Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-13
FIRST ENGLISH LOCOMOTIVE.
Although Built in 1884, 1t Is Still in
Existence and on Exhibition.

While it is matter of history that the
1lrst locomotive made and run in Eng
land was the little model of an ordiparv
r TSs!,,. locomotive constructed in 1881 by
Wlll1am Murdoch, it is probably little
known that the original engine is still in
existence. and has, within the past wear
been on exhibition in London The little
locomotive is about fourteen inches high
ana nineteen inches long, with a width
over the driving wheels of seven inches
1T consists of an oblong board. mounted
upon three wheels, with two driving
Wheels near the rear attached to a crank
axle, ana one steering wheel in front ar
ranged under the board, and running in
q swiveling fork. which can be set by n
uiler handle above. Behind the driving
Wheeis is a boiler-a rectangular cop
per vessel. through which a fiue passes
obllquely, contracting from Il circular
chamber forming the Grebox to a small
tunnel IN the top of the boiler, which
serves to carry off the products of com
pustion from spirit lamp, arranged TO
burn within the tireboX The steam
cylinder of the engine is mounted on the
top of the boiler and the lower part
passes into 1t, and is surrounded by steam
tached to the end of a vibrating beam
which passes to the front of the carriage
and is pivoted in an upright pillar The
diameter OF the piston is three-duarter
men, ana the length of the stroke is about
two inches. AS the piston moves uD and
down, 1T causes the beam to rotate the
driving wheels by means of a connectinr-
rod attached to the crank axle, A leaden
weight is placed above the, steering wheel
to balance the machine, and to prevent it
tipping over when water is in the boiler
It may not be amiss here to repeat the
brief account, frequently referred to in
the past, given by DR.. Smiles. in his
Lives of the Engineers of Murdock's
early trials with his little engine He
had made several experiments with it in
his house at Redruth; but at length he
FRY Of
which occasion, small as the engine was
1t fairly outran the speed of the inventor
In DIR. Sunless own words. ''one night
after returning from his duties at the
mine ut Redruth, Murdoch went out with
his model locomotive to the avenue lead
ing to the church. about a mile from the
town. The walk was narrow, straight
and level. Having lit the lamp. tine
water soon billed, and off started the
engine. with the inventor after it. Shortly
after he heard distant shouts of terror.
When he came up to his machine he
found the vicar in great fear thinking
that the Missing, splitting little demon was
no other than the Evil One himself"
When James Watt. with whom Murdocl.
was associated in some of his work, heard
of Murdock's experiment he became
alarmed that MurdockS energies might
he distracted from the business of sta
tionary engines in which they were en-
gagged, and he requested his partner
Eoulton to demonstrate gently with Muir
dock and get him to drop the project.
Accordingly Murdoch did so, never TAX
ing up the subject again. The model
had been continuously i'll possession of
the Murdoch family until 1885, when it
by Messrs. Tangye, of Birmingham, and
and lent by them to the Melbourne lGX-
hibition of 1850. Subsequently it was
placed in the Birmingham Art Gallery,
recent exhibition in London.-Casser'
Magazine.