The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-07
THE RICHMOND LOCOMOTIVE AND MA
CHINE WORKS.


they have grown until now they are eh-aSeu
III building locomotives OF al klnus. lof pas
senger and treig ht service. ana All sizes up o.
the largest Tie various WORKSHOPS, with
their well arranged equipment, costing up
wards OF "A million dollars now s. ana II on
sixteen acres of ground. aud are SO Wen nttel
for ell classes Of work that, upon the strength
OF the report Of the Government olnclals,
they were entrusted with the construe ton Oh
the entire machinery. including JOneIs, Gu
gines. pumps prOpellers and All the huNlliary
machinery # the battle-ship ~ exas," anu
tins establishment will supply as large q pro
portion Of this machinery as any other snop
could do. The boiler plant especially. being
but recently equipped with the most modern
tools is one of the finest boiler shops I'D the
United States.
The marvellous industrial development OF
the South has not been exaggerated, anu the
Richmond Locomotive and Machine MOrks,
placing themselves N the lead or THIS deyei-
opment. find that their establishment Is
abreast of any in the Jnlted States, and IN
thus developing at this period they have the
advantage OF modern appliances. Inese
works being in the van Of improvements, are
especially interesting, and deserve more
lengthy review than We can give. There are
now at the works Go men. and within the
next twelve or eighteen months 1t Is intended
10 have the full complement OF 100 reached,
the entire force consisting OF white men, save
some fifteen or twenty helpers. VI foreign
ers there 10 full representation, German,
Scotch English and Swedes. all high GAS
and contented mechanics working harmonl-
Ously with the local force. who welcome sell
respecting men who come among them. The
superior workmanship required on the ma
chlnery OF the battle-shiD and the cOnstruc-
ton of locomotives calls for talent OF the
highest order, and men of tried ability.
III especially worthy of mentIont that all the
necessary materials for such machinery can
be obtained in close proximity; the Virginia
iron and coal being unequaled by any IN the
world.
From the Office building containing ample
capacities for the clerical departments ana
large airy and light drawing room. there Is a
direct entrance into large pattern shop,
amply supplied with modern tools; sucn as
circular and band saws planer ana cutting
off knives Adjoining we find the blacksmith
shop. equipped with over twenty FORCES five
steam hammers and all the necessary modern
tools: also a large six thousand pound steam
hammer, with furnace. to supply the neceS-
sary forgings and for scrapping.
Next 10 the blacksmith shop 10 found the
brass foundry with ten furnaces IL IS amply
supplied with heavy cranes and large core
ovens and in it were made some OF the heavy
castings for the Texas, including large num-
Der Of brass valves as well a loan work iOr
the cOndensers OF the same ship. Here also
were made the manganese propellers, tour-
teen feet SIX inches in diameter.
The iron foundry, which follows next IN
order. is handsomely equipped with modern
appliances There are two cupOias: ample
core ovens a huge steam crane. under when
all the loan work is done, and where all the
cylinders of the Texas were cast successfully.
This and the two other Jlo cranes, All III
reach OF each other together with three tTaY-
cling cranes practically command the floor.
Ia
machines and also pulley moulding machines.
In this department there are about 100 men
emploved steadily Nothing but southern
iron. with a little scrap. is used. and the cast
ings Turned out cannot Ne surpassed.
Next to the foundry are the sand sheds, ana
then large pattern storage mousse whlch IS
q three story brick building. IN the tower OF
which Is placed large tank, that supplies
the entire works with water. Near by IS a
building in which some Of the regular stock
machinery IL kept
In the machine shop is a full complement
of modern machine tools. with large num-
Der of special tools for locomotive work, sucn
as frame planners. dOuble-head slottng ma
chimes multiple spindle drills, axle iatbes.
cylinder planners. cylinder boring ma
chimes. aud driving wheel lathes, with
an arrangement TO bore holes Tor crank
pins at exactly right angles with each otner;
la one rner of the machine shop we ma
a well equipped tOol-rOom with special grind
inc machines for cutters and twist drlils' ana
a set Of standard gauges 10 insure accuracy IN
the work turned out. All tools are gwen OUT
by the Well-knOwn check system. IN an
other corner we find the pipe department III
which several pipe machines. up to SIX inches
diameter are at work. and where luIl supply
of all necessary fittings Is kept.
From the machine shop We enter the erect
ing shop, which is tTayersed throughout Us
great length by a fifteen ton travelling crane
and from this We enter the locomotive pits,
where twelve locOmoti - can be erected at
one time. and then carried ~ trayerslng
table on 20 the main track AT one end Oh
the erecting shop is well Kept store-Ioon.
From the other end OF the erecting shop we
enter the boiler shop, which has been recently
rebuilt. and in il the boilers for the Texas,
which are eighteen feet long by fourteen feet
In diameter. and of 1 5-32 inch steel, are now
being built. In it We find. besides the ordl-
nary tools, three hydraulic ryeting ma
chimes. one with six feet gap and two with
eight feet gaps. all provided with hydrautic
cranes % hold the work while 1t IS being NV
eted. There is also a portable riyeting ma
chine. which has been found quite useful
adjunct The large planning machine has
been found of ample capacity 70 plane the
extraordinarily large plates OF the Texas. and
tie pair OF vertical rolls recently erected
have satisfactorily rolled the sheets for the
erecting shop is large crane. light but
strong. with thrty-foOt Iib. There are two
multiple spindle drilling machines tor drill
ing tie sheets Of marine boilers. Further on
we find a relocating furnace for Hanging and
annealing purposes near by large straight
ening table: Hanging machine for the man
ufacture Of round boiler heads, driven by a
separate engine. where the heated plates arc
reyoved rapidly. and hange turned up
wards by the rollers changing tho angle OF
inclination. aud in close proximity Is by
dreulic sectional hangln2 machine, IN which
was completed the Hanging for the boilers OF
the Texas. There are four travelling cranes
In the extension, aud in this space are about
thirty locomotive boilers in process OF con-
str,lction. in addition 10 all the sheet-iron and
tank work.
All the shops are light and pleasant. and are
kent clean with scrupulOus care. They are
well Initiated, heated by steam IN the winter
season and supplied with electric arc lights
The works are supplied with steam from a
battery Of four boilers. There Is double
set Of pumps Tor keeping the works supplied
with water from the adjoining creek. The
entire shops and yard space are trayersed with
a network. OF railroad traces. Electric bells
are arranged through the entire works, con
centrated at the tOOl-roOm. where an ample
force OF messenger boys ia kept on hand T.
respond 70 calls for tools or deliver messages.
The works are pleasantly situated in healthy
location within easy access 10 the central part
Of the city. The wOrkmen have a beneficial
society. which pays weekly benefits IN case or
sickness and a liberal sum IN case of death
=. Tod fvn.f. fra y. rfyn