendant in Louisville, Kentucky. Photograph, 1942

Main wagon of the atmospheric railway of Saint-Germain, taken out of service in 1859

Advertisment for Barometers made by John Patrick, c. 1705-1715 (engraving)
XJF439969 Advertisment for Barometers made by John Patrick, c.1705-1715 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

OTTO von GUERICKE, 1672. Title-page of the first edition of Otto von Guerickes Experimenta Nova, Amsterdam, 1672, containing his accounts of the invention of the air pump

English chemist and physicist. Line engraving, 1680, illustrating two of Boyles experiments pertaining to the specific
ROBERT BOYLE (1627-1691). English chemist and physicist. Line engraving, 1680, illustrating two of Boyles experiments pertaining to the specific gravity of fluids and the expansion

Weather station equipment including wind instruments and, at centre, a barograph

Meteorological and Pneumatic Instruments C017 / 3455
Plate from 18th century encyclopedia showing illustrations of various meteorological and pneumatic instruments. A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric

Pneumatic Devices C017 / 3494
Plate from 18th century encyclopedia showing illustrations of various pneumatic devices. The main illustration shows a wind-gun, or in modern parlance

Eustachian tube anatomy, artwork
Eustachian tube anatomy. Artwork of the anatomy of the human Eustachian tube in its normal closed state (main artwork) and in an open state (inset, upper right)

Hovercraft, artwork C013 / 5947
Hovercraft. Cutaway computer artwork showing how a hovercraft floats on a cushion of air above the ground. Air (blue arrows)

Large water barometer, 1890 C013 / 9061
Large water barometer, 19th-century artwork. Artwork from the 5th volume (first period of 1890) of the French popular science weekly La Science Illustree

OTTO von GUERICKE, 1672. One of Otto von Guerickes demonstrations of air pressure. Copper engraving from Guerickes Experiment Nova, Amsterdam, 1672

VON GUERICKE: AIR PRESSURE. Otto von Guerickes most celebrated experiment on air pressure utilizing the Magdeburg hemispheres. Copper engraving from his Experimenta Nova, Amsterdam, 1672

Testing a barometer. Laboratory technician analysing a barometer using testing equipment. The barometer (right) is used to measure atmospheric pressure and forecast the weather

Pneumatic tubes, 19th century
Pneumatic tubes. Historical artwork of a pneumatic messaging system at the Paris Post Office, France, in the 19th century

Guericke experimenting with electricity
Otto von Guericke (1602-1686), German physicist, operating the first static electricity generator. His generator consisted of a large ball of sulphur (yellow)

Mini weather station. This solar-powered outdoors climate monitor detects changes in temperature, rainfall, wind and air pressure

17th Century science demonstration. Historical artwork of a man pointing to a glass globe during an experiment to demonstrate the force of air pressure on a vacuum. Published in 1672

Gulf of Mexico hurricane, isobar diagram. The isobars (white lines) connect areas of equal pressure, and are used on meteorological maps to help predict future weather patterns

European severe storm, isobar diagram. The isobars (white lines) connect areas of equal pressure, and are used on meteorological maps to help predict future weather patterns

Internal ear, artwork
Internal ear. Artwork of a female face showing the structure of the internal ear. The ear canal leads from the external ear (pinna) to the eardrum (tympanic membrane)

Plastic suction cups holding a shower caddy to a glass wall. Pressing the suction cup to a smooth, non-porous surface reduces the internal air pressure and creates a vacuum

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Air pressure plays a crucial role in various aspects of transportation and engineering. From the Pump Governor developed by Westinghouse Air Brake to the Atmospheric Railway at Dawlish, it has been harnessed for its incredible power and efficiency. In 1847, an unknown creator introduced the world to the Atmospheric Railway at Dawlish. This innovative system utilized air pressure to propel trains along tracks, revolutionizing locomotion during that time period. Equilibrium and movement of the air were carefully studied in c1851, further enhancing our understanding of this powerful force. The leading carriages showcased intricate mechanisms such as tubes, pistons, heaters, and closing wheels in 1845. These components worked together harmoniously under the influence to ensure smooth operation on railway lines. The Viaduct on the Croydon Atmospheric Railway stood tall as a testament to human ingenuity in 1845. Portions of tubes used on atmospheric railways were captured by unknown creators in 1845. These images highlight how engineers incorporated air pressure into their designs with precision and accuracy. Meanwhile, picturesque views of Dawlish, Devon around c1860 remind us how nature coexists with man-made marvels powered by air pressure. Beyond Britain's shores lay other remarkable examples like Kingstown and Dalkey Atmospheric Railway near Dublin (1845) or Clegg and Samudas atmospheric railway (1845). These projects demonstrated that harnessing air pressure was not limited to one location but had global potential. However, it was Otto von Guericke who truly pioneered our understanding of this phenomenon back in 1672 when he conducted demonstrations showcasing both the power and strength within a vacuum. As a German inventor, engineer, and physicist ahead of his time; Von Guericke's contributions paved the way for future advancements utilizing this invisible force. Today we continue to benefit from these early discoveries as we witness how modern technology utilizes air pressure in various applications.