You are seeing an AMES Unaflow steam engine & generator. The AMES engines were built by AMES Ironworks of Oswego, NY and were commonplace in institutional powerplants. This type of engine took steam at 150 or 100 psi , expanded it in the cylinders (to make mechanical energy) and exhausted the steam at some lower pressure. In an institutional powerplant, the exhaust steam was used for building heating, making hot water, and for processes such as sterilizers, laundry, and cooking. The gnerator is an Alternating Current Generator. The plant was evidently laid up by the last crew to operate it, and looks to be in good shape.

Ames Iron Works was absorbed the Skinner Engine Company of Erie, PA in the 1960's or early 1970's. Skinner only went out of busines sin the past couple of years.

The eninge of this type has a totally enclosed crank-case, which has the vertically sloped sides. The cylinders are the box-like part above that. Steam at 200 psi would come to that engine at a temperature of ab out 283 degrees F, and exhaust would be well abouve 212 degrees F, so the cylinders were well insulated to prevent condensation.

Joe Michaels