Turbinia

Turbinia is a preserved steam vessel on display at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, kept as a monument to maritime engineering. The hull measures roughly 100 feet (30 meters) in length and shows the narrow design needed for high-speed travel.

Charles Parsons built this vessel in the 1890s to test his new turbine technology and convince potential buyers in the navy. The dramatic appearance at the 1897 fleet review brought the breakthrough for worldwide adoption of steam turbines in shipping.

The triple turbine system reflects the Tyne region's role as a global shipbuilding center at the turn of the century. Visitors can trace how this engine changed the way nations thought about speed and power at sea.

The museum offers free entry, so visitors can drop by without booking ahead to see the vessel up close. The exhibition sits on the ground floor and is accessible for wheelchairs.

The original design featured just one shaft with a single propeller, but tests revealed severe cavitation problems in the water. Parsons had to rebuild the entire system with three shafts carrying three propellers each before the vessel reached its record speed.

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Official opening: August 2, 1894

Website: https://discoverymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/turbinia

GPS coordinates: 54.96914,-1.62450

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23