The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-07

ven by a single fixed eccentric for each
cylinder. Each eccentric strap had two
arms attached, one above and one be-
low, with hooks at the ends which en-
gagged the arms of the rock-Sbaft ac-
cording as forward or backward motion
was desired, the rock-Shaft having one
arm above and one below its axis. The
hooking up was accomplished by a
system of hand levers. 1t is illustrative
of Mr.. Baldwin's conservatism that he
long chung to this form of motion, be-
ing very slow about introducing mo e
parts and adding complications to his
construction This trait was also shown
when, a few years later, it was thought
by many to be necessary to provide
more than one driver for freight ser
vice He met the requirements by con-
structing a geared loconotiV which
performed the remarkable feat of haul
ing $50 gross tons from Reading to Phil
adelphia, a distance of "a miles, in five
hours and % minutes. The total weight
of the engine was 10 tons, and the cyl
inders We're Is inches in diameter by 16
inches stroke As has been the fate of
all geared locomotives for regular road
service, this engine did not gain favor
and no more were built.
Perhaps the one design of all others
which served to perpetuate the name of
Baldwin was the flexible beam truck
which he devised TO meet the difficulty
that he felt would be experienced in
running engines around curves when
two or more pairs of driving wheels
this plan il 1912 for the Central railway
of Georgia. and SO successful was the
design that Is more We're constructed,
which order. coming as II did at a fnan-
cial crisis, was a godsend, and placed
the Baldwin works again on a good
footing. These engines were six-coupled,
the four leading drivers being connect
ed in a truck by means of the flexible
beam, which permitted considerable
side motion In rounding curves Later
Mr.. Baldwin built some occupied en-
gines on the same general lines. to COM
pete with the S-wheel type, which had
become very popular.
Mr.. Baldwin died in 1866, and in 1867
the business was reorganized under the
tive Works." by Messrs- Baird. Burn
ham & Parry. By death and retirement
the organization Of the firm changed
from time to time, and at the present
date, 20 years after the inception of the
industry. the company is composed of
George Durham, John H. Converse,
William P HenSzey, William l. Austin,
Samuel NJ. Vauclain, Alba B. Johnson
and George Burnham, jr.
The growth of the business is well IL
Illustrated by the fact that, while 80
years We're occupied in building the first
thousand locomotives, nearly that num-
Der were constructed in the single year
of 1890. Since then the thousand mark
has been passed and the year just end
ed has been a period of unprecedented
activity. The works at Philadelphia
mandatory in the world, having an
output OF nearly 1.5O0 engines a year,
employing over 5000 men and utilizing
5000 horse power. which requires the
consumption of about 1000 tons of coal
per week.
The occasion of the celebration of the
SEVENTEEN anniversary on February p
is the completion of the twenty thou
sandth locomotive. This engine. No.
20 600. is of the 4-cylinder balanced COM
pound type. with inside high pressure
cylinders. 1t is a 10-wheeI engine, with
Vanderbilt boiler and tender, and is
being built for the Plant system