
08/09/2025
Before and after - Titanic engine
The engines of the RMS Titanic were a combination of two massive triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines and a low-pressure Parsons turbine, powering the ship’s three propellers. The reciprocating engines drove the port and starboard propellers, while the turbine powered the center propeller, using excess steam from the other engines.
Fueled by steam from 29 boilers, the engines produced a total of 46,000 horsepower, allowing Titanic to reach a maximum speed of about 23 knots (43 km/h). Despite their power, the engines lacked the ability to reverse quickly, contributing to the ship’s inability to avoid the iceberg on April 14, 1912.
Image : Ghosts of the Abyss (James Cameron) & RMS Titanic,inc (colored by Anton logvinenko)