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Submerged loco
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:11 pm
by 52D
No doubt forum members will have heard of the ill fated Franklin expedition to find the North West Passage, well the Canadian Government have found one of the ships either HMS EREBUS or HMS TERROR. The connection with railways is they both had auxillary power units in the shape of withdrawn steam locos. Don't quote me on this but I think they were both Broad gauge made by Robt Stephenson. I hope we get some pics soon as the boat is said to be in a remarkable state of preservation under 11m of water.
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:46 pm
by richard
Wikipedia claims Erebus' engine came from the London & Greenwich, and Terror's probably from the London & Birmingham (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin%2 ... expedition ).
Both ships were built as mortar ships, being reinforced to carry 3 ton mortars so perhaps this has something to do with their choice. Also the extra strengthening would have been useful for both the Ross and Franklin voyages.
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 1:08 am
by 52D
Cheers Richard keep us posted if we miss any developments this side of the water.
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 2:07 am
by richard
Actually, I've only seen the BBC's coverage
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 5:43 pm
by Bryan
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:40 pm
by giner
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:28 pm
by richard
Started reading "Frozen in Time" (Beattie & Geiger).
Some accounts imply the steam engine conversions were to melt water to produce freshwater (and mention the plumbing system).
I can't cut&paste the paragraph from my ipad, but Beattie & Geiger say that the ships were fitted with a tubular boiler and steam-forming apparatus which heated the men's berths and other parts of the vessels via hot water pipes. Galley stoves also had desalinators built-in.
"In a revolutionary step, entire steam locomotives with specially adapted screw propellers were also installed, for emergency use. A 25 horsepower locomotive from the London & Greenwich Railway was bought for the Erebus, stripped of its front wheels and installed in the ship's hold. The engine of the Terror, at 20 horsepower was placed in the after-hold."
Re: Submerged loco
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:07 pm
by 52D
At least we have confirmation of what loco donated its bits to which ship.