As a 16 year old apprentice electrician in Alexander Stevens Shipyard in Linthouse, Govan, I spent many days working on the, almost new, SS Shieldhall. Her berth where she loaded sludge was in the shipyard alongside new building ships. I helped fit boat overside lights which at the time were a new requirement and although I was an electrical apprentice I spent as many hours in the engine room as possible working out how the reversing eccentrics worked. I had a strong urge to be a mechanical engineer and finally my dream came true when I went to sea in 1956 as a 20 year old 7th engineer/electrician with the BP Clyde Tanker Company. How happy I was to come across this You Tube video. Finally at nearly 83 how I wish I could once more stand in that beautiful little engine room and wonder at the magnificence of these twin triple expansion engines.
I did a navy dockyard apprenticeship as an engine fitter and worked on board all types of ships from steam engines to gas turbines and I still like the triple expansion engines I am seventy six and have a great interest still in all things mechanical. This is a great video.
Great video! Sadly the era of steam propulsion is gone. I had the privilege of taking a trip on a Great Lakes self unloading ore ship that was also powered by a triple expansion steam engine. Went from Detroit to Roger City to pick up a load of limestone when I was a boy. My dad was a Merchant Marine Engineer for most of his life. That trip changed my life!
Steam propulsion is alive and well, many ships and the US nuclear subs are steam powered, by using nuclear power, it's just a fancy way of making steam 🌫️
Superb film Alex, thank youfor it. What a maginificient ship Ss Shieldhall is. Long may she sail, certainly longer then ssbn boats powered by steam! (Ex RN Dolphineer)....
Great to see it. It reminds me of my days in the 1980s in the engine room of the W.C. Daldy Tug. The W.C.D. had a very similar Engine room and layout. BUT it doesn't have an diesel oil warmer. I have served in both in the E.R. and on deck. Oh remember the smell of the Steam tug. I hope you can keep it going for years to come. Cheers. Steve M.
As a 15 year boy from the technical school came on board of a SS Steentreate Belguim Cargo schip with boiler and Turbines we have to learn abouth the Tripple expansion up and down engine now I see the differend of steam engines . Verry learnfull and interesting to now after al the years I am now 75 so Thanks to keep it alive ! Sorry for the bad English writing .( I Do My Best) Jean BUYL
👍👌👏 Simply fantastic! A very well done video. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all involved people.
I really appreciate visiting Steamship Shieldhall for the first time. Everything on the ship is very well maintained. I congratulate the whole Team and in particular for the attentive explanation of the Engine Room Team - for the work carried out with mastery in the so finely tuned orchestra of gears from the 1800's - which is still in full swing and available for visitation to the general public!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
In the war films I grew up with there was none of this getting boilers warm etc they just raced away from wherever they happened to be. Really enjoyed it, thanks to all you volunteers.
given a choice of a trip on the sludge boat or on QM2 - no competition!!! - sludgeboat wins hands down!!! QM2 is a magnificent ship too!! this is a totally outstanding tour 😁😁😁
An incredible documentary of how to maintain an old triple expansion steam piston engine powered ship! I would like to visit this vessel some day and would like to thank the many volunteers that work hard to preserve this vessel! A real working and living vintage machinery!
I worked on many steamships in the US Navy running Babcock & Wilcox 600 pounders and Foster Wheeler 1200 pounders , and then when I left the Navy I went in the Merchant Marine and then ran diesel engines, Sulzer, Alco EMD's Delaval, Etc. I love Steam. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks so much Bryan, you explained it real well! It's a lot of hot work, in the hole. I worked as assistant and chief for about 12 yrs.on diesel engine ships, up to 7000 hp.I held a Designated Duty Engineering Lic. which is really only good for vessels up to 500 tons, and unlimited H.P.,all oceans.It's a USCG license that came out in the 90's for the increase in ships this size.I started on gaming ships out of Port Canaveral,Fl.,in 1990. I'm retired now, after 47 yrs. of diesel engines and the related machinery.Now I can sit back with my computer and happily watch the world pass by.You and your black gang made my day, and Bryan, Happy Motoring!
I can't thank enough the people who went through the trouble of making this video. The video is far more informative than any History or discover channel would ever do. Needless to say I love ships and this has answered a lot of my long awaited questions, though I do have a hundred more to ask. Thanks again!
Every single part of this vessel, from the buttress of her bow to the screw at her stern, is outstanding. Great name for a ship with this heritage too! So glad they were able to save her from the breakers!
This video reminded of the time I joined the Merchant Marine as a Junior Engineering Officer on a vessel fitted with a single Triple Expansion Steam engine with HP Poppet Valves. The year was 1964. I retired in the year 2000 after acquiring my Chief Engineers Combined (Steam and Motor) Competency Certificate. Personally I think this was the most exciting career a person could have. A great video, and for me a very nostalgic one as well. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the memories! Shovelled coal in a Puffer (Auld Reekie) back in '88, from Campbeltown to the Glasgow Garden Festival, and later through the Crinan Canal. Great experiences, both of them. Loved the engine on her, it was a double expansion but much the same. The Waverley, I remember, left us standing...
Very interesting to see, my forefathers were involved in British maritime endeavour in the Mediterranean, especially in maintenance. Brings back memories when I was an apprentice in the Malta Dockyards. Thank you.
This brings back memories of watching the Shieldhall sailing down from Glasgow towards the dumping grounds further down the Firth of Clyde. She was known as one of the cleanest vessels and regularly carried Glasgow pensioners on outings. Excellent video - maybe a similar one could be done by the folks operating the PS Waverley.
Thank you,It takes me back when I used to go to the Isle of Man with my Dad,Manx Maid I think the ship was called,I went on the bridge and the captain let me put it to full ahead when I was 10 years of age, Many thanks again. :)
Fantastic effort all round saving this old girl from the breakers yard, and putting her back into service as a pleasure cruiser on the Solent and other waterways within its operating area. I really enjoyed this, thanks so much for posting and along with historic aeroplanes restorations I now have historic ship restorations and operations to watch. Cheers from Australia.
I just marvel at the thought that this set up was used in combat with high-speed manoeuvring, guns ablaze and telegraph commands coming thick and fast as Jackie Fischer and company had a blue with the Germans.
Excellent vid , happy memories of doing my spell in the engine room on Shieldhall . It was so good to come up on deck , after a 2 hour watch . And when the cruise ended , enjoy a good sleep in the stern crew berth . Best wishes .
Absolutely wonderful!! Incredible ship. Incredible video tour. Incredible crew! Amazing how the machinery and the human beings running it create this amazing symphony that moves the Shieldhall with seeming ease for her passengers and anyone looking at her steaming away. Blown away by the knowledge and professionalism involved in keeping this wonderful old girl from another time steaming in the 21st century. A true window into the past and what it took to operate a steam vessel at sea. Thank you so much for this video and for keeping out maritime history alive.
Shieldhall used to take pensioners from the Glasgow area on day trips down the Clyde Estuary to near the Ailsa Craig where the cargo would be discharged. Shieldhall is a district of Glasgow. As an ex steamship Engineer it was good to see the Engineroom routines again. Good film with excellent explanations.
A POX on any of the NAYSAYERS, this is a GREAT VIDEO. Thank heavens we still have such dedicated men to keep this history of steam ships alive. Well done to each and everyone who made this possible
as an oiler i helped steam the ss crapo on the great lakes usa a coal burning triple expansion cement boat (ship) sporting firetube scotch boilers. served about a year on her and it was a special time in my life. circa 1989.
memories of the south coast Buff Funnel paddle steamers came back, looking at the passengers. Instructions to the helmsman did not seem very precise, or his responses. I think I prefer a separate wheelhouse below the bridge.
Really great Video I spent 15 years as a merchant mariner and it is so cool to watch any history on how things used to be done ,I always loved working with older engineers you can learn so much fro them thanks for sharing this video .
Well put together video. Thanks for taking the time to make and publish it here on RU-vid for all to see and enjoy! Anything "steam" is wonderful to see, hear, and to experience.
@@04clemea Thanks Chief. Brilliant job! Sailed in a compound up&downer to West Africa, 1936 vintage and a twin screw (Ferguson's 1951) tug. Shades of Sand Pebbles! Watching the two five-legged Doxfords in action in an old whale factory ship, Kosmos V (Tyne built), was as fascinating!
Utterly fascinating and enjoyable video movie. The complexity of this old steam powered ship is staggering. Thank you for this wonderful, vicarious journey.
Absolutely fantastic video. I have never before seen the engine movement indicators (not the telegraphs), I can see the value when harbour manouvering, brilliant
What an amazing video. So many different tasks to perform and you have such a wealth of knowledge. My late father would have loved to watch this. He was a chief engineer in the Blue Funnel Line in the 1930`s.
I started my apprenticeship in ship repair in 1967 and I only got to work on one steam up and downer, this video was very well presented and gave an excellent insight into the workings of an old steamship well done to all involved, I so wanted to throw my boiler suit on and head down to the engine room I wish there were more similar videos of this quality.
I think i may be the only female here lol. But ive always been super fascinated with engines and how they work. I particularly love really huge pistons on a ship.
Exelent video. Had me interested all the way through. Such amazing engineering I expect it will last for generations with all you great people looking after it all. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you Mr. Girling for this excellent documentary video, which as you brought it to a close seems to have brought tears to my eyes, for some mysterious reason. Thanks and best wishes also to Paul, Allen, Tony, Willy, Andy, Peter, and the others who make _Shieldhall_ work. Perhaps I'll one day be lucky enough to see her in person.
Easily one of the best videos on RU-vid. Thanks for sharing and maintaining this important part of our maritime heritage. I'll will have to get to see it one day.
Thank you very much for uploading the video brought back many memories of my father he was a stoker petty officer RN working on HMS Barhill a salvage ship it had the same engine and was coal fired!!!!!
Engineer thank you for your Brilliant guide on what happens below deck in the Heart of ship out of sight to the public..when ever I visit any ship of size im always drawn to the engine room.amazing .
Reminds me so much of my training and early days in the RN; still amazes me how much room you chaps have to work in though. Subs tend to a little more cramped. Very well made video, sadly I can only give 1 'Like/Thumbs-up'.
This one of the best videos I have watched in a long time. So much knowledge was imparted. Another video would be nice of the workings of the bridge gear.
Edward Hayden , I'm glad you enjoyed watching it. I'm not sure what bridge gear you're taking about, as this video covers most of the equipment on the bridge.
Bryan Girling Your tour was absolutely the best explanation of the workings of steam boilers, auxiliary equipment and the triple expansion steam engines. It would be awesome to visit England and see the ship!!! Best wishes to you and the crew. Safe journeys...Bob
