River Don Engine

A 1905 Steam Engine used for hot rolling steel plate, the River Don Engine is a 3 cylinder simple of 40 inch diameter, 48 inch stroke. At its operating steam pressure of 160 PSI, it developed 12000 horsepower, and was able to reverse from full speed in 2 seconds. The rapid reverse was an essential feature of an engine used for rolling, as delays would result in cooling of the workpiece. This engine was one of four built to the same design, one going overseas to the Japanese Government, one to John Brown's Atlas plant, and the destination of the final one being unaccounted for. It is claimed to be one of the most powerful steam engines ever built, and the most powerful remaining in Europe. [http://www.simt.co.uk/collections/collections-2-1.html Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust]

The River Don engine worked for over 50 years at Cammell's mill before being moved first to British Steel's River Don plant (hence its name) and then to its present home at the Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield. The engine was last used for commercial work in the 1970s, to roll out reactor shield plates for nuclear power plants.

The engine is normally regularly demonstrated at the museum, without load, and under 5 PSI of steam pressure. It had to be taken out of service following the Sheffield Floods of July 2007 which extensively damaged the museum and parts of the engine. An 8 week program to restore it to working order was under way in June 2008.

External links

* [http://newkelham.blogspot.com/ New Kelham Island Museum Blog]
* [http://www.simt.co.uk/collections/collections-2-1.html Kelham Island Museum page]

References