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How it works
Before Watt
James Watt
Locomotives
Turbines
Experiments
Play
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Game

Engine Pairs

Turn over two cards at a time. Match each picture to its name.

Useless’s engine-shed notes: full steam, half an eraser

Rocket hit 36 mph for a short stretch in 1829. My top speed is “flicked across a classroom”. Nobody has measured it. Everybody has felt it.

— U. (tap me for another)

Thanks for visiting. Keep the fire in and the steam up.

The engines

How a steam engine works
Hero, Papin, Savery & Newcomen
James Watt & Boulton
Locomotives & Rocket
Turbines & steamboats
No-heat experiments
Timeline

Odds & ends

The big facts page
Myths vs facts
FAQ
Games
Useless’s engine-shed notes

Helping

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Sources
Picture credits

The network

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About the network

steam.mechanics.im is part of the ReallyByte network, run by REALLYBYTE, based in the Isle of Man. Facts are checked against Encyclopaedia Britannica, NASA Glenn Research Center’s Beginner’s Guide and the Science Museum Group blog, listed on the sources page (checked 31 Oct 2026). The diagrams, the animated engine and the games are our own; old engravings, paintings and photos are public domain, credited. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Britannica, NASA or the Science Museum Group. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. No cookies; privacy-friendly visit counts via GoatCounter. Privacy | Contact

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