Chinese Takeaway
I think anyone who has 'griced' steam power must have dreamed of taking one home at the end of a bash. Well, in Burma, dreams can come true..... When mills close, they tend to be just left 'as was' and the contents gather even more dust than usual, the owners hoping that one day market conditions will change again so they can re-open. But in some cases, where there is seemingly no such chance, then the engines and machinery will be sold on as new mills are being built in Irrawaddy and Sagaing divisions. Hence, there is a thriving second hand market for steam engines and a desirable object like a standard Marshall 12" (K Class) engine will cost its new owner well in excess of U$10,000. Now and again, though, smaller engines turn up and we chanced on this delectable item in February 2007. This is Yuehong with her new baby:
It is a delightful Tangye "Soho Engine":
It seems to be more or less complete, as built, even with a Tangye governor, it carries the manufacturer's number 1107 and the Paris Gold Medal 1878 which dates it to around the early 1880s.
Not shown here are its two flywheels, I am not sure whether either or both is original. The lubricator is modern of course and some research will be needed to return the engine to its full original condition. It will be some time before we can export it whereupon it will join its sister 8" 'Colonial Engine' number 519 that we bought last year - that one, alas, seems to have been somewhat modified during its long lifetime.
There is more like this in:
Temples of Steam 2007 - An update to our 2005 and 2006 reports
Portable Paradise (2007) - Travels in the far north....
Another Luxury Irrawaddy River Cruise (2007) - Dancing the Masochism Tango
The Pinbaw Wizard (2007) - More masochism....
Heretic's Corner (2007) - Historic Diseasels....
Irrawaddy Steamers (2007) - Worthy successors to the historic ships
Burmese Hens' Teeth (2007) - A handful of one-offs
An Empirical History of Tangye Horizontal Engines (2007) - Probably more questions than answers
Temples of Steam 2006 - An update to our 2005 report
Return to Dakhondaing (2006) - More than just nostalgia....
Temples of Steam (2006) - Sagaing Division
A Day in the Life (2006) - Stationary Steam Engine gricing in the west of Bago Division
Appropriate Technology (2006) - Burma's newest rice mill
Luxury Irrawaddy River Cruise (2006)
Keeping Body and Soul Together in Burma (2006)
Temples of Steam 2005 - Introduction
Temples of Steam (2005) - Mon State
Kawkapun Rice Mill (2005) - Appropriate technology taken to its limits. The account includes a mill diagram / flow chart of the milling process.
Dakhondaing Rice Mill (2005) - A classic mill, unspoiled by progress. The account includes a description of the basic milling process as well as gratuitous insults to armchair enthusiasts....
Click here for the International Stationary Steam Engine Page.
Rob Dickinson
Email: webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk