New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-09
THE AMERIOAN LOCOMOTIVE.
FoRrY.oNE YEARS OF INVENTION.

more marked and gratifying than in that OF railroad ma
chnery aud specially locomotive engineering Boldness
and originality of conception, supplemented by success
full and practical constructions, have overcome natural
difficulties which, the early days of railroads. seemed
nsuperable The crossing of mountain ranges by loco
motive engines over grades of 100 feet to the mile, In
the ordinary operation OF trunk nes-an achievements
proposed and accomplished BY American engineefs-bas
olved the knottiest problem OF transportation, and has
reuted the deductions Of untriod theory Dy
the convincing argument o. practical success The 70
quirement tho transportation Of freight and passon
eors over heavy grades has led 70 the construction Of
American locomotives which combine the elements OF
power and speed, with simplicity Of construction and
economy in operation nnexceed, equaed 1y those OF
Europe.
The exhibit of locomotive engines IN the Exhibition,
nlready large and attractive one, has received an
addition which possesses historic "a well as mechanical
interest presenting comparative view OF our earliest
and our most recent practice. The Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company have sent the Exhibition their
oldest engine, No. O. and their newest No Goo ana an
engineer can Wow side by side the pigmy Of 1885 and
tho giant Of to-day The old engine, with Its upright
boiler and cylinders walkngbeams and gearing has an
air Of antiquity in the eyes OF those who are accustomed
to the symmetrial proportions and imposing appear
anco OF the standard American locomotive, and
deserves a careful examination as well by the
practical engineer by tho general observer as evncing
by comparison the improvements which have been de-
yelOppd In locomotive construction
which have elapsed since IL was built The class OF en-
eines of which it Is n specimen designed and con-
strueed by Phneas Davis of York, Penn to fulfil the
requirements Of the first everssuednthe United
States for locomotive engines. Following The exam
ple of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Of En-
gland which developed at the Ranh trial OF lS23 the
germ of the modern hGhspeed engine In stephcnsons
Rocket, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
issued on the Attn of January 1881, advertisement
for n supuly OF locomotive engines Of American manu-
faeture in which they offered t. pay the sum OF $1,000
for the approved engine which should be delivered
for trial upon their road before June 1884, spec
flying certain conditions, among which were that II
should burn coal coke, should not exceed gig tons
weight and should be capab of drawing, day by day,
upon level road 10 TONS inclusive Of the weight NJ the
Wagons at the OF - miles per hour. Four engines
were produced In answer To this proposit0n ono OF
which, the York." built by Davis Il Gartner Of York,
Penn and chiefly designed by Phneas Davis was found
to DO able, after certain notifications, TO perform
the prescribed duty, and was accepted by the Com
pany. This engine had an upright boiler and eyhn-
ders, but was cOauoeted without the interposton 81
gearing being in other respects substantially on tho
plan OF the exhibited engine No. O. 1t worthy OF note
that the design Of the engine shows In all particulars
novelty and originality and shows that the builders had
boldly struck out upou PATH wholly distinct from
that marked out their English predecessors at Rain
hill The "Yrrk," vita her Hight weight OF GIG tons,
0enCleDi III dNifh ", ana WIS hOoH
the grasihorrcr" engines. o: which No. Ia speci-
mon In tho oys al, son Of these engines Mr. Davis was
assisted by the locomotive rcer, Ross Winans
Modern improvements have mede these engines o0so
Iete but they have rendered longcontuned and valna-
BILE services engine No bayiug been a. work cpntinn'
oJsly from 1888 until sAc S'nt % tte Exu'oition
Her weight is about eight 'nn carried upon toHs dryius
WncCS SO inches in diane rotated thEOuEh counter
shaft aud spur gearing by pair OF vertical eylnders
IgL9 inches aneter and 90 inchos stroke. The duty m
which The engine has been employed Tor some years pst
shops owing to her sho wheel basr she passes around
numerous sharp curves connecting the various tracks
Tne engine, No 500, which has selected as rep
rcsentye Of the practice OF today PRESENTS ~ detail
and appearance, tie most striking contrast with the
dimnIIve machine Of 1885. IL ~ heavy grade pas
sengcrengino, possessing great trncye force Xh hlgh
speed an1 embOdcs in ia construction the distinctive
features which brought inc modern American loco
motive ia present standard OF excellence An In
proved that II il possible to construct rnl!-
way wherever road praetcab,a 20 mules OF nols S
mechanical engineer begins, AMI he u called
uuon 10 produce machines which " u not only WORK e.
tremey difficult lines of railway, bat perform their d
ties moderate outlay IN fuel and maintenance WIN
certainty aud safety" Such o problem was met aud
soyed in the crossing OF the Allegheny Mountains by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, HnJ No; : COO Is
type OF their most and approved machine Tor
sIgrf.trin service ON the mountain grades. A. carry
IN June 1913, Benz min l,trobe, then chief eng sr
of ina road, assisted by Messrs J0hnatiian Knight
of Pcnnsyiyana anI John Chd OF Massachusetts,
surveyed its lines across the Aleghcnies, en-
D %Is For dtaS% Of IL mites. upon which
cre arc numerous OF COO feet radius The en-
cinecrs were satisfied that such grade, which before
that time had been deemed within the power OF
q locomotive engine, could be practically and ecqnoml-
power and experience Of % ye has hlly verified
the correctness OF their Judgment ana reflected lastg
credit upon the boduess and independence OF their de-
sign. The railway over tue Semmellng Alp from Vienna
70 Trieste and the Pennylyana Railroad %sTe 5nSSs
showed that Europe well ~ America was not slow TO
approve and follow this innovation In railroad engineer
iDE. Before commencing me construction .. Lne lem
nering road the Austrian Governments srnt IT. engineer
10 America investigate tue sud- ct Of steep gradients,
aud hrs return the surveys were commenced ana the
present route selected.
From the opening Of the road In 1853 to the present
time this heavy grade has been regularly WORKED WIN
economy and safety the duty or Passenger locomotives
cars at spec Is to 20 miles per hour The nyst
passenger engines employed were bnllt from INC dssshs
Samuel then master OF machinery and were
en-whcel engines weighing 10000 pounds, ana having
six dnyingwheels 90 inches IN diaecr, and cyhnd,Is
10 by 20 incnes. Tneir performance was satisfactory,
but increased demands OF the traffic caused them 10
but enDudyg Improved features OF design and detail,
which were built IN 1861 by thatcher Peitns who
nent Tho Perkins engines weighed about 1000
pounds, and had 10 by 26,lnch cylinders, and SIX
were and are efficient and trustworthy machines,
and in constant mail aud express trains on
tue grades Tue continued increase Of traffic,
accom- panied by Increased weight vi passenger and mail
cars h1aly rendered necessary tue employ ment OF an
train; and with view 10 the reduction OF working
expenses while keeping pace wth Tue demands OF tr.s-
cbnery, designed and but IN 1870, az the Mount Clare
shops Of the BaltinI0re and OnO Railroad COupdby IN
Baltmore passenger engine CO.," which the
pauy SENDS 20 the Exhibition as u representation
Of the G Tod iO now yoa econed as es aor
ing in eminent degree tue advantages Of utillz-
Ing nearly all the weight for adhesion whue providing
facilities Tor passing round short curves with case and
safety and the largest and most powerful engine OF
TUT CT gs constructed for passenger train service.
Her weiglt Is 9O400 pounds, OF winch 1880 pounds
ars upon six driyIngwnees OF feet diameter, aud
1880 pounds o twO-wneeled swingi truck, tine
truck wheels being 81 inches In diameter Both driving
and wheels provided with steel tires secured
by transverse hook headed bolts Tho boiler Is double
Tiyeted aud has smell % VI inch In thickness With
steel fre-DOx. 1t ~ Of ample capacity, having diameter
q irnullu fIIrn q