, 1880-11-20
AIR ENGINES FOR STREETS AND
RAILWAYS.

AIR EN6lNES TUX SIhEE xS. AMI
RAILWAYS.
A practical experiment was on Wednes.
day made with an air engine ut Woolwich,
which 90 far affords hope that before long
humanity and economy may be promoted
by the abolition of itramway horses, aud
that the sufferipgs OF travellers by the IN.
derground railways may be mitigatsd by
the substitution OF a~tmospherical power
for s~ulphurous locomotives propelled by
steam. The engine, which has been de-
signed by Major Beaumont, Royal Engi-
neers, has been for some time running on
the short lines of the Royal Arsenal, Wool
witch, aud although weighing about 1Otons,
it has proved capable OF hauling a burden
of 10 tons up o fair incline. On Wednes.
day arrangements were made to try its
powers in q more extended run, such az
engines OF the kind would have to encoun-
ter on London tramways aud rails. The
air reservoir, which contains only loo, cubic
feet OF air, was charged at the torpedo
pumping house in the Royal Arsenal
Woolwich, up to a pressure OF 1,0OOlb. to
the square inch, and with this store OF en-
ergy it was proposed to run to and from
Darttord. about 16 miles. Major Beau
mont was accompanied on the engine by
Mr. ~ G Soo"~, - 80.
South Ca stern railway. aud severa! other
gentlemen, and explained the methods
which he had adopted in his invention, the
chief feature of which was the introduc-
ton Of an almost inperceptible supply of
steam, by which the air as it is admitted to
the cylinder from the reservoir is largely
heated and ms q matter of course greatly
increased in force. Tho engine is driven
by six cylinders and a double set OF ma
chinery at one end, and, having no smoke
stack, resembles in appearance q locomo-
tive tender rather than a locomotive. 1t
runs on four wheels. and in size 10 less
than an ordinary omnibus. 1t lefs the
Royal Arsenal Station at 1922 PAM, With
a tusl charge OF 1,oO0lb. to the inch, passed
Abbey Wood Station at 1927 p. M. with
94Olb. on the guage Belvedere at 1888,
with SGoib.; and Firth at 1895, with
76olb., arriving at hartford OF 1850. with
a remsiniDg energy Of 54olb. on the square
inch. Shunting at the station reduced this
pressure somewhat, and az l.35 the return
tourney commenced with Q store OF 51Olb.
Although the minimum for effective work
ing is considered to be a pressure of 2o0lb.
PlumsteadS Station was reached againat 2.10,
but the engine was nearly pumped out,
having o pressure OF barely 80lb. remain
10 Q. The strengthening engine, running
without steam or any other apparent mQ,
tive power, was regarded with amusing
wonder by the country people as it passed
at full speed. and was naturally "a object
of unusual interest at the various rsilway
stations. 1t was stated that aaother- en-
CINE is under icodstrnction much more
powerful, capable, in fact. of travelling,
doubls the distance with a single charge.
The operation of pumping the comprsssed
air occupies about Is minutes, and It II
calculated that an air engine onsthis prin.
ciple as large az the usual steam locomo-
tive of so tons weight would be consider
ably more powerful than any locomotive
vet made. The objection to steam thet
it frighteus horses cannot apply TO- this
system, as there is no escape OF etsam
visible or audible, and the only noise TO
be distinguished is . rumbling sound some.
thing similar to the rattle of street trahict
The general belief of those who witnessed
Wednesdays experiment was that the ap'
| plication Of atmospheric power to the
science Of travelling was q thing Of the
! near future.-1imes