The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-06-23

Trying an Oil Locomotive In Me-
Jersey.

Trying an Oil Locomotive In New
Jersey.
1t is q fact not generally known outside a
small circle of railroad engineers that ex-
pcriments in building and operating petro-
leum locomotives have for long time been
conducted privately in this country. Thus
far the result has not been entirely salts
factory. Quite recently locomotive was
turned out in Paterson, N. j., and brought
down the track to Hoboken. 1t was the in
tention to have it return with its own power
generated by petroleum, and car was at.
tached which contained select party of
invited guests, principally railroad men.
For some reason the representatives of the
press were not invited to witness the ex-
pertinent, and up to the present time the
result has not been chronicled in the col
umns of any daily paper. The petroleum
was set afame, steam was speedily gener-
ated, the throttle valve was opened, and
away sped the oil horse. He proved way
ward steed, for no stopped short in his
career before going half the Distance, and
could not be bullied or caressed into travel
ture on the Jersey marshes, for he was ap-
judged to be hnt fixture. But this did
not dampen the ardor of the inventors and
engineers, and it is reported that another
petroleum locomotive is now being con-
stucted, also OF Paterson. 1t is said that
one of the engineers who superintendent the
building of the torpedo bout which was
launched last fall at Fort Hamilton has
charge of the work.
Petroleum locomotives differ in many
essential points from those in which coal is
used. The crude petroleum or naphtha
refuse is carried in tanks placed on the
tender, these tanks being connected with
one another, and all being connected to the
engine by flexible tube. The flrebox is
fitted with parallel pipes, generally five in
number, which spring from q cross pipe at
the rear of the firebox, this cross pipe re.
ceiving supply of petroleum through the
pipe leading from the tender. Below each
of the parallel pipes Is a corresponding steam
pipe, each steam pipe being fitted with four
jets and each steam jet has On annular pas
otste W WitSit WIG lctiohouth utes hcCchS ultu
which thus injects spray of petroleum in
to the flrebox. Provision is also made foi
admitting air mixed with the steam. When
tie engine is standing much smoke is
thrown out, but it is claimed that when
running with fair drauglt sufficient air is
taken in to consume the smoke. The fur
naces are lined with brick to protect the
metal. A railroad man who had been q
witness of experiments made with one Of
these locomotives said:
There are many reasons why these en-.
gines should come into general use where
petroleum is plentiful and coal scarce, and
am surprised that they have not been ex-
tensiyely introduced before now in the oil
regions of Pennsylvania. As fuel, petro-
leum possesses twice the calorifc power of
coal, and allows great increase in vapori-
zation while Diminishing the charge. This
Is most valuable feature as regards its APP
plication to steamboats,, and especially tor
pedo bonts as we'll as 10 tho locomotives OF
fast express trains II is clean and easily.
managed fuel and emits no sparks or Gin.
ders. No forest fires could be started by Q
train drawn by petroleum locomotive"