Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-08
NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA
az RAILROAD COMPANY. -W
semethIng About the Machine shop
Located in this City.

:.
its echoes startle. The cheerful sound OF
the steamer waving the western stream IN
terrupts only the dreams of the child, and
vet its low sound of escaping steam Is pc
culiar to most all. Few are they that re-
gard with interest the sight Of locomo-
| tive which with her herculean strength
draws millions of people over the country
and transports untold wealth so far. The
rumbling train, onward dashing with the
velocity of the wind, is thought OF simply
| as a modern convenience and Indispensable
utility accompanying the progress of human
enlightenment and the natural progression
| of life ITSELF This moving, sounding
and powerfully, as it were, breathing agen-
CIV, is not considered even a creation OF
| science, An examination into its mechan-
ical arrangements shows the locomotive to
be the most perfect type of science, having
in its very nature, ss condition OF It's con-
| struction, elements, so to speak, that de-
mand the most minute, correct and consist
ent adjustment of hundreds of parts. The re-
cent improvements suggest much that has
heretofore been deemed impractical in at
| tainment, and certainly vain in application.
We mention these facts, not in contempla-
ton of giving descrip ion of q locomotive,
and showing the mode of its construction,
but as an neutrality-suspicious. short men
ton of the place in this city where they are
built.
The Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad
Company, enjoying q career OF prosperity
for several years, have assumed an import
ant position among Southern roads aud is
destined TO become, ere long, the grandest
in the South. Upon arriving at their depot
in this city passengers are amazed at the
general rush of people and vehicles and the
immense buildings near by, the most con-
spicuous being
THE ROUND HOUSE
where the locomotives are stored at night
and when not in use. Phey are here Gle an
ed and made bright by rubbing and oiling,
and at times thirty, and eyea more, may be
seen arranged ia q circle meath the shed.
track runs from the round house to
That portion Of
THE MACHINE SHOPS,
where the locomotives are repaired and, 10
fact, built and Constructed. Work is al
ways going on in this department Atpre-
sent SIX locomotives are -being repaired and
two are being bull. This department,
known as
THE ERECTING SHOP,
Is under charge Of Mr.. A j. Law, the Fore
man, while Mr.. J. q. Eastman, a Master
Mechanic of long experience, is superin-
teDdent of the whole concern, which re-
caives his constant attention and personal
presence. This shop is over three hundred
feet ia length and one hundred aud sixty
| wide. The two locomotives building here
are commenced at the very frame work,
and we are GLAD to know the company will
continue on an enlarged scale such manu-
facture. Ii saves thousands Of dollars that
are expended in the East, offers work to
| good men, invites skilled labor, and neces-
sarily promotes the interest OF the city.
| The engines made here are tirst-class in
! every respect, are stout IN construction,
| handsome in appearance and most arts
tically finished; in fact the lettering, orna-
mentatation and pictures on them and the
| tenders cannot be surpassed. All this is
| done, it will be remembered in these shops.
THE FINISHING SHOP
| of which Mr.. James Armstrong is the ex-
eelent foreman, has ten lsthlng and six
planning machines, all of the latest improved
style, and accomplishes It's work satisfac-
torily, easily and as quickly as can be done
| in the large shops East. In this depart
ment the work is brought from the foundry
and workshops and receives its polish and
| finish; thence it is carried to the erection
shop and adjusted and placed on the engine.
Immediately adjoining this is
TUE PATTERN SHOP,
| whose management is under Mr.. Thomas
| Rock. foreman. Here in the second story,
where are numerous shelves, are preserved
| duplicate wood cuts and patterns of every
piece of machinery and locomotive work
| REQUIRED in the construction of cars, en-
| IN he1 n
railroad. When piece of machinery is
broken, or similar one needed, the pattern
! is obtained and the cast made thesefrOm,
| preventing mistake, and insuring cor
| rect size and measure. La this de-
partIaen6 all the wood work OF
a locomotive is built, which embraces
CABS AND COW CATCHERS,
| the workmanship of which must be pre-
| else and of The best character. The actual
cost of cab is from Sl20 TO $50. The
cost ola cOwcatcher is SI25. Twenty-Five
pieces of dressed timber enter into the con-
| struction of every cowcatcher, besides the
| iron frame and hundred pieces of iron,
embracing bolts, screws, eic. The frame
a. to its base is that of an is0sceles triangle
with a beam extending from the apex. Tie
largest piece Of timber is six feet and the
weight of this locomotive nose is from 500
| to 1000 pounds.
| THE ENGINE ROOM
where the machinery is under charge OF
n. Collins, formerly of the Ciarksville ma
chine shops, presents an attraction to the
| lover of beautiful machinery. For here is
to be seen
THE ENGINE,
which was formerly used in the Maynard
| at Memphis, and is perhaps the hnest en-
| CINE of it's size and kind in the South. 1t
is double engine, with steam pscketted
| cylinders each OF 15-inch diameter, is IS
| horse power, and has 4 feet stroke Of the
| piston. Either engine proper can be used
and by itself supply sufficient power to run
| twice the machinery that is turned 10 the
shops. Instead of using bel5, the fly
| wheel of 10 feet diameter and 10 inch rim,
is cogged and works into a corresponding
pinion whegl of 4 feet diameter. The spurs
Of the large wheel are OF iron, while those Of
the smaller one being wooden, fiction is
ess.iy neutralizsd and very little wear re-
| suts. This engine makes twenJy-eight
! strokes per minute, and with the exception
| Of he cotton mills and reservoir, could be
made to run al The machinery used in
| Nashville, a tribute l. may be TO its power,
| but certainly mournfal commentary upon
the manu- acturin2 enterprise OF thIs city.
The engines are firmly set on heavy mason
nv and an ornamental iron raj iag with
brass mounlings enclose i5s machinery. 1t
works easily wi hOut much noise, and pre-
sents a fine appearance, bai5g always kept
"bright and shining"
Three double fue boilers % feet long are
used and furnish sufficient capacity. In
the engine room are two steam fire engines
connected by hose with large cistern 6O
feet long, 80 feet wide, and 20 feet deep.
The precautions agains5 fire are deemed OF
such character that flames can never gain
the mastery of the buildings. Another de-
partment of the finishing shop is where
THE WHEEL WORK
is carried on and the heavy pieces are pol
ished Among the many fine machinery
used in this department is
THE HYDRAULIC RAM,
used for removing car wheels from the
axles. From three to five gallons of Pc
troleum oil are required for charge, and
vet this amount of fluid may be used for
over year, the only loss being in its evsp-
Grafton. The power of this ram is Of one
hundred tons pressure, force almost mar
velons for any instrument under the hui