The Steam Engine Museum is part of the Finnish Labour Museum Werstas, located in the historic Finlayson cotton mill area in central Tampere. Inside the original engine hall you can see a colossal Sulzer steam engine that was commissioned in 1900 and used as the power source for the Finlayson factory in the early 20th century. This Swiss-made giant is the largest steam engine ever used in Finland, with an output of around 1,650 horsepower and a flywheel over eight metres in diameter. The machine remains in its original location, and visitors can get close to the cylinders, flywheel and control mechanisms while learning how steam power drove the looms and helped shape Tampere as an industrial city.
The museum is a must for anyone interested in industrial heritage, engineering and the atmosphere of old factories: rather than a typical gallery, it feels like stepping into a preserved power plant. Entry to Werstas and the Steam Engine Museum is free, and the museum is open Tuesday–Sunday, which makes it easy to combine with other Werstas exhibitions and a walk through the Finlayson district. Accessibility is good to the upper landing, though the machine hall floor is reached by stairs only. Families often pair the Steam Engine Museum with the main Labour and Industry Museum displays, finishing their visit in front of the huge engine that tends to impress both adults and children.
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