Stationary steam engine

Stationary steam engines are fixed steam engines used for pumping or driving mills and factories, and for power generation. They are distinct from locomotive engines used on railways, traction engines for heavy steam haulage on roads, steam cars (and other motor vehicles), agricultural engines used for ploughing or threshing, marine engines, and the steam turbines used as the mechanism of power generation for most nuclear power plants.

They were introduced during the 18th century and widely made for the whole of the 19th century and most of the first half of the 20th century, only declining as electricity supply and the internal combustion engine became more widespread.

There are different patterns of stationary steam engines, distinguished by the layout of the cylinders and crankshaft:

Stationary engines may be classified by secondary characteristics as well:

When stationary engines had multiple cylinders, they could be classified as:

An engine could be run in simple or condensing mode:

Stationary engines may also be classified by their application:

Stationary engines could be classified by the manufacturer

In order of evolution:

This series reproduces some 1,500 images from the Steam Engine Record made by George Watkins between 1930 and 1980, which is now in the Watkins Collection at English Heritage's National Monuments Record at Swindon, Wilts.

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