The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-25

a practical experiment has boen made
with an air engine at Woolwich, which 80
far affords hope that before long humanity
| and economy may be promoted by the
abolition OF tramway horses. and that the
sufferings of travellers by the underground
railways may bo mihgated by the substi-
tuition of atmospherical power for sulphur
Gus locomotives propelled by steam. The
engine. which has been designed by Major
Beaumont, Royal Engineer, has been for
some time running on the short lines Of
the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and although
weighing but ten tons 1t has proved capable
Of hauling burden Of sixteen tons up a
fair incline. Arrangements were made to
try its powers In more extended run, such
as engines of the kind would haye to en-.
counter on London tramways and rails
The air reservoir, which contains only 100
cubic feet of air, was charged at the tor
pedo pumping-hodse IN the Royal Arsenal,
Woolwlch, up to pressure of 1000
pounds to the square inoh, and with this
store OF energy it was proposed to run
to and from hartford, about sixteen
miles. Major Beaumont was accompanied
on the engine by Mr. y. 8. Sears, Assist
ant Superintendent Of tho Southeastern
Railway, and several other gentlemen, and
adopted IN his invention, the chief feature
Of which was IL introduction of an almost
imperceptible supply of steam, by which
the air, as it is admitted 10 the cylinder
from the reservoir, is largely heated, and,
as matter of course, greatly increased in
force. The engine is driven by six cylin-
dcrs and double set of machinery at one
end, and, having no smokeslack, resembles
in appearance locomotive tender rather
than locomotive. 1t runs on four wheels,
and in size is less than an ordinary omni-
bus. 1t left the Royal Arsenal station at
1922 p. M. with q full charge of 1000
pounds to the inch; passed Abbey Wood
station at 1927 p. NJ, with $40 pounds to
the gauge; Belvedere at 1898, with $50
pounds, and Erith at 1886, with 7GO
pounds, arriving at Dartford at 1860, with
running energy of $40 pounds on the
square inch. Shunting at the station re-
duced this pressure somewhat, aud at l: 35
the return Journey commenced with store
of 510 pounds, although the minimum for
elective working is considered to be
pressure Of 200 pounds. Plnmstead sta
tion was reached again at 21O, but the en-
gine was nearly pumped out, having q
pressure Of barely 80 pounds remaining.
The strange looking engine, running with.
out steam or any other apparent motive
power, was regarded with amusing won
der by the country people as 1t passed at
full speed, and was naturally an object Of
unusual interest at the various railway
stations. 1t was stated that another engine
Is under construction much more power
1ul, capable, In fact, of travelling double
the distance with q single charge. The
operation of pumping the compressed air
occupies about fifteen minutes, and 1t is
calculated that on cir onsluo THO p,i1-
ciplc as large as the usual steam locomotive
of fifty tons weight would be considerably
more powerful than any locomotive yet
made. The objection to steam that it
frightens horses cannot apply to this sys-
tenn, as there is no escape of steam visible
or audlble, and the only noise to be dis
tinguished is rumbling sound something
similar to the rattle of street traffic. The
general belief Of those who witnessed the
experiment was that the application of at
mospheric power to the science of travel
ling was a thing Of the near future.