The paddle engines.

The paddle engines. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: 58_1352

Description: The engines that drove the paddle wheels of the 'Great Eastern' were on a huge scale. New furnaces and machinery had to be installed at Scott Russell's yard to build them. The engines had four cylinders and each mould took 34 tons of molten iron. They were so big that the firm's machinery often inflicted 'severe vibration' on houses in neighbouring streets.

Creator: 'The Illustrated London News'

Date: 1853-1858