How they worked[]
The Titanic had 2 triple expansion reciprocating engines. The engines were located in the Reciprocating Engine Room on the Tank Top, aft of Boiler Room 1. The two sets of reciprocating engines were of the four-type triple expansion direct acting inverted type. After a slight drop in pressure from having to travel through various lines and valves, steam from the Boiler Rooms arrived at the high-pressure cylinders of the engines at roughly 210PSIG (Pounds per Square Inch Gauge) Steam exhausted from the high-pressure cylinders were then channeled to the intermediate pressure cylinders at 78PSIG. After that, the steam was sent to the low-pressure cylinders with a PSIG of 24. The now low-pressure steam was then directed to either the turbine or straight to the condensers.
Wreck[]
Despite being right at the edge of the aft break-up, Titanic's engines are in remarkably good condition but during the break-up, both engines lost their forward Low-Pressure Cylinders, which have since been located in the debris field. The engines, remarkably, remained attached to the ship, upright and largely intact apart from the lost cylinders, though as can be seen in wreck footage, the portside High-Pressure Cylinder has caved in on itself. It's unclear if this damage was caused by water pressure or by the decks which collapsed down onto the engines.
Popular culture[]
Titanic's engines have made appearances in several films and documentaries including:
Titanic 1943[]
S.O.S. Titanic[]
A Night to Remember[]
Titanic 1997[]
