Development of Locomotive 3 5 



was a development of the o-8-o, and a very 

 efficient type it has proved, particularly on 

 the Great Western and old Great Northern. 



Designers are always anxious to produce 

 locomotives of great power, and yet not be 

 too heavy for the railway upon which they 

 are to run. 



Some years ago the locomotive engineer 

 of the Great Eastern was asked whether he 

 could build an engine which would get up 

 speed very quickly from a station stop, run 

 at a good rate, and haul a good load. There 

 had been difficulty and delay upon the 

 crowded Great Eastern metals near London. 

 The time was not ripe for electrification, so 

 the old steam locomotive was to have an- 

 other chance. The designer produced a 

 wonderful engine, of the tank variety, with 

 ten coupled wheels. It did all that was 

 wanted in the matter of quick starting, 

 speed, and haulage. But it was never allowed 

 to run because it proved too heavy for the 

 rails; not so much the rails, in reality, 

 certain bridges. So the curious looking, 

 * Decapod ", as it was called, was sent back 



