Vintage work crew photos

[Toolmaker51]

I agree it's the low pressure section of a multi-stage (H.P.(I.P.?)L.P.) steam turbine of it era, in the 1960's/70's 500 MW sets I worked on that's smaller than the I.P. section.....snipped......would lead to differential cooling and a bent turbine shaft, we even had a 'ride the tool post' lathe big enough to machine the LP sections.

What a terrific technical description. As clear you worked that yesterday!

That "barring over" required of very accurate rotating assemblies carried on elsewhere too......Though ball bearings had been around some time, they were barely able to sustain speeds and loads of early jet turbine engines. They were kept turning slowly to avoid flat spots on bearing assemblies. The airflow requirements of intake/ exhaust made remaining space limited; way different then found in something like a motor case, real end bearings and maintaining thrust clearances.