h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

World's Biggest Computer?
(Big un that one though - coz you could tongue in cheek say Earth )

World's Biggest Train?
(not sure about this one - length I think would be the way to go)

World's Biggest Helicopter?
(not sure if you've mentioned this in the aeroplane one. Is it still the Chinook? There's probably some Russian cargo one that's much bigger...)

World's Biggest Refridgerator? I mean Machines is a big subject, you could choose something completely whacky, like biggest Oven, or biggest espresso maker??

Rolling mills are a possibility. Possible criteria : Widest, Most Powerful, Highest Specific Power (ie MW/m width), Highest Rolling Force, Highest Output.
My world. If you're interested, I can suggest some info.

Also from metalworking - forging presses.

Do you just want machines in use today? In working order today? Ever built (whether they worked properly or not?)

If you're ambitious, you could try for the world's largest examples of the five fundamental machines (that's : lever, pulley, wheel, incline plane and screw). On similar lines - highest mechanical advantage of any machine, highest gain of any servomechanism, etc. Takes it out of the domain of boy's-toys and back into engineering. You couldn't get purer than that.

Thanks Matt - brilliant suggestions and I'm looking at those. Dunno why, but the Helicopter goes well with me although I do have one 'plane already... I'll think.

Now Pin...

Yes, I think the rolling mill just *has* to be there - molten metal and sparks!!!

I'd rather the subjects were still in use, so I've discounted a lot of steam stuff (RIP Fred Dibnah, what a Gent!) but I'm open to all suggestions.

Have a look at the Crane one if you can. Something I know diddly-squat about and now I'm posting in all manner of crane forums to get the info I need. Something is not right about that one, but I'm not sure what and I could do with some input.

As for now, I'm loving TBM's. I may buy one if I can find a few million under the mattress. (The Chunnel TBM was on eBay for just under five!)

I'm trying to pitch it at 'boys toys' but I don't want to get so technical that the girls go off and look in their 's (sorry girls) so things need to be in laymans terms rather than full-on stats. If we can achieve that type of compromise, I think we may have a Uni winner!

OK. Will find and suggest some links.
We've got some serious crane experts who know Mammoet pretty well. I'll get them to read it, but it looks OK to me (at least on a quick browse).

Have you had a chance to speak to your Mammoet experts Pin? I've found out today that the ballast on Momo 'floats' just a few centimetres off the ground rather than being static, so I will re-word that bit in the crane Entry.

What I never realised is just how much real-life can take over on these things - we've got guests this week, so I've not even had a chance to do what I want to do, but I've made a committment to be finished by the end of the month and I'll bravely state that I will be done in time!

Any one fancy a quid on me not doing it?

Timely reminder. I'd forgotten, but the guy I had in mind was in today. He's got the text and promised to comment.

I put the big old steam engine in PR.