A stationary steam engine, preserved at Tower Bridge in London. This is one of two tandem cross-compound hydraulic pumping engines formerly used to raise and lower the bridge.

Stationary steam engines are fixed steam engines used for pumping or driving mills and factories, and for power generation. They are distinct from locomotive engines used on railways, traction engines for heavy steam haulage on roads, steam cars (and other motor vehicles), agricultural engines used for ploughing or threshing, and marine engines.

They were introduced during the eighteenth century and widely made for the whole of the nineteenth century and most of the first half of the twentieth century, only declining as electricity supply and the internal combustion engine became more widespread.

Types of stationary steam engine

There are different patterns of stationary steam engines, distinguished by the layout of the cylinders and crankshaft:

• Beam engines have a rocking beam providing the connection between the vertical cylinder and crankshaft.
• Table engines have the crosshead above the vertical cylinder and the crankshaft below.
• Horizontal engines have a horizontal cylinder.
• Vertical engines have a vertical cylinder.
• Inclined engines have an inclined cylinder.

Stationary engines may be classified by secondary characteristics as well:

• High speed engines are distinguished by fast-acting valves.
• Corliss engines are distinguished by special rotary valve gear.
• Uniflow engines have admission valves at the cylinder heads and exhaust ports at the midpoint.

When stationary engines had multiple cylinders, they could be classified as

• simple engines have multiple identical cylinders operating on a common crankshaft.
• Compound engines use the exhaust from high-pressure cylinders to power low-pressure cylinders.

The Camden Town stationary steam engine chimneys and locomotive workshops on the London and Birmingham Railway in 1838.^[1]

In order of evolution:

• Newcomen engine
• Watt engine
• Cornish engine
• Corliss engine
• Uniflow engine

Stationary engines may also be classified by their application:

• Pumping engines are found in pumping stations.
• Winding engines power various types of hoists.
• Refrigeration engines are typically coupled to ammonia compressors.

See also

• List of steam energy topics
• Category:Preserved stationary steam engines
• Stationary engine
• Steam donkey

References

• Buchanan, R. A., and Watkins, George, The Industrial Archaeology of the Stationary Steam Engine, London, 1976, ISBN 0-7139-0604-9

• Watkins, George, Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain, Landmark Publishing, various ISBNs

Vol 1, Yorkshire (2000)

Vol 2, Scotland and Northern England (2000)

Vols 3:1, 3:2, Lancashire (2001)

Vol 4, Wales, Cheshire,& Shropshire (2002)

Vol 5, The North Midlands (2002)

Vol 6, The South Midlands (2003)

Vol 7, The South and South West (2003)

Vol 8, Greater London and the South East (2003)

Vol 9, East Anglia & adjacent counties (2004)

Vol 10, Marine Engines (and readers' notes, indexes to the series etc) (2005)

This series reproduces some 1,500 images from the Steam Engine Record made by George Watkins between 1930 and 1980, which is now in the Watkins Collection at English Heritage's National Monuments Record at Swindon, Wilts.

External links

• Animated engines - Illustrates a variety of steam engines
• Old Engine House, List of Museums – examples of stationary steam engines preserved in the UK (with pictures and links)
• International Steam.co.uk – comprehensive coverage of stationary steam engines in their original locations, working and non-working, in many countries
• preserved stationary steam engines – includes lesser-known museums containing such engines (UK)
• Steamers steam engine forum – Questions and answers about old steam engines, traction engines