-<-^" 'w—^i t-- — J^k. ^ fy^ ^ -^ s — Jf C ^J5|s j| t^ :! 4v.-. J'f / 



^ '^ ^ I I I 







J s ^ 



»^*i¥^*='~^^»' ■^T''' 





-I, 



Figure 28. — Pioneer System Locomotive and Coach. The adhesion 

 wheels are located near the center of the locomotive at "B." (From 

 Sellers' Improvements?) 



can be found in the patent specifications. An examination of 

 figures 26 and 27 will also assist in the understanding of this mech- 

 anism. 



Sellers' ideas went beyond his adhesion locomotive: he devised 

 a new plan and system for the construction of railways. To con- 

 solidate the country and improve its internal communications, the 

 United States was faced with the prospect of building a vast system 

 of railways over a rugged and unsettled land where little capital 

 was available. Sellers felt that the trend to heavy locomotives and 

 permanent ways was not the best solution of the problem. Light, 

 cheap railways and motive power suflficient to climb heavy grades 

 would be satisfactory until the country was more fully developed. 

 When the land was settled and a prosperous economy established, 

 more permanent roads could be constructed on the conventional 

 pattern. Little grading needed to be done for Sellers' center-rail 

 locomotive because it could, except in the most extreme cases, 

 traverse the natural rise and fall of land. Lines could be direct; 

 they could climb over rather than bypass or tunnel through natural 

 obstacles. Since his locomotives were light, the roadbed, rails, and 

 bridges could also be light. The Sellers engines could, without fear 

 of damage, be run over the light railways faster than heavier con- 

 ventional machines. All these factors combined to offer a method 



56 



