Kingston in Ulster County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
1898 Mathilda Steam Engine
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 18, 2022
1. 1898 Mathilda Steam Engine Marker
A Compound Engine
Two Pistons: a high pressure, and a low pressure
1) High pressure steam is directed to the top of the piston by the steam valve The steam pushes the piston down, which in turn pushes the piston rod down.
2) As the piston is pushed down the steam inside it expands and cools. When the piston is all the way down, the steam valve is switched to send the hot steam to the bottom of the piston, pushing it up.
3) The hot steam pushes the piston back up, at which point the steam is again switched to the top of the piston to push it back down again.
4) In a compound engine, such as this one, the medium pressure steam from the exhaust of the high pressure cylinder is fed to the second low pressure cylinder to push the second piston up and down in the same matter as the first cylinder.
5) Both piston rods are connected to an eccentric driving mechanism through connecting rods. As the rods move up and down, the eccentric converts this to a circular motion, driving the drive shaft and propeller around.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 41° 55.106′ N, 73° 58.891′ W. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Tugboat Mathilda (a few steps from this marker); Romer & Tremper Steamboat Dock (a few steps from this marker); Sections of the “Old Stone Road” (a few steps from this marker); Mary Powell Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Rondout-Sleighsburg Ferry: Riverside, a.k.a. Skillypot (within shouting distance of this marker); Fulton’s Playground: Fun with Steamboats (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mary Powell: Queen Of The Hudson (within shouting distance of this marker); Louis Caterino (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kingston.
Also see . . .
1. Hudson River Maritime Museum. (Submitted on August 23, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Mathilda - TugboatInformation.com. (Submitted on August 23, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 18, 2022
2. 1898 Mathilda Steam Engine Marker
The window in the hull permits viewing the steam engine.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 18, 2022
3. Tugboat Mathilda & Steam Engine Marker
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 18, 2022
4. Port side of Tugboat Mathilda
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 23, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
