ATLAS IMPERIAL

We have a very nice Atlas Imperial engine at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California. It is a 6-cylinder engine with an 11-1/2-inch bore and a 15-inch stroke. It weighs 33,100 pounds, has a displacement of 9,348 cubic inches and generates 300hp at 300rpm. Some pretty big numbers, but the most important thing is that it is a good spectator engine as all of the valve mechanism is fully exposed. That, and all of the air-start valving make it one of our best attractions. This is the story of how we got it.

The beginning

Looking back, it was such a big job that I doubt we would have started had we known what we were up against in advance. It required a complete overhaul of our compressed air system, 20 yards of concrete and about 1,000 feet of rebar. It was a huge job that took three years and got