- Joined
- Dec 28, 2014
- Messages
- 10
New to the forum, a great place for information. I want to show off the American Walking Beam Steam Engine that I built for a 20 foot long sidewheeler. I love this machinery because I get to watch all the parts rocking and rolling while leisurely underway on the water. It turns at 50 - 60 RPM, slow enough to see what is going on. Been running on the water for 5 years now, and have done nothing but replace a couple of bushings on the walking beam, and some valve stem packing.
This type of engine was popular on USA excursion steamers for about 100 years, far after it was an obsolete engine design, because the passengers wanted to see the rocking beam in action, it was almost always visible protruding above the upper deck of these steamers. The pictured engine is 3-1/4 bore x 5-1/4 stroke, with Marshall-Bremme valve gear. On Youtube, look up "Sidewheel Steamboat" for some video of this boat in action if you like .
This type of engine was popular on USA excursion steamers for about 100 years, far after it was an obsolete engine design, because the passengers wanted to see the rocking beam in action, it was almost always visible protruding above the upper deck of these steamers. The pictured engine is 3-1/4 bore x 5-1/4 stroke, with Marshall-Bremme valve gear. On Youtube, look up "Sidewheel Steamboat" for some video of this boat in action if you like .