History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back The History of the Horse-Drawn Water-Draining Machines of the Dock basin of the Peter the Great Kronstadt Canal Petrushchenkov V.A. The Peter the Great Canal in Kronstadt is a grandiose and practical structure with a beautiful idea in the form of a dock basin at its core, which has faithfully served its purpose for over 150 years. The long-term operation of John Smeaton's steam-atmospheric machine for pumping water from the dock basin, dating back to 1777, makes this facility unique in terms of the history of thermal power engineering. The description of various types of engines and water-lifting machines used to pump water from the basin at different times is of great interest. This article provides a brief history of the construction of the Peter the Great Canal and the use of horse-drawn drives. Keywords: dock basin, repair docks, horse-drawn drive, horse circles, water-lifting mechanism. DOI: 10.25791/intstg.7.2026.1631 Pp. 30-41.