- published: 30 Aug 2010
- views: 9495
Turbinia was the first steam turbine-powered steamship. Built as an experimental vessel in 1894, and easily the fastest ship in the world at that time, Turbinia was demonstrated dramatically at the Spithead Navy Review in 1897 and set the standard for the next generation of steamships, the majority of which were turbine powered. The vessel can still be seen at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, while her original powerplant can be found at the London Science Museum.
Charles Algernon Parsons invented the steam turbine in 1884, and having foreseen its potential to power ships he set up the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company with five associates in 1893. To develop this he had the experimental vessel Turbinia built in a light design of steel by the firm of Brown and Hood, based at Wallsend on Tyne.
The Admiralty was kept informed of developments, and Turbinia was launched on 2 August 1894. Despite the success of the turbine engine, initial trials with one propeller were disappointing. After discovering the problem of cavitation and constructing the first cavitation tunnel, Parsons' research led to him fitting three axial-flow turbines to three shafts, each shaft in turn driving three propellers, giving a total of nine propellers. In trials this achieved a top speed of over 34 knots (63 km/h), so that "the passengers aboard would be convinced beyond all doubt Turbinia was Charles Parsons' winning North Sea greyhound".
The summer ends and the winter winds
Begin to holler all around the bend.
We will smile and sail away
This won't be no sadness day
When the winter winds
greet the trees back there.
We can watch the turbine
turning in the wind
Up on the ridge line,
before the fog rolls in.
Falling leaves in the autumn air
People feeling good everywhere
When the winter winds greet
the trees back there.
We can watch the turbine
blowing in the wind
Up on the ridge line,
before the fog rolls in.
We will smile and sail away.
This won't be no sadness day
When the winter winds