It is sad to read posts like this as I too had parents, grandparents who worked there and to see you guys have so much special knowledge of these aparatuses - it all now gone to waste
From what I was told when I worked at WSX,there were 2 engines made.The other one is sitting on the ocean floor after being torpedoed while enroute to England.I don't know if it's true.Has anyone else heard this story?
None of my records show another engine having been built at the same time. If it were true I would have seen it in the publications and documents that I have studied. I have actually heard that rumor before.
I was able to save the wooden chair that was up in the engine room's crane cab, and I plan to use it in our Morgan crane at the museum. I tried to save what I could carry out in the few days that I had access to the place.
When I ran that crane on repair turns, we would check, shim or change the connecting rod bearings. I used a 25 ton hoist to torque the nuts on the bearing caps. I usually stalled the hoist on the second point of acceleration to gain the required torque. I was deep in that engine on many repair turns, and I have much info to share. I was one of the few 4th generation steel workers in the mill. My Great Grandfather was hired by E.T. Weir as an engineer to build the steel works.
Thank you for taking the time to document this. As a former employee it's nice to see things as they were before the "europeans" took it out from under us and turned it into a finishing mill.
What happened to the engine. was it sent out to well we know or was it damaged beyond saving other than what you were able to pull off the engine/governor
I was able to save the governor apparatus at the end of the crankshaft and part of the Shutte valve trip mechanism. I'm going to use the governor on a steam driven demonstration rolling mill that we are building for the museum.
I worked in the Blooming Mill 73/74..according to the roller who was completing a 50 year career, the clamps were added after the high pressure pistons exited the building through the brick wall. originally there was an accumulator at the rear of the engine.. FYI The engine drove a 49 inch Mill.. Between the high pressure pistons was a Shuttee (sp?) Throttle Valve which I helped crank, more than once. At the end of the crankshaft was the governor..
It is good to know this remnant of Weirton Steel is available to the public on Youtube. By now I guess it is gone. I feel privileged to have worked at the Blooming Mill even though it was brief. I got to see the engine and the operators in the pulpit work. It was pretty amazing to see them work the machine. Thank you for taking the time to document this piece of history on video. My grandfathers, uncle and some cousins worked at the Blooming Mill and Structural Mill too.
The Mesta engine at Republic Steel was a 44" and 76" x 60" and the Weirton engine 42" and 66" x 60". The Republic engine was actually a standard size and were installed at many plants in cluding US Steel Ohio Works, Republic Youngstown, YS&T Brier Hill and Bethlehem Steel.
Thanks for posting this, but we need more info. Is this engine gone now? If it isn't, go back with a light and do it over. Also, take along a laser pointer so we know exactly what you are describing. Once this engine is gone, there will no real record of it, so you've got to do a really good job!
It is sad to read posts like this as I too had parents, grandparents who worked there and to see you guys have so much special knowledge of these aparatuses - it all now gone to waste
starb10 1 year ago
From what I was told when I worked at WSX,there were 2 engines made.The other one is sitting on the ocean floor after being torpedoed while enroute to England.I don't know if it's true.Has anyone else heard this story?
LHG1952 2 years ago
None of my records show another engine having been built at the same time. If it were true I would have seen it in the publications and documents that I have studied. I have actually heard that rumor before.
todengine 2 years ago
I was able to save the wooden chair that was up in the engine room's crane cab, and I plan to use it in our Morgan crane at the museum. I tried to save what I could carry out in the few days that I had access to the place.
todengine 2 years ago
When I ran that crane on repair turns, we would check, shim or change the connecting rod bearings. I used a 25 ton hoist to torque the nuts on the bearing caps. I usually stalled the hoist on the second point of acceleration to gain the required torque. I was deep in that engine on many repair turns, and I have much info to share. I was one of the few 4th generation steel workers in the mill. My Great Grandfather was hired by E.T. Weir as an engineer to build the steel works.
shadowchaser38 2 years ago
Just for reference.......The crankshaft alone was estimated at 150-160 tons.......that's right tons!!!
shadowchaser38 2 years ago
I worked as a craneman in the Blooming Mill from 1989 until 91. I ran crane in the engine room and this engine was massive
shadowchaser38 2 years ago
Thank you for taking the time to document this. As a former employee it's nice to see things as they were before the "europeans" took it out from under us and turned it into a finishing mill.
BigUnitBeef 2 years ago
What person would be that heartless to scrap this piece of history.
D342DIESEL 3 years ago
What happened to the engine. was it sent out to well we know or was it damaged beyond saving other than what you were able to pull off the engine/governor
41Zman 3 years ago
as of 12-5-08, the engine is sitting in the open
AGIII49 3 years ago
I was able to save the governor apparatus at the end of the crankshaft and part of the Shutte valve trip mechanism. I'm going to use the governor on a steam driven demonstration rolling mill that we are building for the museum.
todengine 3 years ago
I worked in the Blooming Mill 73/74..according to the roller who was completing a 50 year career, the clamps were added after the high pressure pistons exited the building through the brick wall. originally there was an accumulator at the rear of the engine.. FYI The engine drove a 49 inch Mill.. Between the high pressure pistons was a Shuttee (sp?) Throttle Valve which I helped crank, more than once. At the end of the crankshaft was the governor..
AGIII49 3 years ago
It is good to know this remnant of Weirton Steel is available to the public on Youtube. By now I guess it is gone. I feel privileged to have worked at the Blooming Mill even though it was brief. I got to see the engine and the operators in the pulpit work. It was pretty amazing to see them work the machine. Thank you for taking the time to document this piece of history on video. My grandfathers, uncle and some cousins worked at the Blooming Mill and Structural Mill too.
wvrust 3 years ago
So this is the largest steam engine in the world. Up until three years ago the Mesta engine at Republic Steel in Cleveland was the largest.
douro20 3 years ago
The Mesta engine at Republic Steel was a 44" and 76" x 60" and the Weirton engine 42" and 66" x 60". The Republic engine was actually a standard size and were installed at many plants in cluding US Steel Ohio Works, Republic Youngstown, YS&T Brier Hill and Bethlehem Steel.
todengine 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this, but we need more info. Is this engine gone now? If it isn't, go back with a light and do it over. Also, take along a laser pointer so we know exactly what you are describing. Once this engine is gone, there will no real record of it, so you've got to do a really good job!
Bullettube 3 years ago