Turbinia facts for kids

Turbinia at speed in 1897
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	Turbinia
Launched	2 August 1894
Out of service	1927
Refit	1960s
Nickname(s)	"The Ocean Greyhound"
Status	Museum ship
General characteristics
Displacement	44.5 tons
Length	104 ft 9 in (31.93 m)
Beam	9 ft (2.7 m)
Draught	3 ft (0.91 m)
Propulsion	Three-stage axial-flow direct-acting Parsons steam turbine driving two 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) outer shafts, each with three 18-inch-diameter (460 mm), 24-inch-pitch (610 mm) propellers, and one inner shaft with three propellers. 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) three-drum water-tube coal-fired boiler with double-ended 1,100-square-foot (100 m2) heating surface. 200 psi (1.4 MPa), 170 psi (1.2 MPa) at the turbine
Speed	34.5 kn (63.9 km/h; 39.7 mph)

Turbinia was a very special ship. It was the first ship ever powered by a steam turbine. Built in 1894, it was an experimental vessel, meaning it was made to test new ideas. At that time, it was easily the fastest ship in the world.

Turbinia was shown off in an amazing way at the Spithead Navy Review in 1897. This event helped set the standard for future steamships. Most ships built after Turbinia would use turbine power. Today, you can see the Turbinia at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. Its original engine parts are at the Science Museum in London.

How Turbinia Changed Ships

An Amazing Public Display

Turbinia at the Spithead Navy Review, 1897.

Turbinia arrived unexpectedly at the Navy Review in Spithead on June 26, 1897. This event was part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria. Many important people were there, including the Prince of Wales and foreign leaders.

As a bold way to get attention, Turbinia raced between the lines of navy ships. It was much faster than any other ship there. It steamed up and down in front of the crowd. A navy boat tried to chase it, but Turbinia easily got away. Its fast movement even created waves that almost swamped the smaller boat.

Photographer Alfred J. West took many pictures of Turbinia moving at full speed. Sir Charles Parsons, who designed the ship, then invited West to film and photograph the vessel on the River Tyne and in the North Sea. These pictures are still the most famous images of Turbinia in action.

The Impact of Turbinia's Speed

The damaged Turbinia lying in dry dock

Turbinia alongside RMS Mauretania

After this clear show of speed and more tests, Parsons started the Turbinia Works in Wallsend. This company built engines for two new turbine-powered destroyers for the Navy. These ships, HMS Viper and HMS Cobra, were launched in 1899.

Both destroyers were unfortunately lost in accidents in 1901. Even though these losses slowed things down, the Navy was convinced that turbines were the future. In 1900, Turbinia traveled to Paris to be shown to French officials. It was also displayed at the Paris Exhibition.

The first merchant ship (a ship that carries goods or passengers) to use turbine power was the Clyde steamer TS King Edward in 1901. By 1905, the British Navy decided that all their future ships would be turbine-powered. In 1906, the first turbine-powered battleship, the amazing HMS Dreadnought, was launched.

Turbinia as a Museum Ship

Turbinia on display at Newcastle Discovery Museum.

To stop Turbinia from getting damaged by water, the company lifted it out of the water in 1908. In 1926, the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company offered the ship to the Science Museum, London.

Turbinia was cut into two pieces. The back part, with its engines and propellers, was put on display in London. The museum did not have enough space for the whole ship. The front part was given to Newcastle in 1944 and displayed in the city's Exhibition Park.

In 1959, the Science Museum removed the back part of Turbinia from display. By 1961, a new middle section was built. Turbinia was then put back together and displayed in Newcastle. In 1983, the ship was fully rebuilt again.

On October 30, 1994, exactly 100 years after it was launched, Turbinia was moved to Newcastle's Museum of Science and Engineering. This museum was later renamed the Discovery Museum. The ship went on public display there in March 1996.

Turbinia is now part of the National Historic Fleet. In 2000, it was the main focus of a big project at the Discovery Museum. This project cost £10.7 million. The area around Turbinia was the first part to be updated. The roof was even raised by one floor to create viewing areas on three levels.

See also

In Spanish: Turbinia para niños