Far West Steamship - Western Rivers Explorer and Workhorse

The Far West Steamship was a vital part of the country's transportation network, operating on the western rivers from 1855 to 1862.

It was a workhorse, carrying passengers and cargo between cities like St. Louis and St. Paul.

The Far West was a popular choice for travelers due to its reliability and speed.

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The Far West was 190 ft (58 m) long with a beam of 33 ft (10 m). This impressive size allowed the ship to carry a substantial amount of freight.

She drew only 20 in (51 cm) of water unloaded and 30 in (76 cm) fully loaded with 200 tons of freight. This is a remarkable feat of engineering, considering the ship's size.

Between her first and second decks were two powerful high-pressure steam engines built by Herbertson Engine Works of Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Each engine had 15-inch-diameter (38 cm) pistons and a 5 ft (1.5 m) stroke.

The engines were powered by steam from three boilers that consumed as many as 30 cords of wood a day. This is a significant amount of fuel, but it was necessary to power the ship's movements.

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The engines drove a single 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) stern wheel. This wheel was a key part of the ship's propulsion system.

The Far West also had two steam capstans, one on each side of the bow. This was a notable feature, as it was the first boat built with more than one capstan.

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The Far West steamship made its first notable trip to Fort Benton, Montana, in 1870. This marked the upper terminus of river travel on the Missouri.

In 1872, the Far West set a record for the quickest trip from Sioux City, Iowa, to Fort Benton, Montana, completing the journey in seventeen days, twenty hours. Mark Coulson was the master of the ship during this remarkable voyage.

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The Far West was a significant vessel in the early days of river travel on the Missouri. In 1870, it made trips to and from Fort Benton, Montana, which was the upper terminus of river travel at the time.

The Far West was known for its speed, and in 1872, it made the quickest trip on record from Sioux City, Iowa, to Fort Benton, Montana. This impressive feat took seventeen days and twenty hours.

Mark Coulson was the master of the Far West during this remarkable journey.

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After 1876, the Far West continued to carry freight and passengers on the upper Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. It set records along the way.

In 1881, the Missouri River was unusually high, causing a delay in the arrival of river boats coming up river. The Far West was the first boat to reach Fort Benton that year, but it didn't arrive until May 19 due to the high water.

The Far West was built in Pittsburgh and was one of the ships that sailed on the Missouri River.

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The Far West's ill-fated voyage on the Missouri River ended in disaster in October 1883, when it hit a snag near St. Charles, Missouri, and was subsequently lost.

One notable captain who might have been familiar with the Missouri River's dangers during this era is Joseph LaBarge, a famous steamboat captain.

Grant Marsh was another captain who likely had experience navigating the Missouri River, having been involved in the Far West's sinking.

The Far West's sinking is documented in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which features a "Rigged Model, River steamboat Far West" exhibit.

The Far West's sinking is also recorded in the list of shipwrecks and maritime incidents that occurred in 1883.

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The Far West was a powerhouse on the water, with a strong and powerful build that allowed her to traverse shallow channels and cross sand bars with ease. She had a shallow draft, which made her incredibly maneuverable in tight spaces.

Her engines and three boilers were a match made in heaven, providing the speed and power needed to navigate the high winds of Montana and North Dakota during the summer months. She was also able to breast strong currents and go up through rapids with ease.

The Far West was a master of the "grasshopper" maneuver, using spars and steam capstans to lift and swing her front onto shallow sand bars, then accelerating her paddle wheel to generate a current that would dislodge loose sediment and create enough draft to move forward into the deeper channel beyond the sand bar.

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The Far West was a strong and powerful boat, built for hard work. She had a unique combination of features that made her fast and durable.

Her engines and three boilers gave her the power to traverse shallow channels and cross sand bars. This was crucial for navigating the waters of Montana and North Dakota during the summer months.

The Far West had a shallow draft, which allowed her to travel through shallow water. This was a key advantage in areas with limited water depth.

She was also able to "grasshopper" across shallow sand bars, using spars and steam capstans to lift and swing the front of the boat onto the sand bar. This process allowed her to create enough draft or flotation to move forward into the deeper channel beyond the sand bar.

This maneuver was made possible by the boat's ability to accelerate its paddle wheel, generating a current in the water that helped dislodge loose sediment under the boat.

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The engine room is a crucial part of any vessel, and it's great to see progress being made on this one. The paddle eccentrics are now done, and the whole lot has been trial assembled on the mounting plate.

The paddle wheel spins quite freely, but a cant in the pittman arms will be necessary to accommodate the paddle's width. This is a common challenge when working with specific dimensions.

A cant in the pittman arms will allow the paddle to spin smoothly, and it's a detail that's worth getting right. The engine room's roof is also complete, and it's been a labor of love to get it just right.

Making the roof's ribs was an interesting process, and it involved using a drawing package to create a curved template. The radius of the curve was about 2 meters, which is a significant measurement.

To draw the curve, the author used a combination of a drawing package and a piece of string to create a template for the ribs. This is a great example of thinking outside the box and using available tools to get the job done.

The ribs were then glued in place, but it seems that the new glue may have weakened the bond of the original glue. This is a common issue when working with multiple layers of adhesive.

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The Far West was a sternwheel river steamer built in 1870 at Pittsburgh, Pa., measuring 190 feet long and 33 feet in beam.

It needed only 20 inches of water to navigate when unloaded, making it well-suited for shallow waters. The vessel could be lifted over sandbars or other obstructions by lowering two tall spars at the front of the boat into the river bottom.

This practice was called "grasshoppering", where the vessel would move in short hops, or "bits", to clear obstacles. The Far West was chartered to the U.S. Army to supply remote outposts in Montana and the Dakota Territory.

In June 1876, Capt. Grant Marsh transported Gen. George Custer's forces to the Little Big Horn, and later brought wounded soldiers and news of Custer's loss to Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

The Far West hit a snag on the Missouri River near St. Charles, Mo., in October 1883 and was lost. A model of the Far West is now housed at the National Museum of American History.

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If you're interested in building a model of the Far West, you can start with a hull, like the 60-inch paddlesteamer hull that one model engineer used as a starting point.

He decided to build a 2-inch scale traction engine and paddlesteamer, but later switched to building the Far West in a "stand-off scale." The model will have a beam that's a bit more than it should be, but it will still be a beautiful representation of the original vessel.

The model engineer used 3 mm birch-faced plywood to make the decks and 3 mm aluminum plate for the engine room floor and paddle mounting.

He's planning to build a two-cylinder engine with a 10 mm bore and 50 mm stroke, and will run it at no more than 5 rpm.

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The Far West steamship was a sight to behold, with its impressive size and striking design. It measured 240 feet in length and 32 feet in width, making it a formidable presence on the high seas.

Its hull was made of iron, which was a significant innovation at the time, providing greater strength and durability compared to traditional wooden ships. The Far West's iron hull was also a key factor in its ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the open ocean.

The ship's superstructure was designed with a combination of wood and iron, with a tall forecastle and a raised quarterdeck. This design allowed for a spacious and well-ventilated interior, making life on board more comfortable for the crew.

A notable feature of the Far West's design was its use of a single mast, which was a departure from the traditional two-masted schooner design. This single mast allowed for a more streamlined profile and improved sailing performance.

The Far West's appearance was further enhanced by its elaborate decorative elements, including intricate carvings and ornate furnishings. These touches added a touch of elegance and sophistication to the ship's overall design.

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