USS Monitor Engine Removed from Water for First Time in Nearly a Decade

[mroldthoughts]

Are we looking at the engine upside down? Ist this the bottom?

[er10b]

6 knots a second = 0.00308666667 km/s

At that rate, it would take me two years (and a lot of coal) to motor down from where she sank to Australia.

[KB9813]

wow just wow wish that the hole ship was there

[DAKOTA56777]

The big question, will she ever run again?

[twistedyogert]

you think when that thing is cleaned up they will be able to start it?

[er10b]

@twistedyogert yeah - back in the day when it ran for real it needed a lot of fuel - so the Yankees back in the Civil War days of the 1860s would chop down hundreds of trees to burn to keep the Monitor moving forward at 6 knots.

[DAKOTA56777]

@er10b He states in the video even (While not directly) that the engine was coal fired...

[mathuetax]

@acfinney1

Why do you types that haven't even submitted one video even comment on these things?

Anyway, since you've likely not visited a museum and found out. Most private museums are supported my their members, as would be apparent if you'd bothered to even look at museums's web site.

[hovanti]

Fascinating; to do this kind of work, knowing that every fraction of an inch you expose means you're the first person to see that particular surface since Civil War sailors saw it.

[bezy29]

hammer and chisel what a wast of time and and high potential for damage and tool marks try dry ice blasting which can blast paint off a car or be genital enough to clean a smoked damaged book

[acfinney1]

@bezy29 I agree. Who is paying for this waste of time? You could retire with that hammer. It is not the Ark.

[williamsralph01]

Is the engine/steam chest mostly constructed of Brass?

Thanks

[sanctuaries]

@williamsralph01 - Jeff Johnston, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary program specialist, pass this along: "The majority of the engine was made from iron with brass and components attached throughout." For greater detail on what different parts were made from, please check the expanded video caption where we've added more detail)

[sanctuaries]

Thanks for your question Dolphindream15 - here's some information from Jeff Johnston, a program specialist with the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary: The Monitor's steam engine was rated at around 400 horsepower and capable of pushing the ship through the water at 6 - 6 1/2 knots.

(Please check out the expanded video caption for answers to the other parts of your question.)

[Dolphindream15]

@sanctuaries hey thanks for the info its very instresting

[Dolphindream15]

what do they plan on doing with the engine restoring it if so have they done that yet would it be possibale to fire her up afrter shes been restored,,what all have they taken off the monitor how fast could she go,,with her engines running during 1863,,

[SteveLLW]

@Dolphindream15 In 1863, the USS Monitor's engine was very slow, because it was at the bottom of the Atlantic. You see,....the USS Monitor sank on December 30, 1862.

As far as running it.............I imagine that the pistons and cylinder lining wouldn't like it, now. Ouchies!

[timbonjovi]

Kinda like sculping an engine. Very interesting video, I've been interested in naval history all my life. Thanks for posting this.

[sanctuaries]

Thanks for taking a look Rob - appreciate the feedback!

[robmutch1]

Thanks so much for the uploaded video. Very interesting. :o)