Steam Power

My late father's main hobby was model engineering, and steam engines were his favourite subject.  This Beam Engine, based on parallel motion designs by James Watts, was constructed by Dad using castings provided by Stuart Models, established in 1898 and the oldest company in the world providing model steam engines.

Using the power of steam, beam engines were first used to pump water out of mines or into canals but could be used to pump water to supplement the flow for a waterwheel powering a mill. Later designs were used to directly power the line-shafting in a mill, or even power steam ships.