Steam piling engine

Built by: Kuijpers Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Year: 1943

Owned and operated by Harm van Heijningen and Jacco Los

It is the only working steam piling engine with the so called Dutch arrangement.

 

History

The steam piling engine was built in 1943 by Kuijpers in Rotterdam with a welded boiler.
After the war it was used in the reconstruction of the Rhineharbour in Rotterdam and the housing area Pendrecht.
The combination was used until 1959 with the original “falling weight” piling block. In 1959 the boiler was replaced by a new, larger one and the falling weight was replaced by a steam driven piling block. More steam was required due to this modification. The boiler was built by the wellknown firm Ten Horn in Veendam (Groningen)
In 1965 the piling engine was placed on a pontoon (it was than named piling pontoon “Brielle”) which enabled working in harbours. It was used for piling several mooring facilities in the harbours of Hellevoetsluis, Middelharnis and Brouwershaven.
In 1977 the whole installation went to a scrapyard. In 1987, just before a start should be made with cutting down the engine, it was saved by the present owner who was informed by another steamlover. By reading books and, long discussions with the original owner it was possible to restore the engine to its original state. A complete new arrangement with 3 wooden poles and hoisting tackle was constructed as it was used in the old days.
Three new wheels were casted and new axles were constructed. The baseplate under the boiler and steam engine was also renewed and finally the legal pressure test was done and approval for operation was obtained.
The piling combination can now be seen in full operation at many festivals, and special events like “piling the first pile” of a construction project.

If you are interested to book the installation for your festival or a special occasion, do this at least 4-6 weeks before to avoid disappointments because the engine is very popular!
You can do this via the webmaster.
Historical photograph of the engine with the original boiler. Here can be seen how piles were pulled. You can also see the original “falling weight” bloc as was used in the old days.
 
Here you see the engine placed on a pontoon used for works in harbours. The original boiler is replaced by a larger boiler built by Ten Horn Veendam.

 
Here you see the steamcylinder and hidden behind a cloud of steam is the crankshaft Via system of axles and cog wheels the hoisting cable is powered.
Via the holes in one of the wheels it was possible to “winch” the engine to its exact location.
The inspection holes in the boiler are also clearly visible.