Liverpool Packet No. 2, Dolphin, 1825—1829, 1833, 1840

Steam Boat Engines (18 items).

1133. Liverpool Packet No. 2, Dolphin (TP & TQ). Aug. 1825, Jun., Jul., Sep., Dec. 1826, Oct. 1827, Jan. 1828, Apr. 1829, Apr., Oct. 1833, Dec. 1840. 18 items.
Two 70 horse power side lever boat engines, with 44½ inch cylinder, 4½ foot strokes. Power increased to 81 horses 1832-1833. Boat re-named Shearwater 1837.

Boiler - partially coloured reverse drawing; sketch for headstock columns; sketch for feeding and emptying pipes - reverse drawing; boiler - section and plan marked "Liverpool Boiler No. 3 adapted to Thetis or Dolphin" (drawing made in Sep. 1826 but used for boilers ordered in 1829); balance weight - partially shaded original drawing; cross-section of 1 side of the boat showing paddle wheel etc. - partially shaded drawing; sheet of notes and calculations.
Also the following later items: alteration of working gear, Oct. 1827 - 2 sheets of elevations and plans with note by William Bennett; alteration of the injection gearing, blow valve gearing, throttle valve gearing, disengaging apparatus, starting lever, hand rail - plan and sheet of elevations, Jan. 1828; sketch of starting apparatus [not dated, Jan. 1828?]; memorandum re boiler, Apr. 1829; sketch for cylinders - sketch made in London, Apr. 1833 with dimensions and observations from William Bennett; small section of the cylinder; cylinder, slide valve etc. - coloured direct copy drawing, Oct. 1833.
Also the following items from when the boat was re-named Shearwater: sheet of sketches of articles ordered Dec. 1840; full size [?] drawing of eccentric ring, 1840. Some of these drawings bear letter codes.

Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 785. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 316.

For H. M. Post Office, Liverpool station. Dolphin and Thetis's 70 horse engines were made from a common set of drawings, which are now with the other drawings for the Thetis in Pf. 1134. Dolphin was fitted with 48½ inch cylinders in 1832-1833. The List of Engines made at Soho says that these increased the power to 80 horses, but the coloured drawing made in Oct. 1833 gives the power as 81 horses. The boat was re-named Shearwater in 1837 when the Navy took over the Post Office packet fleet.

See also: Portfolio 5/1134.