The New York herald., 1876-12-03
THE MODERN LOCOMOTIVE.

COOPER UNION FREE LECTURE BY MR..
Mr.. p. Barnes, civil engineer of PalnAcld N. j.. de-
livcrod night IN the Cooper Union lecture thu
modern locomotive, being OF the Of rcgu
lar FREQ lectures which given annually In the great
hall OF the institute
Notwithstanding the extreme coldncss Of the weather,
a very fair audience in point of numbers present.
Mr.. Potter Cooper, as man who In the early days OF
ocomoton had taken great interest in the qucs-
ton, was the platform listened to the whole OF
the discourse with the greatest attention.
Tho lecturer introduced by Mr. Abram s.
Hewitt Tho subject matter OF tho discourse illus-
tratcd by about fifty views, which were thrown a
a screen by the side Of Mr. Barnes This gentleman,
in tho OF his remarks said that twelve years
ago ho student OF tho engineering class Of the
Union, and It afforded him pleasure to revisit the
OF his former struggles aftcr knowledge. He
made the somewhat singular remark that he looked
upon Mr. Cooper, In sense, as the "ancestor OF tho
locomovo--an assertion which was OF course. taken
grdno by tho audience Peter CoOper's first
steam engine running dead heat with fast
horse was thrown upon tho canvass, and
mcrrmcnt The engine ahead, and the now
venerable Peter then (lS20 man in the prime Of Lille,
might be seen sitting near tho smokcstack watching
earnestly every stroke Of the piston rod In this
markabe the horse was the wlnIor, 'on account
OF the oand slipping from tho drum attached TO the
driving Wheel and thus bringing the locomotive TO
iull stop. The historic rocket engine exhibited.
1t four wheeled engine which first into
notice some dity ago. and tho difference between
II and that planned by Braithwate ana Ericsson
shown II more rescmbcd the modern locomotive
than anything which had preceded It, Having
hibied
THH OLD AND NEW ENGINES
DETAIL tic lecturer proceeded to take his audience
through the entire processes OF manufacturing
and assembling tho parts OF locomotive. Ho
showed the Inherent operations Of hand and machine
rvetting OF boilers, and pointed out the advantages
and disadvantages OF both mcthoda The manner of
introducing steam was next explained and also the
OF the throttle valve tho cylinder tho fire boxes
tho smokestack tho connecting rods and the driving
and truck wheels. beautiful model OF locomotive
shown, 1t being intended for use by tho
"Rapd Transit" Company between New York
and Harlem. Specimens OF German, French
and English engines next leaped into view
upon the canvass. and their different qualities
were freely criticised. II was evident every ono
thai England, France and Germany far behind
United States In point OF compactncss, shapcliness
and scrvccabe qualities. The difference between
freight and passenger locomotives touched, the
hcaviness of tho former and lightness OF the latter
shown to be essential Qualities OF their respective
lures. locomotive which had been lnvcnted for the
purpose OF poughng regarded with much curiosity
but the impossbility OF employing 1t TO any
vicws Of wrecked engines and made the
audience shudder to think OF the righfu consequences
which too frequently result from careless neglect
to note tho Indications Of the gauge to use
air pressure brake the right moment curious
ana interesting looking locomotive was shown
used In Switzerland TO climb or descend rapid grades
by tho aid OF coswhccls running notched raia AN
other
SINGULAR LOOKING MACHINE
was viewed which IS being successfully EN-.
poycd IN carrying compressed air into tho St Gohard
tunnel Finally. views and explanations OF the sys.
tens OF foreign and American locomotives were had
aud II was claimed that III beauty OF workmanship.
completeness OF design aud servccablcucss the Yankee
locomotive Is 'aiead OF all creation" The extensive
locomotive works OF Baldwin, Pa, where 800 men
are daily employed and 1000 locomotives year
turned out were placed in perspective before the ad
iniring audience