The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-11 00:00:00

A VISIT TO MESSRS. STEPHEN-
SON'S LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE FACTORY,

(From the .Arewcastle Guardian.)

Stephenson and the locomotive are names almost synony-
mous., and everywhere convey the impression of greatness
and power. Their influence is now felt in every quarter of
the globe, and is doing the work of civilization, both hare
and in other countries, in a manner and with a rapidity
almost incredible. Other men, it is true, are profiting by the
ingenuity and the skill of the Stephensons—are gaining opu-
lence and power by the employment of that simple yet mug-
nificent piece of mechanism which they first set in motion
and made patent to the world ; but the name and the fame
of these truly great benefactors of the human family, are
imperishable, and, even amid the whirlpool of tiny characters
that have sprung up, through their labours, they stand forth,
conspicuous and exalted among the eminent and the good of
the age.

Curiosity, and an assurance that a brief account of it might
not be unacceptable to our readers, recently induced us to
visit Messrs. Stephenson's leviathan establishment. This
vast workshop, it may interest those at a distance to know,
is situated in South-:treat, in the south-west district of this
town, close to the river. The works are divided into two
factories, on either side of the street, and thus called "east"
and "west." The latter, though the newer, is the more ex-
tensive of the two, occupying several acres of ground. On
entering it, the stranger is at once struck with the novelty,
as well as the extent and variety of the operations dis-
closed. The ear is saluted with the noise of some hundreds
of hammers reverberating on boilers and anvils, and the eye
is startled by the sight of so many blazing fires and
sundry workmen, with the grea'est sang froid, carrying
about huge bars and plates of red-hot iron ! On examining
the various departments, however, the visitor soon finds
enough in each to engage his closest attention. He is first
introduced to a workshop of unusual dimensions, level with
the ground, where locomotives are being partially com-
pleted, and where upwards of forty hands are busily oc-
cupied in fittinc, up different parts of the machinery.
Over this shop is an equally capacious room, accommo-
dating about seventy men and boys, who polish and other-
wise prepare the inside gearing and finer parts of the engines.
Each stands in front of a " vice," at which the usual " tiling"
and "chiselling" are performed; but ingeniously-constructed
machinery, driven by steam- power, is placed along the entire
space of the room, and facilitates the more difficult task of
cutting and modelling cranks, shafts, and wheels. Proceed-
ing to another part of the works, several locomotives are seen
in course of trial, on rails laid for the purpose; and others in
course of completion, under a large shed. Adjoining this is
the packing, framing, and painting shop. where locomotives,
intended for railways at a distance, are taken to pieces, after
having been previously tried, and carefully packed in wooden
boxes of unusual size and strength. The painting of the ex-
terior of the carriages is also done in this department, and
the framing put together. The boiler-yard, or what is face-
tiously termed "the musical saloon," is the next place of
interest. Musical this portion of the works most certainly
is, and the music is of the right sort, too—the music of in-
dustry and enterprise. Fancy an angular shed, in which are
some fifty or sixty huge fires, glowing before the roar of the
blast; about two hundred stalwart men and boys, all ham-
mering, rivetting, or otherwise making a deafening noise,
some with immense bars and plates of red-hot iron, others
inside of boilers or fire-boxes—fancy such a sight, and you
have an imperfect idea of this "musical saloon." Many in-
genious and beautiful specimens of mechanical art are, be-
sides, seen at work in this department, such as a machine by
which riveting bolts are moulded and fitted, and another by
which the perforations in the copper fire-boxes of the engines
are executed with much skill and exactness. Leaving this,
the visitor is conducted to the shop where the tenders are
completed, and where a number of joiners are at work
making the boxes used for packing the engines sent to a dis-
tance. A fine saw-mi'l for cutting the heavy pieces of tim-
ber required, is here at work, and, in an upper apartment,
wooden patterns for the machinery are prepared by skilful
artizans.

The east factory differs little from the west, nearly the
same kinds of work being performed in both. It is less in
extent, but equally interesting and important to the visitor.
Some branches are done here which we did not observe else-
where. Engravers, for example, are constantly employed
preparing the plates bearing the engine-makers' name, and
also the letters for the name of the locomotive. All the brass
castings are likwewise done in the east factory. Every part
of the locomotive, except the metal castings, are prepared
and completed in both factories. The drawings and plans of
the engines are executed in a separate department of the
works, by a number of artists, who, judging from the speci-
mens shown us, seem to reflect no ordinary credit on their
worthy employers.
In passing through the various departments, the visitor
cannot fail to observe the singularly well arranged and or-
derly manner in which everything in this great establisment
is conducted. Nothing like disorder or confusion appears
anywhere, and the various branches seem to proceed with
extraordinary exactness and regularity. In several of the
different shops, little boards are seen with the name of some
distinguished contautor to the arts and sciences inscribed,
such as Watt, I4laudslay, Smeaton, &c. In the east factory,
this feature of the establishment assumes more of a loyal
character, the names being the Prince of Wales, the Princess
Royal, &c.
It is almost unnecessary to inform our readers that the
Messrs. Stephenson's establishment is the largest and most
complete, of its kind, in the world; and such is the demand
for locomotives that they have lately been obliged to open
another factory, which is now being furnished, at West Forth
Banks. They employ nearly one thousand men and boys,
and pay weekly, in wages, about 1,0001. Apprentices, who
are admit ted only on payment of a handsome premium, are
sent to them from. all parts of the world, and from nearly
all ranks of society. At present, the demand for locomo-
tives is such that they cannot furnish the numbers ordered.
Nearly all they have completed for some time past, and are
now completing, are for foreign lines of railway. During the
last year, they have sent out fully fifty-six locomotives, and
this year the number is expected to increase to about eighty,
besides repairing not a few old engines. Such an establish-
ment may well be pronounced one of the wonders of modern
times—a noble example of British enterprise and skill, and a
lasting honour to its worthy proprietors, and especially to the
north of England.