Mystic in Stonington in New London County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Compound Steam Engine
From Tugboat Socony 5
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones, June 24, 2023
1. Compound Steam Engine Marker
Horsepower: 850
Cylinders: 2
Bore: 19", 40"
Stroke: 28"
Weight: 40,000 lbs
Length: 8' 9"
Width: 6' 10"
Height: 14'
This large steam engine was built in 1927 by the Staten Island Shipbuilding Company in Staten Island, NY> It turned a 10-foot-diameter propeller on the steel tugboat Socony 5, part of a New York Harbor tugboat fleet owned by Standard Oil Company of New York.
Developed around 1870, the compound two-cylinder engine was a practical power plant for small to medium-size vessels for almost 80 years until outmoded by diesel engines. This example worked with a steam pressure of 160 pounds per square inch. Steam from the boiler first entered the small high-pressure cylinder, driving its piston, and was then exhausted into the large low-pressure cylinder to expand further.
The engine's horsepower of 850 may seem modest by today's standards, but this figure is based on a different horsepower calculation than modern internal-combustion engines. This engine has 10 times the horsepower of the Paine compound engine of the Museum passenger steamboat Sabino.
Erected by Mystic Seaport Museum. (Marker Number 1993.153.)
Topics. This historical
this page online
Location. 41° 21.572′ N, 71° 57.891′ W. Marker is in Stonington, Connecticut, in New London County. It is in Mystic. Marker is on Greenmanville Avenue (Connecticut Route 27) north of Isham Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 41 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic CT 06355, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Live Oak Log (a few steps from this marker); Atlas (a few steps from this marker); Fish Flake (a few steps from this marker); Wolverine Semi-Diesel Engine (within shouting distance of this marker); L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); Restoring the L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); Shipsaw (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker which had a slightly different inscription.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones, June 24, 2023
2. Compound Steam Engine Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 46 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
