Hudson River Walking Beam live steam model "Thomas Powell".

Part eleven

The Maiden Voyage!

Going back in time, gauge one!...
...and the journey was a long one!...One that took over 5 years and over five thousand hours of work to complete!
"Thomas Powell" is clearly the most challenging scratch built steamboat model I've made up to now, and the one I spent the most time working on, but I think it was well worth it!
Watching this model gently, steadily "walking along" is quite a sight!
Just imagine what it must have been to watch the real paddle steamer majestically passing by from the rivershore, as many locals did back then!
Unfortunately, the only two surviving "walking beam" engine steamboats still in existence today are both static ones! (Eureka, San Francisco and Ticonderoga, Vermont)

The "Walking Beam" name came from Indians living along the rivers; they coined a name for the paddle wheelers which In English meant "mill that walks on the water"!

The Marine Walking Beam engine of the famous 1846 Hudson river side wheeler "Thomas Powell" had a Cylinder diameter of 48 inches, and stroke of 11 feet !

"Tom Powell" or "swan of the Hudson", as she was then called, was believed to be, back in 1846 (!)
the fastest steamboat in the world! She could easily sail up or down the river at 22.5mph! (35.5km/h or 19.5 knots!) .

Please note : As a "one-off" , parts or plans for this paddle wheeler and it's engine are not for sale!

Thanks for watching!

Peter

Music : Henry Tucker (1826-1882)


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Bateau RC à vapeur vive et roues à aubes "Thomas Powell"

Episode 11.

Après de nombreuses heure de recherches, élaboration de plans et de travail (plus de 5000 heures) pour construire ce bateau à roues et sa machine fonctionnelle en vapeur vive, voici enfin son voyage inaugural!

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