Submerged loco

[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 The connection with railways is they both had auxillary power units in the shape of withdrawn steam locos.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.

[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.

[52D]

Cheers Richard keep us posted if we miss any developments this side of the water.

[richard]

Actually, I've only seen the BBC's coverage

[Bryan]

Some other links that make a few comments.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/culture/franklin/index.aspx
http://erebusandterrorfiles.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lost-fr ... 11?cmp=rss
Last one includes a film clip.

[giner]

More depth (er, sorry ) on the Franklin story here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/franklin- ... -1.2760930

[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."

[52D]

At least we have confirmation of what loco donated its bits to which ship.