The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-16
TESTING THE FIRST MOGUL
TFrom the New York Post.l

From the New York POSt.I
Speaking today of the record time in
which a locomotive, just completed for
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
pulled train of fifty cars LOCO miles,
the superintendent Of motive power for
a large railroad said:
About twenty years ago young
man who was at that time a member
of the master mechanics staff on the
Pennsylvania railroad designed
freight locomotive which IN many re-
spects was the forerunner of the heavy
draught locomotives used today, but
presented so many radical differences
from the type of engine in use at that
time that ne had great difficulty in get
ting his ideas accepted. In the first
place, he was a, very young man, ana
the weight Of his engine was almost
double that Of any other machine on
the road. The young mechanic finally
succeeded in getting his design accept
ed, and an order was placed with one
of the large builders for a locomotive
according to his specifications.
When the engine was completed 1t
was entirely different even in appear
ance. from the machines previously con-
sIructed- The SmOkestack was snort,
to reduce the resistance to the atmos-
phere; the drivers were placed well
back on the machine, and double cylin-
ders were employed for the first time
The master mechanic of the road
had at first advocated the adoption of
the new design. but later changed his
mind and advised the canceling of the
tive was begun. Fortunately, the
young mechanic had obtained the ear Of
several men of influence, and the work
of construction was, therefore, not in
terrupted- Even these friends were
somewhat sceptical of the locomotives
powers when the time for the test APP
preached, and the designer had almost
decided that perhaps, he had under
taken too radical changes in accepted
theories.
After an earnest consultation be-
tween the master mechanic, the design
er and the general manager of the road,
it was decided to pull a train of $50 cars,
an unheard of number at that time,
over fifty miles of level track lying to
the west of Altoona, Pa. The number
Of cars selected for the test was in
creased from the usual train used in
testing a freight engine up to the here
tOfOre unheard-Of number, at the re-
quest of the designer of the machine,
who said to his chief, the master me
chanic, at the time:
g Old man. she'll either pull a noun
tain or refuse to bulge
When the trial came off the train
was filed with the officers of the road
and their guests, among whom was a
party Of three English railroad men,
who were investigating American meth
DDS Of railroad operation. Every one
present at the test advised the men in
charge to cut down the train The
master mechanic had turned once more
however, and he and the designer took
charge Of the cab of the new machine
To make long story short, that loco
motive pulled that train over the fifty
miles laid out for the course in a little
better than fast freight time and back
ed and advanced as freely as if the
train had only been composed of a
dozen cars. The Englishmen were
three surprised men. One of them ex-
claimed at the conclusion of the run:
This Is wonderful; If we tell of 1t at
home, We won't be believed
Despite the wonderful results oh
tanned from the new machine the coal
consumption was so enormous that it
was deemed best not to build any more.
The design was later modified. however
and the Pennsylvania Railroad com
pany are now using 'noguls.' besides
which the first of the kind would look
like a pony engine"