The steam engines shop
Fact-checked printables for the kitchen table and the classroom, plus a short list of books and kit. Every purchase helps keep this site free.
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Steam engine printables
Fact-checked PDFs in A4 and US Letter, sold as instant downloads from the ReallyByte store.
Draw Your Own Steam Engines: Step-by-Step Diagram Sheets
Ten steam engine diagrams to draw with a ruler and compass, from Hero’s spinning ball to Watt’s governor, each with simple steps, a practice grid and how the part works
Steam Engine Puzzle Pack: Cranks, Codes & Crosswords
A crossword, a word search, a maze through the boiler, a timeline puzzle, a code-breaker and engine-part matching, all with answer keys
No-Heat Steam Science Experiment Cards
Twelve cards of steam science with no kettles or flames: the syringe squeeze, a card crank, a balloon spinner, the stair-climb horsepower test and more
Engine Spotter’s Log: Steam Visit & Record Book
Log the engines you see at museums and heritage railways, sketch the moving parts, time a flywheel and work out your own horsepower
Full Steam Ahead! Kids’ Steam Engine Worksheets
For ages 6 to 11: label the engine, put the inventors in order, steam maths, true or false, a maze and colouring, with answer keys
Steam Pioneers Poster Set
Six fact-checked posters: how a steam engine works, Newcomen, Watt, Trevithick, Rocket and the steam turbine
Best valueThe Complete Steam Engines Printables Bundle
All six packs plus a guide, A4 and US Letter, in one download.
Free sample
Try before you buy: a free 7-page steam engines sample, with a drawing sheet, a puzzle, an experiment card, a log page, a worksheet and a poster from the packs. A4 PDF (830 KB) or US Letter PDF (824 KB).
Books & kit
Affiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These are Amazon UK search links, not endorsements of particular products. Read reviews and pick what suits you.
Books
- Books on steam engines (affiliate link)The big picture, from Newcomen’s beam to the turbine.
- Steam train books for children (affiliate link)Lots of pictures, plenty of puff.
- Railway history books (affiliate link)For anyone who wants Rainhill in proper detail.
- Books on the inventors (affiliate link)Watt, Boulton, the Stephensons and friends.
Build it
- Wooden mechanical model kits (affiliate link)Build your own cranks, gears and pistons, then watch them go.
- Gear construction sets (affiliate link)Sun-and-planet gears, made from plastic and patience.
- Model stationary steam engines (affiliate link)The real thing in miniature, with a grown-up in charge of the heat.
- Technical drawing sets (affiliate link)Compass, set squares and a ruler for drawing your own engines.
Experiments
- Plastic syringes (no needles) (affiliate link)For squeezing trapped air the way Robert Boyle did.
- Balloons and bendy straws (affiliate link)Fuel for the balloon spinner, Hero-style.
- A stopwatch (affiliate link)For timing your stair-climb horsepower.
- A tape measure (affiliate link)How high are your stairs? Find out properly.
Puzzles
- Steam locomotive jigsaws (affiliate link)A thousand pieces of smoke, brass and green paint.