Steam boats on the Thames in the 1860’s

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

In the early 1860’s my great great grandfather was an engineer on a steamboat on the river Thames.

 

For a steamboat to have a resident engineer it must have been a biggish boat.

I am assuming from my research that it would have been one of the many paddle steamers operating either up river or down river from Westminster Bridge.

 

Hopefully my next project will be to make a model of the type of engine my gg grandaddy worked on if only I could find out what type it could have been.

Are there any marine engine enthusiasts out there who can give me any help on this.

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

There are several models about that could have been used in a paddle steamer, there is a popular design for a double slanting engine that was covered in ME have a seach for “side paddle engine” by E T Westbury. I think myhobbystore may do the plans.

 

Edit there is a nice engine of similar style complete with paddles on this this old e-bay item if you feel you are upto it bottom row 3rd from left. The main twin horizontal would also have had padles fixed to those flanges

 

 

The side lever engine which starts in the next issue is also well suited to paddle steamers

 

Jason

 

Edited By JasonB on 03/01/2011 16:48:05

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You may also find some help on the Paddleducks forum

 

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php

 

J

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

http://www.hollycombe.co.uk

 

From memory of a visit I think this place has a paddle steamer engine tucked away out of sight, not at all sure of its vintage though.

 

An internet search for Paddle Steamer Preservation Societies might be worth while.

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 03/01/2011 18:05:25

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

Thanks for your help lads.

 

Some useful links to follow up there.

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

One problem is that the the 1860’s is early enough that designs had not setted down to standardised layouts. A paddle steamer could have oscillating or fixed cylinders, and may or may not have beams or side levers. Similarly a screw engine might have one of several layouts, including using levers and having the cylinders crossways across the boat. (Done to keep the height down.) So unless you can track down the name of a particular boat you are not going to be able to be sure you have the right style of engine. Still, you can certainly track down engines of that era, and come up with something that would not have been too unfamiliar to the gentleman.

 

regards

John

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