Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: Gregowen on November 13, 2023, 09:49:08 pm

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Gregowen on November 15, 2023, 09:36:28 pm

   That Victorian engine is surely impressive, and looks like Nick's son was having a fine time. My only concern is that maybe they need to install a stronger guardrail, as he seemed to already be pushing its limits a bit!

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Stoker on November 15, 2023, 11:15:55 am

Here's a Victorian graphic of a pretty good sized one!


https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/illustration-depicting-a-steam-powered-pumping-engine-this-compound-picture-id921871258


Then there is the Abbey Pumping Station in Leichester England, which has a "nice pair", though I'm unsure of actual diameter, but they are certainly big.

But what's more they are astonishingly beautiful!!!

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Nick on November 15, 2023, 06:03:11 am

The 25’-er kept my youngest entertained for several minutes 😂

https://youtube.com/shorts/8azVh0P-M8A?si=247MRmR0MrBLVdnf

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Gregowen on November 14, 2023, 11:56:24 pm

   I got curious and found a record from the 1994 edition of the Guiness book of records of what was stated as the largest stationary steam engine, a pumping engine made in 1849 to pump water out of flooded land in Holland. No information on the flywheel was given, but the diameter of the piston was 12 feet! That one must have had one whopping big flywheel also.

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Nick on November 14, 2023, 03:02:57 am

Some friends in IA are moving a Corliss with 15’ flywheel, each half 27,000 pounds

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Nick on November 14, 2023, 03:01:05 am

Here’s one in Dalton, MN I believe it’s 25’ diameter

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Title: Re: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Stoker on November 13, 2023, 11:03:06 pm

Think I have seen bigger, but that is certainly one serious flywheel, and I suspect that it is attached to one serious steam engine too!

Not sure I can come up with a photo right quick, but I do believe the British had some truly monstrous flywheels on some of their beautiful pumping engines!?!?

Title: 1893 Steam Electric Plant - Biggest Flywheel Ever??
Post by: Gregowen on November 13, 2023, 09:49:08 pm

  I don't recall ever seeing any larger flywheel than this. From a gallery of 19th century photos on MSN, if this link copies here...



https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/50-vintage-photos-that-show-just-how-different-life-was-in-america-in-the-19th-century/ss-AA1jRO0k?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=cd83c981b2fa40fa8905f4ed236e0035&ei=38#image=35