The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-25
THE TEST OF LOCOMOTIVES.
EnEIish-SIade Engines Prove Unsuc-
cessfuI on the Jamaica Railroad

Nicholas R Snyder. the United States
Commercial Agent at Port Antonio, writes
to the State Department concerning the
railroad in Jamaica He says:
During 1899 the rolling stock Of the
Jamaica Railway was in very poor con-
ditiou An English railroad expert who
was IN the island inspecting the service
recommended thai five new engines be or
dered from England, and that as the
American engines in use appeared to have
been designed without much regard TO the
special features Of the railway for which
they were intended he would supply the
specifications for the new ones in order
TO make them specially suited for the Pc
cJIIiar grades and curves of the railway
line
Among the parties connected with the
railroad, the opinion was freely expressed
that the United States could not turn out
as durable d locomotive as could be OBJ
tanned in England Thus the order for the
five new engines was sent to England.
Two of these engines arrived last
month. I append a Clipping from the
Daily Telegraph of April !, which the
resolt of a trial trip:
81 No. q. one of the two English engines
which have just been added TO the rolling
stock Of the Jamaica Government Rail
way. failed to give satisfactory results in
the second trial on Saturday The engine
was despatched from Kingston in the
morning in charge Of John Rose. one Of
the Oldest and most experienced drivers in
the railway. At Clarendon Park, two cars
loaded with coal and FIVE fruit cars,
three Of which were loaded, were attached
TO the engine. and the test as to caQa-
biiity Of the engine to pull a freight train
over Melrose Hill was commenced The
train went through Porus all right; but as
soon as it had taken the grade in the
vicinity of Robbery. the engine began to
slow down, and il was noticed that the
iron horse could not maintain the proper
amount Of steam Half a mile away from
the foot of the grade, the engine came to
a standstiII.
The weather was favorable for the
test; but when additional pressure was
put on. the wheels simply revOlved with
out moving the train The engine and
train were brought down on the level
line One Of tn cars with fruit was dis
connected AID second attempt was made
to climb the hill The engine again stuck
at the half-Tuile mark Another loaded
car was removed on the level, and a third
trial was made. but with no better result.
It IS understood that alterations willie be
made to the driving wheels, but some per-
sons are OF Opir{On that the railway au-
tnoTItIeS viii be compelled, in the end to
use the engine only on the level portion
OF the line
In al article Of the 18th instant. II
was stated that the engine not OAIy failed
to draw the train, but sustained injury in
the attempt The opinion Is expressed bv
people of some experience that. judging
by the result Of the trial Notwithstanding
the alterations to be made, the engines will
fall short Of what was originally expected
The grade of the hill over which this
locomotive was tested is stated at one
IN thirty, and the trains Of six loaded
american freight cars have been regular
" drawn over it by the American loco
motives
Increased freight traffic, together with
the regular passenger service kept the
United States locomotives constantly en-
ployed- and thus did not allow time for
them to he properly Overhauled and re-
paired. consequently. it sometimes occur
red that in a run of seventy-five miles
from Port Antonio to kin=stOn-the en-
glneS would lose steam in going over the
grades. and two or three stOpp2geS OF
half an hour or more would result
Recently. the number of passenger
trains has been reduced. and some of the
engines have received the iOng-needed re-
pairs Those that have been overhauIeCi
are again performing very satisfactory
work
The American locomotives which have
been in use for the past FIVE years are
said to have cost a trife over 1000
about $9.I3316-each. while the English
ones cost a little over 5000, or about
$lg.iG6.S2 each"