Madam, - In her excellent tribute to Charles Parsons innovative work on the steam turbine (Science Today, June 17th), Mary Mulvihill was incorrect in one detail. The Titanic was actually powered by two triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines which drove the port and starboard propellers. She also had a small turbine to drive the centre propeller.
It wasn't exactly state-of-the-art, but Harland and Wolff had little experience with turbines, and the White Star Line was happy to settle for a proven system.
Its rival Cunard liners, the Lusitania and Mauritania were turbine-driven ships and were faster and more economical than Titanic, but White Star made a virtue of luxury rather than speed.
In the event, of course, other Titanic design compromises turned out to be more significant. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN QUILLIAM, Clonard Close, Dublin 16.