New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT R
THE YOUNG MAN WHO HAS INVENTED
A FIREBOX-HIS MECHANICAL
TASrFS

Cornelius Vanderbilt. jr., who has just perfected
invention that facilitates the removal OF tho
frebox from engine and thereby reduces ma.
teriay the cleaning Of this important part Of a
locomotive, as well az expedting the work consd
erably. has always shown great aptitude for
mechanical work. Despite his wealth. he has gons
into the shops. and. cad in Jumpers, has worked
around the machinery like ordinary laborer
He has asked for especial privileges, and has
quietly accepted Office discipline and been regular
in his work. lie is well qualified to run loco.
motive and on the trials OF the new engine. buu,
under his supervision and from his plans he rod.
in the cab and handled the lever.
Mr. Vanderbilt is a slim. smooth shaven unpr.
tentous worker. He is cordial terms with al
those with whom he comes In contact. and seems
to have gone into engineering with serious .nt.n.
tions OF making II his life work After his mar
riage to Miss Grace Wilson. and the resyItan,
arrangement from his father he accepted the ait
uation quietly and surprised his friends by re-
turning TO Yale for a post graduate course In the
Sheffield School OF Science. He worked hard AZ
MS studies and was painstskins in every detail
He especially devoted himself to engines. and made
a thorough study Of every minute part OF the in
trcate machinery that goes 10 make up a loco
motive. While there he paid especial attention TO
the-frebox, and made rough plans for new Are
box which could be readily removed and rest-
tached He learned that efforts had been made In
Germany to improve upon the nrebox attachment.
but that the trial had failed He also heard tina.
several attempts had been made in this country
to provide new style Of frebox, but with indirer-
ent result
Undaunted. however, he went ahead When hs
left the school he to New-York and went
into the office OF the superintendent OF motive
power and rolling stock as d draughtsman and
continued to hammer away at his plans lie did
his work faithfully, and asked especial priyi-
leges and received none. When he felt that he had
his plans in shape he asked that an engine be built
along the lines he suggested. The engine was
built in Albany at the shops there, and Is in
daily the Mohawk division. II runs well.
steams well, hauls its load nicely. and in every
way seems satisfactory Mr.. Vanderbilt, IN dis
cussing his work, spoke modestly Of IT, He SUI
continues at ms daliy routine work out mas idd
Tor locomotives, ana IN time hopes 70 enect other
improvements In a discussion Of the new engine,
ana o~ old ae sse P BOILER is ne pear shaped sur
rounding f1reboX which is OF similar shape. This
stay bolts or braces placed between the boiler and
the inner hrebox;
perfectly cylindrical. doing away with the neces.
sity for stay bolts. the frebox being held In place
heating surface is also presented and there IS
freer circulation Of steam around the trebox The
1t becomes necessary to do So without taking on
the cab. 1t may be done in less than half the time
required TO remove the box In the present type OF
engine !.r ,. a,o. .u., ..,. ..,..-. ..,.,.
over the Mohawk division, l5s miles, with fifty
freight behind II one trip and sXty-three
on the second. That was an exceptionally severe
test for a new engine but / satisfied with its
performance. 1t steamed well, hauled the trains
easily and made excellent time. The entire engine
was designed by me- but the new features the
boiler and frebox The principal saving will be in
the maintenance OF the engine. the cutting Of the
back headstays and the slingstays being all that
Is necessary 10 remove the hrebox After had
completed my designs for the engine learned
that the same thing had been attempted in Ger
many but that attempt was not successful. trial
OF a design somewhat similar TO mine also
made in this country but did not succeed"