Sternwheeler From the Susquehanna River's Hard Coal Navy by Keith Black - 1:120 Scale

[mcb]

Hi Keith,

As wefalck said you sure didn't waste any time getting to this one.

I really like the choice of these interesting, slightly dilapidated subjects.  In the first 2 photos it looks like there may be some sag in the stern😮.

The pic in post 29 looks like you will get a lot of useful information from it though the boat appears newer and not so beat-up.

I agree that its: Pennsylvania Water and Power,

If its not too late you may be able to contact The Hagley Museum in Wilmington DE, as it seems they have some of the company archives and photos.

Perhaps you could get some more info (photos) that way.

Thanks for posting this,

mcb

[Keith Black]

9 hours ago, mcb said:

As wefalck said you sure didn't waste any time getting to this one.

I really like the choice of these interesting, slightly dilapidated subjects.  In the first 2 photos it looks like there may be some sag in the stern😮.

The pic in post 29 looks like you will get a lot of useful information from it though the boat appears newer and not so beat-up.

I agree that its: Pennsylvania Water and Power,

If its not too late you may be able to contact The Hagley Museum in Wilmington DE, as it seems they have some of the company archives and photos.

Perhaps you could get some more info (photos) that way.

Thanks for posting this,

 Thank you, mcb. I'm happiest when modeling, I need a project that calls to me throughout the day and these quirky rigs are fascinating and tickle my imagination.  

 

 The one in post #29 is a horizontal boiler, the one I'm trying to model I believe to be a vertical boiler and is a smaller boat. 

[Javelin]

On 5/30/2025 at 12:21 PM, Keith Black said:

 

 2) There's a smaller exhaust stack visible next to and to the rear of a steam whistle at the rear edge of the pilothouse. In the first photo only a wisp of smoke can be seen but in the last photo the amount of smoke is much more pronounced. Question is, why type of engine does it lead to? I don't think an electric generator would create the amount of exhaust seen in the last photo but electricity was used based on the forward light atop the pilothouse along with a working light on the port side plus a light bulb that can be seen at the top edge of forward engine room wall 

Late as ever, but you can count me in! 

 

I'd say that small pipe is an overpressure vent from the boiler. Based on the white colour of the smoke in your last picture as well as the fact that she is manoeuvering with that barge near the quay in that picture. She'd be reducing and/or reversing her engine at that time, which would create an imbalance with the steam production/consumption in the boiler. 

In those first pictures, she's made fast on the bow, but keeps pushing forward against the quay to keep her in position, which would create a steady steam balance and no need for venting any overpressure. 

Just my 2 cents, I'm not a specialist on steam systems of that age. 

 

I'll be happy to follow this build, lots of opportunities for weathering! 

 

[Keith Black]

5 hours ago, Javelin said:

Late as ever, but you can count me in! 

 

I'd say that small pipe is an overpressure vent from the boiler. Based on the white colour of the smoke in your last picture as well as the fact that she is manoeuvering with that barge near the quay in that picture. She'd be reducing and/or reversing her engine at that time, which would create an imbalance with the steam production/consumption in the boiler. 

In those first pictures, she's made fast on the bow, but keeps pushing forward against the quay to keep her in position, which would create a steady steam balance and no need for venting any overpressure. 

Just my 2 cents, I'm not a specialist on steam systems of that age. 

 

I'll be happy to follow this build, lots of opportunities for weathering! 

 

 Roel, thank you for the input and following along. You are absolutely correct, the pipe next to the steam whistle is the waste steam exhaust pipe. I had come to that conclusion earlier in the week but hadn't yet posted a corrected observation, thank you for doing so. Also regarding high pressure water pumps. I plan on building a twin beam engine for the boiler feed and for water used on deck for wash down, etc. 

 

 

  I'm having trouble figuring out what I'm looking at  in the below image. There is a thing on the port side engine deck, directly aft of the port side light board. In an unknown white triangle I see what I think is tube entering the top of a pipe (It could also be an electrical wire entering the top of a pipe) in the center of what looks like a VW tire rim layer flat. I have no earthly idea what this thing is???? Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. There's a three foot wide wall locker on the engine shed port side wall directly beneath the unknown object, possible connection unknown. There may have been a corresponding one on the starboard side but if so, it's been ripped away. If you look closely at the starboard side engine room deck edge you can see the deck edge is jagged fore of the starboard side light board and missing about 10 inches in and 36 inches aft of the light board. The light board could possibly have been replaced. Damage looks like the area was hit with a dredge bucket.  

l

[Glen McGuire]

7 hours ago, Javelin said:

I'd say that small pipe is an overpressure vent from the boiler.

If anyone knows about piping, it's got to be Roel!