Steam Power Collection

Rainhill Trials October 1829
These trials for early steam locomotives were run at Rainhill, near Liverpool, UK, to determine which would be used on the newly-completed railway from Liverpool to Manchester

Marietta on the Ohio River, 1870s
Steamboats on the Ohio River at Marietta, Ohio, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Albany & Buffalo Railroad schedule, 1843
Albany & Buffalo Railroad timetable, showing fares and routes, 1843. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century printed piece

Steam engine, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Manchester Ship Canal, 19th century
Manchester Ship Canal, 19th-century artwork. This canal, constructed between 1887 and 1893, opened on 1 January 1894. It provided a route for shipping from the Mersey Estuary to Manchester, UK

EVCW2A-00109
Admiral David G. Farragut in the rigging during the Battle of Mobile Bay, 1864, American Civil War. Hand-colored photogravure of a W.H. Overend painting

First Atlantic crossing by steamship, 1819
American paddlewheeler " Savannah, " the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, 1819. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, 1831
First steam train on the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, New York, 1831. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Fairbairn Steam Crane, Bristol
Considered to be the only operational steam crane of the Fairbairn type in the country. IoE 380798

Workers cheering the first train over the mountains from California
Snowsheds protecting a transcontinental railroad train in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Battle of Mobile Bay, Civil War, 1864
Farraguts flagship USS " Hartford" colliding with the ironclad CSS " Tennessee" to secure Mobile Bay, 1864. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

The Champions of the Mississippi-- A Race for the Buckhorns. Lithograph, 1866, by Currier & Ives
MISSISSIPPI RIVER RACE. The Champions of the Mississippi--" A Race for the Buckhorns." Lithograph, 1866, by Currier & Ives

James Watt, Scottish engineer and inventor, 1833. Watt (1736-1819) was born at Greenock on the Clyde, Scotland, and showed an interest in engineering and invention from an early age

Newcomen steam engine, 1747. Thomas Newcomen (1663-1729) designed his atmospheric or steam engine in 1712. Water was heated in the boiler and the resulting steam was let into the cylinder

Downtown Empire State Express
Syracuse, New York: c. 1933. The Empire State Express as it prepares to cross South Salina Street, the main business street of Syracuse

Old steam locomotive, Trinidad, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

The aeroplane proposed by Henson in his patent of 1842, c1936 (c1937). William Samuel Henson (1812-1888) was a pre-Wright brothers aviation engineer and inventor from Nottingham, England

Sectional view of a Newcomen steam engine, 1737. Thomas Newcomen (1663-1729) designed his atmospheric or steam engine in 1712

Interior of a Power-Loom factory, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Interior of a Power-Loom factory, 1844. We are persuaded that the annexed engraving will be interesting to our readers, in connection with the great question of " The Factory Bill

Market Hall Birmingham, 1941 a42_00727
Market Hall, Worcester Street, Bull Ring, Birmingham. Construction workers beside a traction engine inside the bombed out shell of the Market Hall. The former Market Hall dated from the 1830s

Steam engine of James Watt
Schematic drawing of James Watts steam engine. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Burrell Showman's Tractor #3631 'Kathleen', regn OR 2729 Date: circa 1965

A visit to Penn's Marine Engine Factory, at Greenwich: turning a paddle shaft for a steam-ship, 1865. Illustration representing...the enormous shaft for the paddles of a steam-ship

A visit to Penn's Marine Engine Factory, at Greenwich: turning a crank axle, 1865. Creator: Unknown
A visit to Penn's Marine Engine Factory, at Greenwich: turning a crank axle, 1865. Illustration representing...the operation of turning a crank-axle in a mighty lathe...The various fitting

Penn's Machine-Engine Factory at Greenwich: the Large Machine-Shop and Turnery, 1865. Creator: Unknown
Penn's Machine-Engine Factory at Greenwich [London]: the Large Machine-Shop and Turnery, 1865. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Nelson K

Penn's Machine-Engine Factory at Greenwich: the Erecting Shop, 1865. Creator: Unknown
Penn's Machine-Engine Factory at Greenwich [London]: the Erecting Shop, 1865. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Nelson K

The Langham Hotel, Portland-Place, 1865. Creator: Unknown
The Langham Hotel, Portland-Place, [London], 1865. The hotel...contains eight floors and upwards of 600 rooms and apartments...There are, besides the passenger lift, also luggage lifts

A steam-powered tricycle
5312157 A steam-powered tricycle; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a steam-powered tricycle being used in London. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A navvy
5308524 A navvy.; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a navvy. Railway navvies were sent out to the Crimea to build a railway and to help with digging trenches. Dated 19th century)

A 4-4-0 Locomotive
5308516 A 4-4-0 Locomotive.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a 4-4-0 Express Locomotive. Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement)

The arrival of the first train at Ulwar Railway Station
5308368 The arrival of the first train at Ulwar Railway Station.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the arrival of the first train at Ulwar Railway Station. Dated 19th century)

A steam locomotive used for Carl Roman Abt's rack railway system
5308345 A steam locomotive used for Carl Roman Abt's rack railway system.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a steam locomotive used for Roman Abt's rack railway system)

A locomotive built for the Mexican Central Railroad
5308334 A locomotive built for the Mexican Central Railroad.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a locomotive built for the Mexican Central Railroad. 19th century)

John Blenkinsop's cog railway
5308296 John Blenkinsop's cog railway.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting John Blenkinsop's cog railway which ran from Middleton to Leeds and was used to haul coal. Dated 19th century)

A typical British passenger locomotive
5308492 A typical British passenger locomotive.; (add.info.: Sectional view of a typical British passenger locomotive. A) Fire-box shell, B) Internal fire-box, C) Grate or fire-bars, D) Ash-pan

A goods engine used by the French ligne due Nord
5308419 A goods engine used by the French ligne due Nord.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a goods engine used by the French ligne due Nord. Dated 19th century)

A 2-4-0 locomotive
5308416 A 2-4-0 locomotive.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a 2-4-0 locomotive for the Bergisch-Marische Railway designed by Archibald Sturrock and built by J. Fowler & Co. of Leeds)

A Fairlie locomotive
5308414 A Fairlie locomotive.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a Fairlie locomotive, a type of articulated steam locomotive that has the driving wheels on bogies. Dated 19th century)

The Prater Liliputbahn locomotive
5308388 The Prater Liliputbahn locomotive.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Prater Liliputbahn locomotive built for surveying the line on the Eastern Counties Railways. Dated 19th century)

Colonel Charles Sibthorp as Don Quixote attacking a steam engine
5308383 Colonel Charles Sibthorp as Don Quixote attacking a steam engine.; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting Colonel Charles Sibthorp as Don Quixote attacking a steam engine)

A steam excavator of the English navvy type
5311963 A steam excavator of the English navvy type; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a steam excavator of the English navvy type (with a large ladle to remove earth from work face)

An Applegarth and Cowper printing press
5311956 An Applegarth and Cowper printing press; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an Applegarth and Cowper printing press. This steam-powered machine was a development of Konig's 1814 prototype)

A model steam carriage built by William Murdoch
5311843 A model steam carriage built by William Murdoch; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a model steam carriage built by William Murdoch. William Murdoch (-1839) a Scottish engineer and inventor

The process of spinning cotton by mule
5310008 The process of spinning cotton by mule; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the process of spinning cotton by mule: the mules are powered by a steam engine through an overhead shaft)

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer the Clermont
5308073 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer the Clermont.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer the Clermont which piled between New York and Albany on the Hudson River)

A double-acting steam engine by James Watt
5311742 A double-acting steam engine by James Watt; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a double-acting steam engine by James Watt. Watt's steam governor is shown at D)

An engraving depicting a Watt steam governor: A, B, a grooved wheel attached to spindle C, D
5311399 An engraving depicting a Watt steam governor: A, B, a grooved wheel attached to spindle C, D, and driven by an endless cord attached to a fly-wheel on the engine (not shown)

An engraving depicting the loss of the Royal Mail steamship Amazon on her maiden voyage, 4th January 1852
5311055 An engraving depicting the loss of the Royal Mail steamship Amazon on her maiden voyage, 4th January 1852. 104 of the 162 persons on board lost

Hancock introduced the 22-seat steam powered wagon Automaton
5616727 Hancock introduced the 22-seat steam powered wagon Automaton'; (add.info.: Walter Hancock: the Automaton. In 1836, Hancock introduced the 22-seat steam powered wagon Automaton)

Home of James Watt
3586198 Home of James Watt; (add.info.: Home of James Watt (1736-1819) a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

National Testimonial (memorial) proposed for James Watt
3586193 National Testimonial (memorial) proposed for James Watt; (add.info.: National Testimonial (memorial) proposed for James Watt

The trial use of the steam plough The Enterprise
3740743 The trial use of the steam plough The Enterprise'; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the trial use of the steam plough The Enterprise designed by Lord Dunmore)

A moveable anchor vehicle used in farming
3732425 A moveable anchor vehicle used in farming; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a moveable anchor vehicle for use at one end of a field to act as a pulley block for rope to which a plough is)

A steam driven cultivating machine on rubber caterpillar tracks
3732422 A steam driven cultivating machine on rubber caterpillar tracks; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a steam driven cultivating machine on rubber caterpillar tracks)

A Holstein vertical butter churn
3732534 A Holstein vertical butter churn; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a Holstein vertical butter churn. This model was a belt-driven, powered either by steam or water)

Gustaf de Laval's centrifugal cream separator
3732610 Gustaf de Laval's centrifugal cream separator; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Gustaf de Laval's centrifugal cream separator)

A self-moving anchor for use in mechanical ploughing
3732420 A self-moving anchor for use in mechanical ploughing; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a self-moving anchor for use in mechanical ploughing with steam engine at one side of field)

A plough for steam ploughing equipment
3732412 A plough for steam ploughing equipment; (add.info.: Illustration of a plough for steam ploughing equipment. The plough being fixed to a rope and able to make a furrow travelling backwards)

Diagram of John Ramsbottom's locomotive apparatus
3733923 Diagram of John Ramsbottom's locomotive apparatus.; (add.info.: Diagram of John Ramsbottom's locomotive apparatus enabling tender to be re-charged with water while the train was still)

The American steamship Washington, 1850 (engraving)
3359477 The American steamship Washington, 1850 (engraving); (add.info.: Engraving of the American steamship Washington'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The steam ship Poonah, 1850
3359475 The steam ship Poonah, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of the steamship Poonah'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Steamship Austral, 1850
3359204 The Steamship Austral, 1850; (add.info.: Portrait of the steamship Austral'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Steam yacht North Star, 1850
3359203 The Steam yacht North Star, 1850; (add.info.: Portrait of the Steam yacht North Star'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The State of Indiana, 1850
3478487 The State of Indiana, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the State of Indiana trading between Glasgow and New York. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Apparatus on board the American steam ship Arctic, 1850
3478751 Apparatus on board the American steam ship Arctic, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting apparatus on board the American steam ship Arctic')

The steamer The Great Britain, 1850
3478585 The steamer The Great Britain, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the steamer The Great Britain, the first screw steamer to cross the Atlantic)

The steamer The Great Britain, 1850
3478578 The steamer The Great Britain, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the steamer The Great Britain, the first screw steamer to cross the Atlantic, ashore in Dundrum Bay)

The steamer The Great Britain, 1850
3478572 The steamer The Great Britain, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the steamer The Great Britain, the first screw steamer to cross the Atlantic, after it's refit)

The steamer The Great Britain, 1850
3478571 The steamer The Great Britain, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the steamer The Great Britain, the first screw steamer to cross the Atlantic, after it's refit)

A paddle steamer, 1850
3478559 A paddle steamer, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a paddle steamer on the upper Missouri. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The paddle steamer The Carroll of Carrolton, 1850
3478549 The paddle steamer The Carroll of Carrolton, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting an American river paddle steamer The Carroll of Carrolton')

The steamer Lady Daly, 1850
3478548 The steamer Lady Daly, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the stern wheel paddle steamer Lady Daly on the Murray River, Australia. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A steam-boat collision, 1850
3478539 A steam-boat collision, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a steam-boat collision in Dover. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The wreck of the steamship Mosel, 1850
3478537 The wreck of the steamship Mosel, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a the wreck of the steamship Mosel at Lizard Point. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Symington's steam engine
3359947 Symington's steam engine; (add.info.: Engraving of Symington's steam engine, used to successfully to drive the paddles of a boat on Lake Dalswinton, Scotland)

Steam launches on the Thames, 1850
3359164 Steam launches on the Thames, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of steam launches on the Thames. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont on her maiden commercial voyage, 1850
3359160 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont on her maiden commercial voyage, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont which plied between New York)

Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont, 1850
3359156 Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Robert Fulton's paddle steamer Clermont which plied between New York and Albany on the Hudson River)

The SS Palmyra, 1850
3330827 The SS Palmyra, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of the SS Palmyra. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The new steamship Portugal, 1850
3330819 The new steamship Portugal, 1850; (add.info.: Portrait of the new steamship Portugal which belongs to the French Messageries Maritimes Company)

A double cylinder expansion marine steam engine, 1850
3330703 A double cylinder expansion marine steam engine, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a double cylinder expansion marine steam engine. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Inventor John Ericsson's Machine, 1884 (engraving)
1574800 Inventor John Ericsson's Machine, 1884 (engraving); (add.info.: Swedish/American inventor John Ericsson's machine, 1883)

Speaking Trumpet, 1887
1574794 Speaking Trumpet, 1887; (add.info.: Using a speaking trumpet to communicate on deck of a ship. Within limits, the larger the trumpet the further the voice will carry)

A twin centrifugal cream separators with milk warmer mounted above them
3732609 A twin centrifugal cream separators with milk warmer mounted above them; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a twin centrifugal cream separators with milk warmer mounted above them)

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"Unleashing the Power of Steam: A Journey through Time and Innovation" Step back in time to 19th century England, where the birthplace revolutionized transportation and industry. The iconic steam engine, a symbol of progress and ingenuity, propelled the United Kingdom into a new era. In October 1829, the Rainhill Trials showcased the incredible potential of steam engines. Engineers from all over Europe gathered to witness this groundbreaking event that would shape the future of locomotion forever. Across the country, marvels like the Manchester Ship Canal emerged in this era. Constructed during the 19th century, it connected Manchester to Liverpool and facilitated trade on an unprecedented scale – all thanks to steam-powered vessels. Venturing beyond England's borders, we find ourselves in Dorset at The Great Dorset Steam Fair. This annual spectacle celebrates our industrial heritage with magnificent displays of vintage machinery that once powered farms and factories alike. But let us not forget those who dared to conquer vast oceans using steam power. In 1819, history was made as a steamship successfully completed its first Atlantic crossing – marking a turning point for global travel and communication. Closer to home on Ohio River's Marietta in the 1870s, another chapter unfolded as paddlewheelers navigated these waters with ease – showcasing how steam power brought prosperity along America's waterways. Meanwhile, across New York State in 1831 came yet another milestone: Mohawk and Hudson Railroad became one of America's first successful railway systems driven by powerful locomotives fueled by none other than steam. The innovation did not stop there; Bristol introduced us to Fairbairn Steam Crane - an engineering marvel that transformed heavy lifting operations across industries worldwide. As we fast forward through time to Albany & Buffalo Railroad schedule from 1843 or witness workers cheering California’s first train traversing mountains – it becomes evident how essential steam power was in shaping the American landscape.