This reversing upright steam engine is one of many model engines built by Rudy Kouhoupt. Upright engines were designed for locations where floor space is limited. This engine has a double-acting cylinder with a bore of .875″ and 1.125″ stroke. The double standard plate construction makes for a solid cylinder mounting and also allows the crosshead guides to be installed in rigid positions. Detailed plans for this engine can be found in the first volume of The Shop Wisdom of Rudy Kouhoupt. Rudy’s reversing upright engine is shown on display hooked up to his scale model log splitter.
One of the first large donations to the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum was the collection of famed model engine builder Rudy Kouhoupt. Rudy’s niece, Susan Alvaro, was kind enough to donate his entire lifetime engine collection for display at the grand opening of the museum in 2006. After retiring as a chemist, Rudy had a second career building engines and writing magazine articles documenting the process. Many people have built his models, but we have the honor of displaying all of his original prototypes. Rudy’s collection includes scale model engines, locomotives, tractors and more. Additionally, thirteen of Rudy’s model steam engines are hooked up to run on compressed air to demonstrate their function.
