Abstract: An overhung steam turbine is described which features a seal assembly and a bearing assembly to minimize axial shaft movement. The seal assembly forms a pressure barrier between a relatively low vacuum exhaust region and an exhaust cavity disposed at one end of the rotor shaft to minimize the pressure differential across the ends of the shaft and the resultant thrust force of the rotor shaft against the turbine casing. A bearing assembly is provided which includes a pair of journal bearings and a pair of oppositely disposed thrust bearings. In one embodiment one thrust bearing is connected by an adapter ring which is mounted to a horizontally split bearing casing. In another embodiment, the thrust bearing is carried by one of the journal bearings. The journal bearings are preferrably connected by horizontally split ring bearings to facilitate insertion and removal of the bearings without removing the overhung shaft.