Antique Fairbanks Morse Diesel Engine Running Strong After 75 Years

Antique Fairbanks Morse Diesel Engine Running Strong After 75 Years | Train Fanatics Videos

When was the last time a diesel engine captured your attention?

This engine is music to our ears as you listen to the rhythmic sounds of the exhaust as the operator revs up the engine and then back down again. Over and over, it sounds like a fine instrument which has a mesmerizing beat as the smoke belches out of the exhaust pipes.

The 1936 Fairbanks Morse Model 32D Stationary Engine is a classic piece of machinery that had 6 cyclinders! Built by the Fairbanks Morse & Company, which originated in 1832, when Thaddeus Fairbanks first patented the platform scale.

A diesel engine doesn’t have to be encased in sheet metal or be on a railroad track to be admired!

The Fairbanks Morse Model 32D Stationary Engines were built for service in power stations, pumping stations and manufacturing plants, among other uses. They were very reliable and required very little maintenance due to their all cast iron construction.

The engines were air started by using a 250 psi (17.2) bar. The operators would insert the bar into the holes in the fly wheel and give it a crank to ramp up the pressure in the cylinders.

Let us know if you have ever seen on of these engines operating! We would love to hear about your experience!

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