Vagaries of Locomotive 167 



employed, the object sought is the dis- 

 tribution of the work as evenly as possible 

 to the engines and to the men, also to 

 ensure that weekly day of rest already 

 mentioned. 



If the link consisted of engines of varied 

 design, we should naturally enough expect 

 to find a variance in the quality and quan- 

 tity performed. As a rule therefore the 

 locomotives in a link are graded according 

 to their power, so that too great extremes 

 are not found. But it is a fact that when 

 machines of exactly the same design, weight 

 and building are grouped, there will be, 

 as in the world of humans and horses, 

 good and bad. 



There are certain engines resembling 

 each other so closely that even an expert 

 could not tell which was which, save by 

 their different names, or numbers. No. 266 

 will be the favourite because of her easy 

 running and low coal consumption; No. 

 267 will be heavy on coal; No. 268 will 

 be like the majority of her class, varying, 

 if at all only the slightest from another 



