The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-05
OUR LOCOMOTITE UORKS.
How They Compare Wit" the Best Equip
ped shops In tho North.


Mr.. Angus Sinclair in the current num-
Der OF Locomotive Engineering" mas the
following to say about the Richmond Lo-
comotive and Machine W orks:
The Richmond Locomotive WORKS.
Some nve years ago. when the Master Me
chanics' Convention met at Oid Point
Comfort, a large party of the members
went by special train to Richmond, the
principal purpose being to look over the
Richmond Locomotive " Orks when had
lust begun 10 build locomotives Inc
writer was present, ana listened attentive
ly TO the remarks made by the VISITORS
They were naturally inclined TO look upon
everything with friendly regard, but the
comments were by no means gratifying
They praised various things SHOWN them
but the sum Of the opinions expressed
was that these were remarkably good
shops for the South. and mat the WORK
turned out was highly crcditable, Tor
Southern shop. IT seemed to be settled
conviction that nothing IN the nature OF
"a mechanical industry IN the South Could
be first-claSs. II these same people would
visit the Richmond Locomotive Works
to-day. they would be constrained to ad-
nit that the works and their product
now compare favorably with anything to
DE found anywhere. The shops are as
well equipped with first-ClasS machinery,
their system of working is as well organ
lied, and their locomotives turned out are
as good as anything seen in the best of
our Northern shops. and In every re-
spect better than some OF them. Those
who build locomotives Tor sale, may as
well understand that n Southern estab-
lisnment Is now prepared 70 do work
without fear or favor, ia competition with
the best-equiupped and best-managed
shops in the North.
rhe writer spent "A couple OF days in
the Richmond Locomotive Works last
month, and most OF the time was devoted
10 watching the methods of working and
no examining the tools provided for doing
the work. The methods and The tools are
about the same as those ! have been IA
Iniliar with. in the course of numerous
visits TO the best Northern locomotive
building establishments.
I'm some respects the condition of the
working forces in the Richmond shops
is surprising. tor they have been organ
lied and developed from crude material.
Those who are familiar with the manu-
facture of locomotives know that the sub
division OF labor aud piece-work have been
carried out 10 the fullest extent. The
older shops have been working up the
piece work system gradually for years,
they nave located where select mechanics
could readily bc found, ana good, industri-
Gus wOrkmen learned by experience that
they could make good wages under the
picce-work system. Starting up sys-
TEN of that kind at once was a most
difficult operation. Its difficulties were
very well appreciated IN the Grant Loco
motive Works. in Chicago, a city where
plenty of mechanics could be hired. That
enterprise failed, III a great measure, be-
cause the skilled help would not agree
To do work as II is done in other locOmo-
tive building works.
Ii Is particularly TO the credit Of the
men In charge OF the Richmond LOcomO-
tive Works that they were able to organ
iZe ana put into successful operation the
manufacturing system IN a city where
skilled mechanics are not Over-aDundant.
Within the last two years the pro-
prietors of these works have put in over
$4,000 worth OF new tools. These were
not TO replace WORKOUT or antiquated ma
chimes, but Were additions considered
necessary to do the work properly and eX-
peditiously. This firm built the engines
and boilers for the battleship Texas. which
made the purchase OF certain heavy tools
necessary for the machine shop and
boiler shop. these are now very use
ful on locomotive work.
the capacity of the different shops APP
pears TO Ice very well balanced for the
manufacture OF from 30 20 80 locomo-
lives a year. The blacksmith shop and
the boiler shop are particularly well pro-
vided with labor-saving tools. There is
an excellent hydraulic plant in the boiler.
shop. which Is skilfully operated From
the examples OF boiler-maSing which 1
examined in that shop l should conclude
that the boilers supplying steam to Rich
mond locomotives would be little troubled
with the many ills high-preSSure boilers
are heir to.
These works have been fairly busy dur
ing the season of depression. but they are
rather slack now. Thcy nave just com
pleted the building OF some fine siX-whcel
switchers for the Southern Railway, and
are now working on variety of small
engines for mines and furnaces. The
men in charge are taking advantage of the
lull In business 10 make a variety OF i'm.
provemen;s in the works. which viii put
them in a position To rush things when
the demand for locomotives becomes &C.
tive, which is certain TO happen soon.
y. s.