History of the steam engine This boat could typically make 7 to 8 miles per hour, and traveled more than during its short length of service. The Fitch steamboat was not a commercial success, as this route was adequately covered by relatively good wagon roads. In 1802 William Symington built a practical steamboat, and in 1807 Robert Fulton used a Watt steam engine to power the first commercially successful steamboat. Oliver Evans in his turn was in favour of "strong steam" which he applied to boat engines and to stationary uses. He was a pioneer of cylindrical boilers; however Evans' boilers did suffer several serious
The Steam Museum The Steam Museum The Steam Museum & Lodge Park Walled Garden is a museum located in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland. The Straffan Steam Museum is housed in a church which once stood by the Inchicore railway works in Dublin. It is located on the site of Lodge Park, a former "big house", and has an 18th century walled garden. This steam museum contains a collection of prototype model locomotives and live steam engines. Two of the locomotives were used in the late 19th century by the Great Northern Railway. The museum has a selection of steam engines used for industrial