The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-31 00:00:00

ENGINE.

IL AND W. HAWTHORN'S LOCOMOTIVE

Messrs. Hawthorn have just published a descrip-
'
lion of their first-class passenger locomotive engine, at pre.
sent in the Great Exhibition. As it embodies three new
' patent improvements in railway locomotion which appear
to us of most practical value—fur we believe they take a
; ' right course towards actual perfection—we arc induced to
publish these improvements in detail.
, I The cylinders are 16 inches diameter ; stroke of piston, 22
; inches ; driving wheels, 64 feet diameter : leading and
trailing wheels, 3 feet 9 inches diameter ; heating surface of
1 fire-box above the grate bars, exclusive of tube ends and
' fire-door, 98.6 square feet: total area of fire doe, including
tube ends, fire door, and surface below the upper side of
grate bars, 110 .quire feet (the fire-box has a bridge, with
water space across the centre) : 158 brass tubes, 2 inches
' exterior diameter, having a heating surface of 866.4 square
feet. The maximum speed with an average express train
being equal to 80 miles an hour on a good line of railway.
' The patent improvements introduced in this engine are :
Firstly, Mows. Hawthorn's Patent Double Compensating
Beams. The compensating beams and springs (two beams
I and two springs on each side) are introduced, instead of the
six ordinary springs, one to each axle bearing, by which ar-
' rangemeut all the axle bearing. arc so connected that what-
' everaetion takes place will be directly sod simultaneously die-
tributed over the six wheels and axles, by which means a
• I uniform weight is constantly maintained upon all the
wheels no matter the imperfections or irregularities in the
line of railway ; securing thereby a constant amount of
weight upon the driving wheels fir adhesion, which is of
great importance for a first-class engine, wherein
the power is communicated to one pair of wheels,
and which in practice is often found delicientand attended
with great inconvenience, in engines with the ordinary six
springs. The mode of connexion between the axles above-
mentioned gives great stability and easy motion to the en-
gine, which was fully proved in the transit of the engine by
rail from Newcastle to Loudon, and particularly when
running at high sp cede. In addition to the advantages
hereby given to the engine itself, considerable caving is
effected in maintaining the permanent line of railway. In
" The Hawthorn," the axle-, have all outside bearings, with
driving wheels in the centre, and the carmine wheels at
each end (the trailing axle immediately behind the fire-box),
which arrangement of wheels and axle* have, with very few
exceptions, been adopted by the first engineer" and locomotive
engine inanufacturers us being the best in principle for
firs:-,'lass preeenger or express engines. Although the ne-
cessity of having at times to put an undue weight upon
the springs of the driving wheels, in an engine with the
ordinary six springs, to secure the required adhesion, ope-
rates on such occasions considerably against the arrange-
ment, by giving to the engine an undulating or pitching
motion, which at times renders it unsafe, and particularly
so at high velocities—the permanent way also suffers less or
more injury. in such instances; the whole of which are
entirely obviated by the double compensatithe beams, pre-
viously mentioned. Oerasionally, engines have been made
with the driving wheels placed behind, nod the motion
communicated thereto by outside connecting rods through
the mediumof a distinct crank axle; but the driving
wheels being se placed, curtails the foot plate very much,
and renders it very inconvenient to the engine-driver and
stoker; and the outside connecting roils have Amid inva-
riably been considered objectionable, and attended with
lass or more danger to passenger engines, particularly when
running at high velocities.
Secondly—Their patent slide valves which may be made
either of braes or cast iron, are placed vertically between
the cylinders in one stunt chest iu the usual meaner. One
slide valve has a plate cost or !milted upon the back, which
is planed correctly panillel with the face of the valve. The
other slide valve has a box cast upon the back, into which is
fitted a projection or piston. The face of this piston is Aso
planed parallel with the face of the valve, and packed hi the
most simple mum. r and made steam tight, the slide valves
are then put lute the steam chest as in ordinary
valves, the plete and piston work against each
other steam tight, and the very trilling movement ,
of the Moon will insure the packing very
perfectly tight 1
for a great length of time, and when required to be renewed
it is only necessary to remove one of the steam chest Mm-
nets and draw out the valves. A (massage is formed between
the exhaust ports through the slide valves, thus giving al
free discharge to the strain ; by this arrangement of patent !
slide valves, they Sc• relieved front one half the preeeure of
*team, ituit consequently one-half the fricton and power to.
work them, and also a like proportion of the wear and tear
of the faces gad gearing.
Thirdly—Their p itent link motion is also introduced into'
this engine. The link (termed the expansion link), instead
of being connected to the ends of the eccentric rods, and
having to be constantly moved up and down with them
(which with the great weight of the link requires very
strung gearing.) is directly connected by an eye pent to the
slide rod and de in eutpendee, hens its weight is removed:
front the reversing g .ar, by the link having thus a fixed,
centre less poser is required to reverse and regulate the slide
valves, the action of the valves are more correct, and par-1
ticularly when cutting off the steam and working expan-
sively; the link is aloe much more durable by admitting of
what is termed the sliding block, being mire than three ,
times the length of the ordinary block, hence a great easing!
in the wear and tear of the link and gearing ; another int-
portant advantage is that the link permits of the boiler being!
brought down n arer to the axles.
Fourthly.—Their patent deem pipe is likewise lire
introduced, which does away with all domes or eunthrous
projections on the top of the holler. The pipe is used into
the tube plate of the sm-ike box by a ferule, like an ordinary
tube, and extend, nearly the full length of th.• boiler near
to the top ; it is perforeted with a series of small apertures
or slits along the entire length, so proportioned as to admit
the steam into the pipe directly above where it is gene-
rated, insteed of having to rush front all parts of the boiler
to on? or two millets., so that the steam is carried to the
cylinders mom pure, and priming, as technically termed,
is prevented tog great extent.
Both the inside and outside framing extend the full
length of the engine, and are firmly tied together by strung
iron double knee bracket., and the cyliwkre, guide
bars, pant" axles, etc., in short the whole machinery of
the inane, is p.gfeetly fitted and fixed entirely iudepen- '
dent of the boiler, and when so completed and the wheels '
and axles put into their respective places, the boiler is then, I
but not till thee, put in its place and firmly secured by
bolts to the double knee brackets above mentioned and the ,
outside learning.
It apeears that R. and W. Hawthorn were the first who •
appli..4 the four fast eccentrics to the locomotive engine.

TM: FLORAL DISPLATs—By an early dueission of
the royal commissioners no living thing woo to he allowed a
place in the buildinr, but for decorative etf,,t a large part
of the north transilit io ommpied with shrubs and dowering
pl into, and thus a moot attnictiv.., feature is addsl to that
part of the Palace of industry. The coup d'mit, heiking
southward from the entrance in Rotten-row, is exceedingly ,
tine and mach heightened by the floral show. The plants
are supplied by the following nurserymen, who have the
privilege of soiling b niquets and cut flowers t, • isitors :
Mr. Bragg, Star Nursery, Slough, Pansies and .Miscella
neous Plants; Mr. U. Clarke, Streatham-place Nursery,
Brixton, Miscellaneous 1.12,41t4 ; Mr. Dennis, King's-road
Chelsea, Miscellaneous Plants; Mr. Pergusua, Buckingham
;
and Ayleshury, Miscellaneous Plants; Mews. Knight and
Perry, King s-road, Chelsea, choice exotics and selected
shrubs; Messrs. 11. Lane and Son, Great lierkliamstcad,
rhododendrons, azaleas and roses; Messrs. C. Lodiligas
and Sons, litekney, a Collection of palms;Mr. G. Paul,
Clie.hunt, a eillection of coniferous plants, roses, &c.;
Mc-as. W. E. Randle and Co., Plymouth, miscellaneous'
plants; Messrs. Standish and Noble, llagshot, hardy rhodo-
dendrons, azaleas, &c. ; Messrs. Weeks and Co., King's-
road, Chelsea, miscellaneous plants; Ward, Esq., of
Clapham, contributes his interesting eases fur transporting
plants from distant countries. They are plac on either
side of the ltotten-row entrance.

Tut: AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS.—An American
paper, the Was/iiity/mi Daily Nation.el littelligeiwer, soya :
" We give below an extract of a letter front un
gentleman in London to his friend in this city respecting
the portion of the Grand Exhibition which hen been contri-
buted by our countrymen, and the comparison which it
bears with the contributio .4 of other countries. The view
which he presents is not pleasant—indeed, it es rather mor-
tifying to our national pride—but it is from an honest and
intelligent source, and. though unpalatable, the bitter may
prove wholesome :—' The importance of this Exhibition has
been greatly underrated 1)7 us. The European display will
be costly and magnificent beyond description. Sonic single
individuals have gone to an expense of 10,0001. in the ar-
rangement and display of their goods. If our government
had granted as many dollars to the object, we might have
made a creditable appearance. As it is, the American
portion will bear an appearance of stinttng and mean-
ness not very Bettering to our national vanity. The
articles, now that they are in the building, are
found to be insufficient to fill the allotted space,
and a considerable portion of it has been resigned to other
countries. I fear we shall be very badly beaten ; and I
advise any one who intends coming here in the expectation
that this Exhibition i. going to raise our country in the
eyes of the world to stay at home. I was one of those
who expected it, but now that I sec the splendid results
of the art and taste of the European nations, I feel that
what we have to show is only creditable considering our
youth. Some of our carriages and machinery are, how-
ever, quite comparable with the best here. In daguerreo-
types, also, we shall excel, and in India rubber fabrics.
But in all works of art and taste—in sculpture, glass, silica,
woollens, and even in agricultural implements—we shall
either be entirely surpassed or quite equalled. In designs
we are thrown entirely into the shade. There will be an
advantage growing out of all this. We have been
paring ourselves among ourselves' until we have become
convinced that we are ahead of all mankind. This direct
comparison will open our eyes, and must, I think, result in
great good, by giving a powerful impulse to the arts in
uur country; if so, the temporary mortification will be
more than compensated, and may be recurred to without
regret."
Ethan hies slim Reuse incminisv Juvabn."

SAILORS' 110 ma.—We are informed that the direc-
tors of the Sailors' Home, Well-stmet, London Docks,
with a view of &Harding facilities to seamen at the out-
ports to n'it Pie Great Haltiliition, have determined to ap-
peopriate as many bed cAbiu. at the lowest pcasible charge
as can be spared lor that purpose; sad the means of con-
veyaseo to Hyde Park being near the institution it is hoped
that many sailors, both of the navy and time mercantile ma-
'vise, will IJO induced to visit the Crystal Palace, a comfort-
able home b. inn provided for them during their short stay
in the metropolis.