Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-02
AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES.

lSt, pays Inc 1oHOWluS FoIuHtoiy u'outS I"
the skill of American mechanics
"It will be recollected that q contract
was entered into between the Birmingham
and Gloucester Railway Co. and Mr.. Nor.
ris, of Philadelphia, U. S., for the supply
of locomotives for the Gloucester Railway.
The contract was condiionally made, on
the first engine manufactured by Mr.. N.
performing certain work agreed upon. As
much interest has been felt in this country
with reference to the conrac:, and as some
doub's were entertained as 10 the correct
ness of the representations made respecting
these engines, we have pleasure in giving
the following particulars as 10 the engine
sent over to this country by Mr.. Norris,
and the work it has actually performed on
the Grand Junction Railway, in conformity
with the agreement to which we have allu-
ded.
The England weighs about eight tons,
water or fuel she is built much lower and
smaller than the engines commonly in use
here, and has six wheels, the driving pair
being four feet in diameter. The cylinders
are ten and half inches in diameter, and
are enclosed in proper cases, to prevent rad
iaton-stroke eighteen inches. The ma
chinery is Of the simplest construction, and
consists of much small number OF parts
than we have been accustomed TO see. The
cylinders are placed on the outside of the
! framework, which allows the advantage OF
straight axle; and the general appearance
of the engine more nearly resembles that
of the old Rocket engine than any with
which we are acquainted. The engine is
got up in superior style, and is finished even
to the most minute particular, in very
beautiful and workmanike manner, every
part having been executed with perfect &C.
curacy, by means of self.acting machinery.
AS q proof, indeed, Of the mathematical
correctness of the work, we may mention
that the steam. tight joints are formed simply
by the bringing into contact OF metallic sur
faces the workmanship of which is SO true,
as entirely to supersede the necessity Of
packing of any kind. The boiler is similar
20 those used in engines manufactured in
this country, but It contains only 76 tubes.
instead Of from loo to 40, the number
commonly used in those on our railways;
and tho consumption offueI, compared with
the work Psrfora'0d, ls' We understand very
small.
The task undertaken to be performed by
the England was to run from Birmingham
to Warrington, fourteen journeys each way,
carrying 100 tons in The gross, and per.
forming the distance, 80 miles. at the rate of
20 miles per hour, which the engine has ac-
complished considerably within the speci-
fled time of hours /; the average time hav.
ing been about 3 hours SO mins., or the &C.
tual running time, without sioppages, from
8 h. 9 MI . to 8 h. l9 Minis. On one oc.
casion, it il stated that the engine brought in.
to Birmingham the enormous load of l26
tins, drawing it up the inclined planes with
out any assistance and on no occasion has
it failed 10 perform the required duty, nor
has even the least arrangement of any part
Of the machinery taken place. 1t should
also be mentioned that the various parts
we're never put together until its arrival in
this country, when they were first fitted at
Liverpool, the day previous 10 making a
trip nor has tool been applied 10 the en-.
CINE since she was first set up. We un.
derstaad the conditional order to Mr.. Nor
ris for ten engines of similar capablllty, has
been confirmed"
In addition to the above the U. S. Gazette
says :" We are informed that the directors
of the Grand Junction Company placed on
their railway the best Of their English 10.
comotives out Of fify-lwo. to compete with
Mr.. Norris. The latter however, notwlth.
standing her greatly inferior weight, was
victorious. The English locomotive weigh.
ed 10 ions. with IL inch cylinders, ls inch
stroke, and S feet driving wheels. The
Philadelphia locomotive weighed only 8
tons, with 10 inch cylinders, ls inch stroke,
and feet driving wheels. The burthen
in gross was 120 TONS"
We may add, to the still further credit Of
American ingenuity, that there are other
establishments in this country for the man.
ufacture of locomotive engines, that will
very we'll compare with that OF Mr.. Norris.
The largest establishment Of the kind, we
understands that of Messrs. Baldwin, Vail
and Hufty, Of Philadelphia. MIR. Vail, we
believe, has recently introduced some i'm.
portant improvements in the structure OF his
engines which give them advantages over
all others.
A pamphlet of very interesting charac-
ter has lately been published in EngIano,'
on the subject of the great hurricane when
was experienced in Great Britain n anu 're'
land on the 7th day Of January, leSs:h
is by VIM. Thompson. 1t seems that,