Peale.] 282 [December. 



combustion, without the sacrifice of power for that object ; a prin- 

 ciple then new, or little known in this connection. To whom the 

 invention (if it can be so called) is due, who at this time can tell ? 

 The fuel used in the small fire-space of the boiler of this model was 

 pine-knot coal, although anthracite was partially successful in its 

 application, the difficulty in the use of any fuel, being the diminutive 

 space above alluded to. 



It may be permitted also, in this connection, to observe that the 

 first published observations upon the foaming of water in boilers, 

 were made in the use of this model. They may be found in one of 

 the newspapers of the day. 



The attention of machinists was drawn to the subject of locomotion 

 with considerable energy about this time. It was one of the great 

 movements of the epoch ; it demanded and received the attention the 

 necessities of commerce and general intercourse required. Mr. Bald- 

 win, as it may be naturally inferred, shared in the general excite- 

 ment, and was therefore prepared to undertake the task, when an 

 order came in 1832 from the Philadelphia and Germantown Rail- 

 road Company for the construction of a locomotive for that Com- 

 pany's road. 



The only examples, or information, previous to this time of the 

 construction of the now perfected locomotive engine, were the crude 

 efforts of the previous years, and the various published and imperfect 

 accounts and illustrations in the journals of the day. 



Mr. Baldwin and the writer inspected the detached parts of a 

 locomotive imported by the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company, 

 in a shed on their road near Bordentown (at least such is the recollec- 

 tion of the place), and under some difficulty succeeded in making 

 such observations and a few measurements, as were thought would 

 be of service. It was with these slender means of observation, and 

 the limited experience of the preceding model, that the task was 

 undertaken, and the execution of the order commenced. It is but 

 justice to add, that it was accompanied by restrictions as to weight, 

 that are now at variance with all the principles that are desired, in 

 fact govern, the use of motive power on railroads. 



The building of this engine was carried on under the difficulties 

 of few and insufficient tools and space, and completed in about six 

 months. Begun in Minor Street, it was finished, in 1882, in the new 

 and larger space in Lodge Alley, to which the shop had been removed, 

 and was placed upon the road on the 23d of November in that year. 



The experiments which were immediately made with the " Iron- 



