The 12,000 horse power River Don Engine was built by Davy Brothers of Sheffield in 1905.
It was made to drive Charles Cammell’s armour plate rolling mill located at his Grimesthorpe
Works. The engine was one of four all built for the same purpose. The second went to John
Brown’s Atlas Works, the third to the Japanese government, and the destination of the fourth
is unknown.
The River Don Engine ran at Cammell’s mill for almost 50 years. The engine was then
transferred to what was formerly known as the British Steel Corporation’s River Don Works.
At the Works, the engine continued to drive a heavy plate mill, producing products such as
stainless steel reactor shields and steel plates for North Sea oil rigs. In 1978, the engine
ceased production and was transferred to Kelham Island Museum.
It is now the most powerful working steam engine remaining in Europe, and you can see it
"in steam" at the Museum.
| |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Cylinder bore |
1.06m |
41 inches |
| Piston Stroke |
1.22m |
48 inches |
| Working Pressure |
72.5 kg / 6.45 sq.cm. saturated steam |
160 lb / sq. in. saturated steam |
| Crank pin diameter |
0.53metres |
21inches |
| Main journal diameter |
0.53metres |
21inches |
| Estimated total weight |
426.83 tonnes |
420 tons |
| Largest single component weight |
51.83 tonnes |
51 tons |
| Overall height |
8.54 metres |
28 feet |
| Overall length |
12.2 metres |
40 feet |
