A rotor journal support system , comprising: at least one aligning ring forming at least a portion of a cylindrical opening through which a rotor journal may extend; at least one first retaining plate extending radially inward further than a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring ; at least one second retaining plate extending radially inward further than the radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring , and wherein the at least one second retaining plate is offset axially from the at least one first retaining plate ; at least one bearing shoe positioned radially inward from the inward surface of the at least one aligning ring ; at least one bearing shoe support extending from the at least one bearing shoe radially outward to the at least one aligning ring , wherein the at least one bearing shoe support includes an outer bearing surface having at least a partial spherical shape configured to bear against a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring , characterised in that at least one first retaining pin extending outwardly from a first side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring , wherein the at least one first retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from a pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe ; and at least one second retaining pin extending outwardly from a second side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring , wherein the at least one second retaining pin extends in a generally opposite direction from the at least one bearing shoe than the at least one first retaining pin , and wherein the at least one second retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from the pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe . at least one aligning ring forming at least a portion of a cylindrical opening through which a rotor journal may extend; at least one first retaining plate extending radially inward further than a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring ; at least one second retaining plate extending radially inward further than the radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring , and wherein the at least one second retaining plate is offset axially from the at least one first retaining plate ; at least one bearing shoe positioned radially inward from the inward surface of the at least one aligning ring ; at least one bearing shoe support extending from the at least one bearing shoe radially outward to the at least one aligning ring , wherein the at least one bearing shoe support includes an outer bearing surface having at least a partial spherical shape configured to bear against a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring , characterised in that at least one first retaining pin extending outwardly from a first side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring , wherein the at least one first retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from a pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe ; and at least one second retaining pin extending outwardly from a second side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring , wherein the at least one second retaining pin extends in a generally opposite direction from the at least one bearing shoe than the at least one first retaining pin , and wherein the at least one second retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from the pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe . <EOS>