Previous photo Bethlehem Steel Mill | Cathedrals of Steel Next photo
Engine

Engine

The last and final building was what we'd been hiking all the way down for - the gas blowing engine house. These massive single cylinder engines were constructed in the 1890s and ran continuously for 100 years, powered by a mixture of pumped gas and waste gas from the furnaces.
Bookmark and Share More info
comments

Please remember that the comments posted here are not the opinions of opacity.us or its affiliates.

Now ya can't get one to run trouble free for three years!
Something about those massive single cylinder engines cracks me up.
Maybe it's the beautiful simplicity that goes 'you want it to do more? make it bigger, don't muck about adding a 2nd, 3rd etc one, that just complicates things..
This is my kinda place. A testament to American ingenuity & hard work.
I was thinking the same thing Junkyardave. My dad would of spent the day just running his hands over this engine. I really hope it ends up someplace, not left to ruin after all this time of giving it's all.
Very impressive! 100 yrs. Now, that an Engine!
Man, those days are long gone.
Out sourcing has turned our industry to old photos of a bygone era.
Somehow seeing the inside of this plant and the history of this particular piece brings home how much we as a country have lost. Such a shame that a beautiful piece of precise equipment lays idle while jobs leave the country..........
The patina is amazing. Thanks Motts for another wonderful gallery and education or should I say social commentary.
As majestic and powerful as this engine is, it's seriously one of the cutest pieces of machinery that I've ever seen!

It's crazy to think that something like that ran for 100 years.
They certainly don't make em like that anymore!
NOW we're talkin'! I could spend a whole day just looking at those engines. I believe the massive steam engines for the rolling mills were removed from this site some years back. Huge giants!
100 years? That's amazing. And now they sit silent & cold. I bet the noise was incredible.
Exactly, Junkyard.

Comments pertaining to real location names, methods of entering the property, promotions or advertisements, off-topic discussion and general flaming, as well as those submitted under various aliases are subject to immediate deletion and your ip address being banned from this website. By submitting your comment you agree to these terms. Visit the forum for off-topic and general discussion. To prevent your comment from being removed and to help keep this site uncluttered, please read more about comments on opacity.

Memories and stories from past employees, visitors or patients are gratefully welcomed, they help keep these places alive!

 
Previous photo Bethlehem Steel Mill | Cathedrals of Steel Next photo