A joy to go back in time and have an unpressured day - bliss.
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Marine engines are among some of the largest steam engines ever built. The one at Hollycombe is from the paddle steamer Caledonia, a former London, Midland & Scottish Railway excursion vessel built for service on the Clyde. During the war, she served as an anti-aircraft ship, HMS Goatfell, and was crediteed with at least two enemy aircraft in the D-Day operations.
Caledonia and her engine were built by Denny Bros. of Dumbarton, and launched in 1934. The engine is a triple expansion diagonal, with a low pressure cylinder of over 4ft diameter. Indicated horsepower was 1,750.
She was retired to the Thames in London in 1972 and was used by Bass Charrington as a floating restaurant until a disastrous fire in 1980 after which she was scrapped. Luckily the engine and ancillary equipment were saved and rebuilt at Hollycombe.