The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-02-09 00:00:00

LOCONIQTIVE ENGINES.

Aiming' the 'numerous improvements in steam carriages,
which' have taken place Within the Inst six years, may be
reckoned that which has for some time been adopted on the Li-
verpool and Manchester Railway, wiiii:h- tends to insure the
safety ht passengers and to-protect the rails. It is .effected by
the addition of a small pair of wheels- placed under the after.
part of the"carriage—not for the pOrPose as they were formerly
used to increase the adhesion to the rails by connecting all the
wheels together, but to. relieve the very great weight on the'
cranked axle, caused by the fire box •andL the overhanging
awn.edigchto.;,o.lf,htihoeil alter part of the frame.' The. effect has been
satisfactorily ascertained by a'fine and powerful engine. called.
was then. withou't"ativiroitthievurrkaeltderwa
• the "'Hercules," lately constructed by Messrs. Mather', Dixon,
with tout
improvement in this and
.every other case where it -Has been
Owtowrkheedels:itahussiuxa!,-
'the
triedavils very evident, and prhiniSei •reitiVe all-the Objee-
tions ehich can be -made against-it. It was feared,
.014 by re-
' lieving• the Wei'ght from the cranked axle and driving wheels,
tlre•adlieSion to the rails would not be sufficient to-alle*nf the
.engine to be Worked to its full power without slipping, The
Hercules, however, took a train with a grOss weight of about.
'170: tons tb' Manchester; without once slipping,' although the
day was not favourable for such a trial, The additional wheels
appear objectionable by increasing the weight to be propelled;
-btn allnwing that it makes .an addition of &Wt., it' is evidently
'0.1• no importance, in proportion to the immense loads• that are
taken ; but as re,rards the rails it is of the utmost advantage,
by'distributingthe load more equally OVerthem'. The'directors
are so-satisfied on:this point, that they do not willing allow the:
large sized engines.to draw without them. The next point to
be stated, and one to which the public are feelingly alive, •is the
greatly- increased safety, by the adoption of six wheels, that
should the cranked axle break, the engine is still borne on four,
• and' no other inconvenience can arise than the detention of the
train. Sorrie- engineers argue that a cranked axle propelly.
Made, will not break, but experience teaches that it is impossi-
ble always. to 'guard against defects in trie iron ;•---'and what must
he the feelings of any company, who' by neglecting: such a-
siMple precaution; should cause' the of those intrusted to
their care.' Is is mita to the credit of the director'of the Li-
: verpool-and Manehester liailwac ClOutpany,' that all other con-.:
siderations have been waived, when any :plan 'to insure the,
safety of passengers ceuld.be adopted.' 7
The additional wheels also render the motion or the carriages'
much srnoinher,•which must coirsiderably'dintinish the friction.
713iith to the 'engines and rails. The dirictilty of turning the
six wheeled engines, and the extra expense are objections that'
cannot for a moment stand good against, the abovementioned.
advantages ; and it is 'to be hoped that the direetrn's of the ex
-
ten site and important lines of railways which.ate. OrnO•e6,
will make arrangements for the adoption of carriages of this 'de-:
scriptien, should those which are now employed on. the Liver-
pool and Manchester Railway continue to be•saccesiful. •