Here's the power for the break-in rig. An old split phase quarter-horse Dunlap hooked up to a rheostat. Oh, and for those who must know, the rail is section of 152 lbs RE I found out along the main line.

Spent part of RMS Titanic Eve running in the crankshaft. About six hours at 200 turns.

Uncle Jack:

Thanks for the link. I had visited Mr Mill's site once before, never dreaming I would eventually own one ... I'm in the process of carefully blueprinting and fitting No. 5 as it goes back together.

Cordially,

Found a build date the other night while scraping red lead out of the forward main bearing location on the bed plate. So now some questions are answered and there's enough information for an engraved engine badge plate: Beaumaris Instrument Co. Ltd. Engine No. 5 February 1973 I would be grateful for...

... I was equally shattered when I learned that the San Pablo from the classic movie "Sand Pebbles" was actually a prop - one of the largest ever built. The engine room was actually built on a stage. At least the material was technically correct. Goodness! Is nothing sacred? I'm slinging babbitt ev...

Scott, well said - your last paragraph captures what our boats and engineering represent to us.

Pat: My two cents: - Slow the thing down. Steam has a torque curve that IC can only envy; - Widen out the LP to 5.5 or six inches in order to harness the expansion (or shrink the HP); - Stroke it to at least four inches, maybe five; - After you do all that, you may have to widen out the front column...

Ron, thanks for the encouragement. Little by little ...

Fred:

There are two in indirect opposition, like a wheel axle. I'll still have a separate thrust bearing on the prop shaft, to keep the wear and tear off the engine.

Yes, they should be very durable and will last indefinitely in this app.

So here's a funny thing: As I continue to dismantle the engine while things are drying on the hull, I "discover" that the front main bearing is a roller bearing and the main rear are tapered Timkens in indirect opposition. I was a little crest-fallen ... There's a story here. I've spent part of my a...