The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-04
A NEW LOCOMOTIVE.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGINE INVENTED BIZ DR.
GILBERT FOR USE ON THE ELEVATED RAIL-


GILBERT FOR USE ON THE ELEVATED RAIL-
WAY.
Dr. Rufus H. Gilbert, protector and chief engineer
Of the Gilbers Elevated Railroad Company has COM
pleted his designs for an engine by means Of which
he intends to convey passengers from ono point to
another in New York tho OF least forty miles
an hour Tho requirements OF q locomotive for an
elevated railroad more various than for the ordi-
nary road, and hence Mr. Gilberrs idea must prove
interesting 10 all civil and mechanical engineers II
10 understood by those who all familiar with the
subject that In order to carry . definite number OF
persons certain amount Of weight must DO In the
engine. the main bulk OF which must act
directly on the drivers Il owing to
this weight that the engine is enabled
to stop and star. without any injurious unnecessary
revolution Of its wheels On the ordinary ground rail-
road locomotive 1t Is not material as far - general
utility Is concerned whether the necessary weight IL
above below the boiler for railroads constructed
above the street necessary not only that the CEN
ire gravity OF the locomotives shall DO under the
boiler and near the track but also that the weight shall
BIO arranged that 1t be increased diminished,
according the weight to be drawn by the engine
that Is were the weight above the boiler the engine
would be top heavy and the passengers would be dis
turbed by frequent oscillations Of the tran WHILE could
tho weight upon the drivers not DO adapted to the gen.
eal travel along the route the engine would be carry
ing burden with II that would not only retard its own
proaross but also seriously wrench aud strain the iron
work Of the elevated railway itself.
TIE GILBERT ENGINE.
The weight or the new Gilbert engine Is under the
boiler directly between the drivers close to the track
This weight be secured either by tho suspension Of
weights or by means Of tank filed with water. In
the former instance during the eighteen hours OF the
day whom travel 10 light, these weights be reduced
and in the latter instance water DO smptied from
the tank at any station at any time. BY this ar
peculiar manner in which the drivers work, well ~
the swinging axes OF the tender, the Gilbert engine
can turn the most abrupt curves with the greatest
possible case, without injuring the condition Of tho
track or endangsring the lives Of the passengers
wheels and one two wheeled SWING truck. Tho cyln-
ders are 10 inches In diameter and have 10 inches
ssr0ss The diams.ers Of .he driving wheels are 80
derived from anthracite coal The total wheel base
Il IL feet ION inches and the driving wheel base is
feet inches The boiler Is made throughout OF homo
gspeous steel plates oneQuarter OF inch thick rv-
eted with nve-eighth inch rvets placed not over two
inches from CENTRE while all horizontal seams
at the waist and frebox double rveted All parts
are well and thoroughly stayed and extra welded
pieces are fastened 70 the inside providing double
The waist is SO inches in diameter, while the
outside shell has : wagon top'' inches high
above the waist OF the boiler, while the dome IL
located over the crown Sheet
The tubes made Of charcoal iron lapwelded with
copper ferrues their nrebox ends, and number
1l2 They are feet inches In length and IL inches
In diameter.
The hrebox Is 40 inches long ana on the inside 80
Inches wide. The sheet 10 supported by crown
bars made Of pieces OF wrought iron, the bolts Of
which screwed through II The balance puppet
throttle valve Is OF cast iron In the vertical arm OF the
dry pipe In tho dome. The smokestack Is Of the
straight pattern.
The frames are made Of the best hammered iron IN
two sections. The main franc Is forged solid and
tends to the end Of the water tank with front and
back Tugs forged on for cylinder connections
THE MACHINERY.
The cylinders are made Of the best grained iron, 40
hard can be worked. Each cast In piece, with
nangcs TO attach 1t to the smoke arch. The driving
wheels are four In number and each 80
inches In diameter. Their centres Of cast iron,
with hollow spokes and rims turned to 2 inches in
diameter to receive the tin. The axes OF steel,
with journals Az inches In diameter and
arc inches in length. Tho driving boxes are Of
cast iron with brass bearings The springs are made
OF the best cast STEEL tempered In OIL while the equal
izing beams are OF the most approved arrangement
and have steel keys The connecting and parallel rods
are Of the best hammered iron and forged solid
and finished with all necessary straps, keys &C. The
feed water Is supplied by ono injector and one brass
pump; while the cab Is Of modern pattern, substan-
italy built Of hard wood.
The cylinders Jagged with wood, neatly cased
with brass and have heads Of polished cast iron The
steam chests have castron tops with bodies cncased
In brasa The dome Jagged with wood as II also the
upper half OF the boiler Throughout the finish Is OF
the finest order. The trucks are two-wheced with .
Ing directly in the rear OF the nrebox.
located between the frames underneath the boiler and
stayed be able to sustain the weight Of
necessary at different hours Of the day Its operated
from the cab.