The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-04
LOCOMOTIVES.
T,HE FOLLOWING VALUABLE AND INTERESTING
IL article Is from zerah Colburns new paper, the
Railroad Advocate


THE FOLLOWING vALuABIE AND INTERESTING
IL article Is from Zerah Colburn's paper, the
A DAY m NORRIS LOCOMOTIVE WORKS.
The development Of the locomotive has been wonder
full From its earliest and most primitive condition, it
has attained to new FORMS proportions and and
as ss O with
mammoth estabh shmens, devoted to its censtruc-
ton. wide interest attaches to this great advance
ment in both the manufacture and the mandatory.
In the great works which form the subject Of pre-.
sent notice the locomotive has been originated and
tured in it's varied and valuable FORMS and its pro-
S.ksff sslaellssnsnSs s Z a. world V Wy
1t is now twenty-five years since the Norris locomotive
works first established in their present location,
upon the summit Of Bush Hill In the North western
section Of the consolidated city o. Philadelphia At
that period, railroads were hardly more than exciting
country being beyond their inuenee The practcabili
ty, even Of steam locomoion not generally admit
ted and there were many indeed who denied its posi-
Had the great principles OF the locomotive however,
been generally recognized, its construction would not
The mechanical skill which prevailed a quarter OF
century ago, imperfect at the best. There
large bodies OF at command having proper and dis
tnctive training in each Of the trades properly
the arts, which embraced in locomotive building
Much less known the construction and the use
those wonderful modern engines, by which iron and
steel wrought into every geometrca form, and
with nearly the same facility as soft and yielding wood
The turning engine, even was rude and primitive
fair. while most other machines, common In me
chanical establishments, altogether unknown.
This primitive and embarrassing condition of things Is
cation to the writer OF this article, by p Norris Esq,
of the Port Richmond Iron Works Philadelphia
Speaking tf the circumstances which attended the
ganzaton ~ years ago. OF his well known and
extensive works, Mr.. Morris says -
'Our career has not been long one, yet it has been
so long as to embrace the infancy and youth of mocha
nical operations in this country. When commenced
In 1870, there not planning machine known
Of S
handled button head and hook TOOLS and the I'm.
ishng was done by the hand hammer and chsel Steam
joints were made with lead ring rough surface
and packed with rusted iron borngs."
,sSments now holding high rank for the extent and
quality OF their productions, were commenced.
The locomotive builder Of that day had thus not only
to contend with popular unbeef in the of his
efforts but had also to procure and to teach suitable
workmen for the execution Of his designs. Not always
however, could be found having sufficient capacity
to learn such were contented TO taught further
than in the first steps of the business As acquired
partial knowle &c Of the work. they apt 10
grow presumptnous and exactng; and IL only by
ready knowledge of human nature by liberal compen.
saon and the possession of strong personal influence
over this class OF men, that they could be always
a state of proper discipline and efficiency.
Nothing short either of the practical talent competent
TO the perfection OF the locomotive could have supplied
the machinery and fixtures necessary for its
ton. The tools now in use In the Norris Locomotive
Works, evidence Of the industry with VIII eh these
adaptations have been made and Of the practical appre
ciaon of current improvements, which has abded from
the first with the mana gement of these works.
Without pursuing further the condition OF railroad
and mechanical enterprise when William Norris first
dertook the establishment of these works. will glance
briefly over their present extent and arrangement
The works, as enlarged by the present proprietors
Messrs Richard Norris Il Son, are situated on Seven
teenth, Hamilton, Fairview, and Morris Streets Phila
dephia. Although nearly all the building, are three
stories IN height they cover, In extent two
of ground.
In land, buildings machinery and working capital, the
whole establishment represents property OF fully eight
hundred thousand dollars.
The separate portions Of the works may be mentioned
in the order in which they present themselves when ap
prt ached from the lower part Of the city.
The steam hammer shop the southwest corner OF
Seventeenth and Hamilton Streets Is 04 feet long and
SO feet vice. II contains three OF Naysmths patent
steam hammers, nine smiths fires, and ten horse
steam engine This engine drives the fans for the fur
naces IN which the scrapiron Is piled, las well as the
Adjoining this building iron yard Io4 by 40 feet
On the southwest corner Of Seventeenth and Haml-
ton streets is the truck shop 6S by 100 and deep
stories in height Adjoining is the tank SHOP 30 by 100
feet In this building is also ten horse power steam
engine.
The boiler shop extends as part Of the above build.
ing, to Fryiew street 1t Is 80 by 100 feet in extent
one large building the upper part OF which occupied
ior pattern shops
The erecting, or setting up shops are the north
west Of Hamilton and Seveut tenth streets
They space OF l19 feet by 1870 feet and consist
Of two buildings, each two stories height l7g by 80
feet in PLAN and separated by an open passage way Of
In each Of these buildings twelve tracks runain
across the width OF the building, anu which,
each building, many locomotives may stand. Ia th
building which is devoted TO putting together the yari
parts Of the engines there water pipes travel
ing hosting apparatus, and snose-jacss over each
track that engine be illed raised and fired
up, on any track in the building
Opposite each track, In each building large door
opens into the open thirty feet space. permanent
track down the whole length OF this space court
upon which is stout truck thirty feet wide equal 10
track Of adjustable gauge The truck may thus be
moved 10 stand opposite 70 track OF one build
ing after which engine may be out upon IT, 10 be
placed upon any track Of the other building i
sary engine also be changed from one to another
track Of the same building
One of these buildings Is devoted wholly r. putting
together the heavier parts OF the engines setting the
tubes RiDg up" and testing the engines Ne, while
the other occupied for painting and trimming the
gnes and for boxing their hinery for
In the completing II also heavy track scale upon
which any engine may be weighed with or without
steam, and entire, or on each pair Of whccE
These are the only work., 10 our knowledge having
scales for weighing locomotives. With the number and
variety Of engines built here and by constant wehnys
the amount and distribution Of weight, 10 any plan OF
engine, can always be foretoid with great accuracy
This saves many Disappointment and embarrassinents
otherwise likely Of occurrence, in delivering engines
having or less weight, different distribution
than that stipulated in the contracts.
and Farvew streets 200 by 25I feet and occupied with
stationary engine 81 Ito horse power additional smiths
shops, stables, coal sheds, &c.
The principal blacksmiths shop Il the corner Of
Seventeenth and Farves streets and 1l6 by l53 feet
containing 10 smiths fires and trip hammers, This
bulAulnR stparaRu yaFu bhe pfinciPai
finishing shops the latter extending loo feet Seven
teenth and 1873 feet Morris street In this building
Is 20 horse power engine driving all the machinery Of
the blacksmiths', and finishing shops.
The and brass foundries carpenters shops grind
stone, paint and engraving shops, contained In
separate building, 10 by 10 feet adjoining the counting
room, drawing offices and store rooms Seventeenth
street.
These works sufficient In extent and sufficiently
equipped with machinery for the employment Of 100
men, and the production Of $50 engines yearly
The proprietors contemplate further enlarzcments,
however and the lumber window frames and por
tons Of large additional building already stored
the premis 10 await favorable change in the times
which for the year have proved very depressing TO
locomotive building well to most other branches Of