The Marine Museum of Upper Canada, located in Stanley Barracks in Toronto's Exhibition Park, is operated by the Toronto Historical Board and is known as one of the leading institutions of its kind in the Great Lakes area. It has many interesting exhibits but, until recently, has been unable to display a working steam engine of the type which, over the years, has powered so many lake vessels. This situation has now been rectified and a working triple-expansion steam engine is now on display immediately adjacent to the museum building, encased in an armoured glass case for protection.

The 27-ton engine comes from the sandsucker W. M. EDINGTON, (a) RIDEAULITE (47), (b) IMPERIAL LACHINE (I)(54), (c) NIAGARA (69), a former tanker, which was built in 1930 at Haverton Hill-on-Tees by the Furness Shipbuilding Company Ltd. The engine itself, with cylinders of 13 1/2, 22 and 37 inches, and a stroke of 27 inches, was built for the ship by the North Eastern Engineering Company Ltd., Newcastle, England. The machinery was removed from the EDINGTON several years ago when she was converted to diesel power.

The engine was presented to the Museum by Ernest and John Marsh of Marsh Engineering Ltd., Port Colborne. The power and linkage required to turn the engine were designed by and are the gift of S.K.F. Canada Ltd. Much-needed advice and assistance was rendered by Mr. Alfred Mowat, a retired engineer. The machinery was publicly activated for the first time at an inaugural luncheon held at the Museum on Wednesday, October 3rd, 1979.

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Reproduced for the Web with the permission of the Toronto Marine Historical Society.