11/17/2024
This week we were able to remove most of the reinforced concrete floor over the wheel pit of the Corliss Steam Engine, which was inserted in 1920 after the engine was sold. All of the granite caps are still in place except for the outboard bearing, which would’ve been taller and had to be cut down to build the floor. The granite caps are 18 inches thick, and most of them are 6 feet or more long. They had holes drilled in them for bolts that held the feet to the foundation 6 feet below. You can see the wear patterns on top of several of the stones where the iron feet of the engine ground a shadow into the stone. The next step is removing about 3 feet of trash and rubble which is filling up the wheel pit. Then we can check, the stability of the foundation and get ready to bring the engine back to its 1897 location. We also need to build some new windows for the five openings into the engine room.
