ECONOMY OF FUEL. 



raising the steam, for in this process the draft is not so strong as 

 to carry this small coke injuriously through the tubes. The small 

 coke is also used, mixed in a certain proportion with the large 

 coke, for keeping the steam up in the reserve engines. 



The quantity of coke consumed in drawing a train will depend 

 upon the magnitude and weight of the train, and the speed with 

 which it is moved. The greater the resistance which it has to 

 overcome, the greater will be the consumption of fuel in a given 

 distance. The resistance increases in a high ratio with the 

 speed. Now as the speed of passenger trains is usually greater 

 than that of goods trains, the consumption of fuel, so far as it is 

 affected by the speed, will be greater in the former than in the 

 latter ; but, on the other hand, goods trains consisting of a much 

 greater number of vehicles and of a greater gross weight than pas- 

 senger trains, the resistance due to the load is greater in the latter 

 case than in the former. 



On the Belgian railways the economy of fuel is very strictly 

 attended to. Rules are established by which a certain weight of 

 coke is allowed to the engineer for the different purposes. 



For lighting and raising the steam, 280 kilogrammes, equal to 



618 Ibs., of coke are allowed. 

 For each passenger coach drawn, f of a kilogramme per kilometre, 



equal to 2 '6 4 Ibs. per mile, are allowed. 

 For each loaded goods waggon, f of a kilogramme per kilometre, 



equal to 2 '35 Ibs. per mile, are allowed. 

 Two empty waggons are accounted as equal to a loaded one, and 



24 kilogrammes per kilometre, equal to 8*82 Ibs. per mile, 



are allowed for an engine without a load. 

 Ten kilogrammes, equal to 22 Ibs., per hour are allowed for 



keeping up the steam while an engine is standing. 



These quantities are, however, understood to be average major 

 limits which ought not to be exceeded. To stimulate the engi- 

 neers and their superintendents to the observance of a due economy 

 of fuel, premiums are awarded, in proportion to the extent of the 

 saving effected upon these allowances ; 5s. Qd. a ton is allowed to 

 the engineer for every ton of coke by which his actual consump- 

 tion falls short of these limits, and a further premium of one- 

 fourth of this amount is allowed to the superintendents of the 

 locomotive department. 



34. In the locomotive department, a register should be kept of 

 the fuel consumed, distinguishing such consumption under the 

 three heads of standing, lighting, and working, together with 

 which should be noted the hours standing, the engines lighted, 

 and the mileage worked. There is nothing impracticable or 

 difficult in the maintenance of such a register in every well- 

 organised establishment, and such a one is regularly kept in the 



