Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-19

the recent introduction of the patent axle-box
which with proper care will run many hundred of
miles without being fed, gives promise that the
evil will be abated to considerable extent, if not
prevented altogether Still, on a hot summer day
in district where sandy ballast prevails it Isl and
always will be- very difficult to keep the axles OF
fast train COOL
The power of many of the engines is very great.
On the broad gauge the "Lord of the Isles"
which was shown at the Great Exhibition, may be
regarded as type of class of singularly powerful
construction. 1t is capable of taking passenger
train of some hundred and twenty tons at an aver
age speed of sixty miles hour, its effective pow
er equalling 743 horses. On the narrow-gauge
there are engines of equal capacity in point of
strength, but not, we opine, in speed. We I'M
derstand, however, that special efforts are being
made by the London and North Western line to
increase the speed of their expresses more partic-
uarly between London and Birmingham, to which
a line is now opened from the metropolis Vl0 Ok
ford on the broad gauge. To put themselves in a
better condition for combating with their powerful
rival for the traffic on this route, they making
great efforts, by the formation of engines, to
which we shall have again to advert.
The appearance presented by the engine-driver,
whose hand guides and controls the mighty ener-
ges of the steam-horse, he thus seems to "ride
upon the storm" of conflicting Forces is full of in
terest and almost of terror When it is remem-
bered that he has not merely to regulate the work
ing of elaborate and costly apparatus, and to
make its operation as greatly powerful and as lit
tie expensive possible, but to act with decision
under exigencies which may arise at any moment,
and to discover expedents amidst unexpected diff
fculties, his attention being reused by the con-
sciousness that not or y is valuable property and
the lives of many passengers entrusted to his skill
and care, but that should any inadvertency arise,
his life will be the first to be sacrificed while
the train advances, whether mounting the earthly
heights of embankment rushing over the SEEM
ingly frail fabric of wooden bridge, or within
the dark bosom of the mountain side, he must be
keenly alive to all the duties of his post.
From personal observation we can aver that this
is not an easy task, even on fine day in summer,
and at a moderate speed. But when the journey
is performed amid tie intense and binding dark
ness of wintry night-when the cold blast of the
north wind sweeps triumphantly over the land in
through it in the opposite, forty, fifty, sixty
miles an hour, backed by train of carriages
weighing, perhaps, hundred tons or more-and
when, with stranng eye-ball he has to look ahead
to see that no blood-red signal is announcing to
him that he must stay his onward course at once,
under peril of instant and inevitable destruction
it is under circumstances like these that see the
energy the care, and the GOODNESS required to fulfil
Alright the heavy responsibilities entrusted to the
engine-men.
In abiding to the speed attained and the fares
exacted, by the different railways comparison will
be best instituted between the Great Western and
the London and North Western Companies. The
relative speed of the fastest trains between London
and Bristol, and London and Birmingham, are as
follows: