| This is a 1/10 scale model, of an engine designed by
Richard Trevithick, the Cornish Engineer, installed to drive the machinery of a dye house,
at Lambeth London. It is, one of the worlds first engines, to operate with the steam
produced, at a high pressure. Before 1800 engines were powered by a vacuum. This vacuum was created by condensation of low pressure steam. The cylinder which powered this engine, is a new innovation, as it is in a horizontal position. It is the first of the high speed horizontal engines. |
| This model, was made from details written about in an early 19th century manuscript, which was published for the first time in 1970. |
Engine Details The boiler was 6 feet in diameter, and was originally made from cast iron. The boiler was cast at Abraham Darby’s foundry in Coalbrookdale. It has a double acting cylinder - 8 inches in diameter, with a working stroke of 48 inches. This engine was rated at six horse power, and made 24 revolutions per minute, with a working boiler pressure of approximately 45 pounds per square inch. |
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This model, is constructed only from
natural materials. There are 8,200 ceramic bricks, in the building, and the floor is made
from thin pieces of micacious sandstone. Perhaps, one point of interest to the model engineer is the boiler; it has a wall thickness of 4.5 mm and is machined from a solid piece of mild steel. The model will steam, but for demonstration purposes is run on compressed air.
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