56 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



cylinder, however, is so constructed, that the pistons can be operated 

 in both directions, for reversing the motion. One immovable eccen- 

 tric for each cylinder is made to work the engine both ways, and thus 

 the complicated mechanism of the ordinary reversing gear is dis- 

 pensed with. Each cylinder is furnished with two valve boxes and 

 two valves, one valve opening and closing the steam and exhaust pas- 

 sages leading to and from one end of the cylinder, and the other, 

 those leading to and from the other end of the cylinder. Both valves 

 are attached to the same rod, and both are always moved when the 

 engine is working, but the steam is only admitted to one valve box at 

 a time. Two steam pipes and two exhaust pipes are thus rendered 

 necessary to each cylinder, one steam and one exhaust communicating 

 with either end. Two main steam pipes only are required, each 

 branching to the separate cylinders, and each provided with a valve 

 for opening and closing its communication with the boiler. By simply 

 opening one valve, and closing the other, the engine may be worked 

 in either direction, according to which valve is opened and closed. 

 Scientific American. 



NEW RAILROAD CAR FOR GRAIN, COAL, ETC. 



THE American Railway Times gives the following description of a 

 new car, for the transportation of grain, coal, &c., the invention of 

 Mr. Myers, of Philadelphia. 



This car consists of two wrought iron cylinders, of sufficient length 

 to suit the track, with the felloe or rim of a raihvay wheel, slipped 

 over each end and substantially riveted to it. In the centre of each 

 cylinder is placed a partition, the whole length and depth of the same. 

 On the head of each cylinder is fastened the journal, which rests on, 

 and works in boxes placed underneath the frame, and thus connected 

 together. The door extends lengthwise the cylinder, between the 

 wheels ; is in four equal parts, and hinged in the usual manner, and 

 is secured by an iron rod, passing through the wheels and over the 

 same. The contents thus revolve with the cylinder, and their abra- 

 sion is prevented, by the centrifugal force produced by the usual 

 velocity attained on railways, and the partition placed in the cylinder 

 also effectually prevents the same during the necessary slow motions 



on the road. 







IMPROVED CAST IRON SLEEPERS FOR RAILWAYS. 



MR. GODWIN at the British Association suggested an improvement 

 in cast iron sleepers for railways, which consists in substituting a cast 

 iron chair and sleeper for the permanent way of railways, in cases 

 where, from the decay of the wood sleeper, it may be necessary to 

 reconstruct the line. The fastening of the rail to the sleeper is the 

 main feature in the invention, and consists in driving a cast iron wedge 

 between the rail and chair, forcing the rail upwards, and thus produc- 

 ing a simple and permanent fastening. Mr. Godwin suggested, as a 



