THE LOCOMOTIVE. 



administration of tjje Belgian railways. It appears from these 

 records, that the following was the fuel consumed for these pur- 

 poses respectively on the Belgian railways during the years 

 1846 and 1847: 



It may then be stated in round numbers, that 600 Ihs. of fuel 

 are consumed in lighting an engine, and raising the steam, and 

 that every engine lighted travels, on an average, as "worked upon 

 the Belgian lines, 70 miles. 



The fuel consumed in lighting adds, therefore, 8| Ibs. per mile 

 to the working consumption, which latter heing 30 Ibs., the pro- 

 portion consumed in lighting is 28 per cent. The fuel consumed 

 in standing with steam up, either as an engine of reserve or other- 

 wise, adds 1 per cent, more to the working consumption per 

 mile, the total amount of which may be taken in round numbers 

 at 40 Ihs., as these railways are worked. 



35. One of the most striking results of the calculations which I 

 have made of the performance of locomotive engines as well in 

 England as on the continent, is the small amount of useful service 

 obtained from them. 



36. It appears that in each run an engine, on the Belgian lines, at 

 the most improved epoch of the service yet reported, did not quite 

 average 78 miles, and that even this was performed only four 

 days in seven. Thus the average daily work of an engine would 

 appear to be only 44 miles. 



But it also appears, that for 74 miles run the engine is kept, on 

 an average, 7 hours standing. This being reduced to a daily 

 average, leads to the conclusion, that the daily service of the 

 engines consisted in 44 miles run and 4 hours standing with the 

 steam up. 



But as the average speed on the Belgian railway is about 20 

 140 



