Greeting from a newbie from the Great Lakes

[Steamchief]

Hi, I am a newbie to Paddleducks, though not a newbie to either paddle steamers, steam or ships. My primary interest in this forum is to follow up on a number of posting I have seen on the Detroit River paddle steamer Lansdowne built in 1884. She was unfortunately scrapped this spring.

I grew up in Windsor, her home port, and am old enough to both remember her in steam both from shore and through the occasional visit to her engine rooms (she had two) although I am young enough to admit that I did not appreciate what she represented. I have a family connection to the vessel as well in that my wife's uncle was second engineer on her, though I didn't find that out until he had passed away.

I have had a model built of her this summer, from plans obtained from the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Once I figure out how to post images I will attach some photos of both the model and her engine rooms.

I have spent 15 years at sea as a Chief Engineer although I am now based ashore, though I did take a leave of absence from my present employer in 2003 to finish the steam side of the restoration of the steam yacht Delphine of 1921, and serve as her first Chief Engineer. She is now based in Monaco.   http://www.ssdelphine.com    

From a paddle steamer point of view I have had the pleasure of watching the cranks on the Waverley more than once, and have hopes to do extensive steaming on paddle steamers when my son goes to school in Switzerland next year.

I have one question I do hope someone on the group can answer.  The engines on the Lansdowne date from 1872, and were second hand from the ferry Michigan.  They were horizontal, low pressure (65 psi)  50inch diameter by 108 inch stroke condensing engines built by E.E. Gilbert & Sons in Montreal.  Of interest, and to my confusion, her valve gear was essentially what we in North America would call "Western River" valve gear.  What I have yet to grasp from what pictures I have is what provided the feedback to the valve gear from the crank.  There is no cam, nor eccentric that I can see,(or remember) although there is a  crank that drives the air pump

Once I post the pictures, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

[mjt60a]

....
I have one question I do hope someone on the group can answer.  The engines on the Lansdowne date from 1872, and were second hand from the ferry Michigan.  They were horizontal, low pressure (65 psi)  50inch diameter by 108 inch stroke condensing engines built by E.E. Gilbert & Sons in Montreal.  Of interest, and to my confusion, her valve gear was essentially what we in North America would call "Western River" valve gear.  What I have yet to grasp from what pictures I have is what provided the feedback to the valve gear from the crank.  There is no cam, nor eccentric that I can see,(or remember)....

Welcome!
From the picture (in another thread) it looks to me like the valve gear probably works like this - http://twaintimes.net/boat/sbpage3a.html

[Steamchief]

Many thanks

I posted a number of shots of the engine in the Gallery Section. 

I would agree it is very similar to the fixed cut off engine although there seems to be some adjustment on the upper wiper lever shaft. What I still don't see is what actually drives the feedback loop. The photos clearly show a connection from something but it doesn't appear to have any connection to the crosshead.  I had wondered if the connection came from under the deck via the air pump.

Chris