128 Book of Locomotives 



and broken up at one swoop. True, there 

 were only 12 machines in the class, but they 

 were practically new as engines go; actually 

 seventeen years old. Yet engines of the 

 same type, on a neighbouring line, were 

 retained in service ten years beyond this 

 and some of them were doing good work 

 until recently, though of a secondary nature. 

 The class referred to were of the 4-2-2 

 wheel formula, which is now obsolete, 

 unfortunately, for these were the most 

 graceful and the easiest travelling loco- 

 motives ever built. It was a rare treat to 

 ride upon their footplates. 



Taking locomotives generally and upon 

 all lines, excluding special classes which 

 may be largely experimental, we should say 

 that thirty years is a fair average life. 



By this time a third boiler will probably 

 be due and it is not worth while to strip 

 an old engine for this third boiler so she 

 goes to the derelict road. 



