1«48."1 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



Eastern Counties Company eleven years ago ; but this was decidedly a 

 superior plan to any he had ever witnessed, and in many respects superior 

 to the plan he had seen of Mr. Heaton's. 



Mr. M'CoNNELL said, that Jlr. Robert Stephenson had expressed his 

 entire approval of the utility of the proposed mode of balancing wheels, 

 and had already given orders for it to be attached to an engine he was uow 

 constructing. 



LIGHT ENGINES— LIGHT TRAINS." 



The Secretary read the following paper on the above subject, by Mr- 

 Samuel, engineer of the Eastern Counties Railway : — " The small loco- 

 motive, lately introduced on the Eastern Counties Railway, having at- 

 tracted some considerable attention, has induced me to present to your 

 notice a short description of it ; and, at the same time, to oiler a few ob- 

 servations on the practicability of the principle to the conveyance of pas- 

 sengers. This carriage was constructed under my superintendence, for 

 the purpose of conveying myself and inspectors on the lines of the 

 Eastern Counties Railway, and thereby avoiding the great expense of 

 special engines. The total length of the carriage is 12 ft. 6 in., and 

 includes machinery, water-tank, and seals for seven passengers, on one 

 frame, which is hung below the axles, and is carried on four wheels, of 

 3 ft. 4 in. in diameter, the floor being within nine inches of the level of 

 the rails. It is propelled by two cylinders, 3J inches in diameter, with a 

 6-inch stroke, placed on each side of the boiler, and acting on a crank 

 axle. The boiler is cylindrical, placed vertically, and is 1 ft. 7 in. in 

 diameter, by 4 ft. 3 in. in height ; containing a fire-box, 16 inches diameter, 

 by 14 inches high ; and 35 tubes, 3 ft. 6 in. long, by 1^ inches diameter : 

 giving 5a- feet heating surface on the fire-box, and 38 feet on the tubes. 

 The engine is fitted complete, with link-motion, feed-pumps, &c. The 

 water-tank is placed under the seats, and will contain 40 gallons. This 

 carriage is capable of conveying seven persons, at the rate of 30 miles an 

 hour. It has, at times, attained a speed of 44 miles. The consumption of 

 coke is only 2+ lb. per mile ; and the weight of the whole machine does 

 not exceed 25 cwt., including coke and water. The result of observa- 

 tions, which I have for a considerable time been making, on the Branch 

 Passenger Traffic of Railways, has been to convince me that, on the 

 whole, it is not remunerative, and, in some cases, is even worked at a 

 loss. I have been, thevefore, led to consider whether the expenses might 

 not be reduced, by the introduction of a system of steam-carriages more 

 suitable to the amount of traffic to be conveyed. It is evideut, that the 

 more we can reduce the dead weight of the trains and engines, in propor- 

 tion to the number of passengers, the less will be the expense of repairs, 

 both of the carrying slock and engines, and of the way and works of the 

 line. The average weight of a train, on the branch lines of the leading 

 railways, is 56 tons ; the number of passengers, conveyed by each train, 

 not exceeding 35 to 40 on many of the branch railways in England. Sup- 

 posing each passenger, with luggage, to weigh li cwt., the total weight 

 of passengers conveyed is about 3 tons ; or, in other words, for every ton 

 of paying load we are now carrying by the present system of locomotion, 

 we have from 18 to 20 tons of dead weight. It is, therefore, in a commer- 

 cial point of view, of the greatest importance, not only to railway com- 

 panies, but to the public generally, that some less expensive, and, at the 

 same time, equally safe, means of transit be adopted. It is, therefore, 

 proposed to subslitute steam-carriages for locomotives on branch railways, 

 similar in construction to the drawings herewith produced. These draw- 

 ings represent a patent steam-carriage, now in course of construction, 

 under my direction, by Mr. W. B. Adams, the patentee, for the Eastern 

 Counties Railway Company. The following are a few of the principal 

 dimensions : — Diameter of cylinders, 7 inches ; length of stroke, 12 inches ; 

 diameter of driving-wheels, 5 feet; distance between centres, 20 feet; 

 width of framing, 8 ft. 6 in. The boiler is of the ordinary locomotive 

 construction ; 5 feet long, by 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter. The fire-box is 

 2 ft. lOV in. by 2 ft. 6 in. There are to be 115 tubes, of li inch in 

 diameter, and 5 ft. 3 in. in length, giving 210 feet of heating surface in 

 the tubes. The area of the fire-box is 25 square feet, giving a total of 

 235 feet of heating surface on the boiler. The consumption of coke I 

 have estimated at 7 lb. per mile, at a velocity of 40 miles per hour. The 

 total weight of the steam-carriage, with its coke and water, will not exceed 

 10 tons, and it will be capable of conveying about 42 passengers, at a 

 speed of 40 miles per hour. The water is to be carried below the floor of 

 the carriage, in wrought-irou tubes, of 12 inches diameter, and 12 feet 

 long. Oue great object attained in this machine, is the reduction of the 

 centre of gravity, and the consequent absence of lateral oscillation. This 

 carriage is intended for the Enfield and Edmonton branch of the Eastern 

 Counties Railway, and is expected to be at work in about three months 

 from this date. When its practical utility and economy has been proved, 

 I shall be glad to submit the result to the Institution at a future meeting ; 

 as I feel convinced that the subject is one deserving the attention of the 

 members, and of all parties interested in the profitable working of rail- 

 ways. I may also add, that were the system of light steam-carriages 

 adopted, branch railways might be constructed at a very small cost 

 indeed, compared with the present outlay (which is unavoidable so long as 

 the present system of heavy engines is continued) ; and the advantages 

 of railway accommodation might be extended to those districts, which can 



* This paper fully supports our remaris in the " /ournal" for Decemier last (vol. ix,, 

 p. 385.) 



never hope to enjoy them, if the construction of railways continue to 

 require such large outlay of capital." 



Mr. M'CoNNELL also read a communication on the same subject. He 

 had declined giving any opinion, wishing to take the sense of the Institution 

 upon the merits of the engine in question. 



Mr. Samuel considered that his engine would save a considerable sum 

 in the wear and tear of the rails, if not in coke, in consequence of the great 

 reduction in the weight of the engine. He estimated the wear and tear of 

 rails at jESCper annum, independent of the loss in the tyres of driving- 

 wheels, which was a large source of outlay. He suggested the running of a 

 number of small trains on a light description of rails, which would reduce 

 the cost of branch railways, and, at the same time, be adequate to all the 

 local traftic. 



A Member inquired, how the projector would be enabled to convey heavy 

 castings upon such a line ? 



Mr. Samuel said, that might be obviated by distributing the weight over 

 several trucks, as was sometimes found necessary upon the lines now in use ; 

 and, in case of holiday excursions, he proposed running a number of these 

 small trains, instead of the present heavy ones. 



Mr. M'CoNNELL said, that he presumed it would be desirable to have the 

 rails sufficiently heavy to allow an ordinary locomotive to travel over them, 

 in case additional carriages had to be taken on at certain points of the line, 

 for extra traffic arising from holidays, races, &c. 



Mr. Samuel said, it would be desirable that such should be the case, 

 where it could be done. It was propoied to construct these rails on longi- 

 tudinal bearings of timber — therefore, a comparatively heavy engine might 

 traverse it without danger. In reply to further questions, Jlr. Samuel said, 

 that the pressure usually used in this engine was 1201b.; but it was not 

 proposed to work those branch engines at a pressure of more than 80 lb. 



Mr. M'CoNNELL and Mr. Cowpf.r considered this engine peculiarly calcu- 

 lated to be worked with economy on the branch lines, as it would tend very 

 much to make them pay, by economising the locomotive expenditure. 



Mr. Buckle inquired, how the distance of the wheels would suit the 

 present turn-tables ? 



Mr. Samuel said, it was usual, at every terminus, to have a large turn- 

 table, suited for engine and tender; and, where there was not such a con- 

 trivance, they could make a triangle, which would be as good. The increased 

 speed obtained on these trains would obviate the necessity of frequent 

 changes of carriages ; and he estimated the average cost of conveying the 

 passengers would not exceed one-fifth of a penny per mile. Many of the 

 branch lines did not pay, and some economising principle was needed to 

 effect that object. In answer to further questions Mr. Samuel said, that he 

 proposed to work the goods traffic in a similar manner. 



Mr. M'CoNNELL still thought that the rails should be equal on these 

 branch lines, to bear the ordinary engines now in use on the main lines, in 

 case they went over them ; the wear and tear would also be less upon 

 strong rails. 



Mr. Cowper considered the ordinary rails in use were much too light, 

 and, at the present price of iron, he thought it bad policy to lay down a 

 light rail. 



The meeting expressed their entire approval of the engine for all the pur- 

 poses of the ordinary branch lines of railway. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



Daguerreotype Plates. — The plates prepared by depositing silver by elec- 

 trical ag&ncy have been found far superior to the ordinarily-prepared plates. 

 The mode adopted by Mr. Kilburn to test the superiority of the electro- 

 plated metal is to deposit silver, by a Smee's battery, on one-half of a re- 

 gularly-prepared plate, and then to apply the sensitive coating, and to go 

 through the usual process of taking a picture. He says that the lights and 

 shadows on the half that has been electro-plated will be much more clear 

 and distinct, and that in comparison with that portion of the plate, the other 

 will appear greasy. The requisite time of exposure also is found to be 

 reduced about one-third. 



Aerial Navigation.— Ut. Fitter, of Launton, Oxfordshire, has published 

 plans and descriptions of an " improved Archimedian Balloon," whereby it 

 is proposed to move through the air by paddle-wheels, set in motion by a 

 steam-engine. This aerostatic machine will indeed be a " monster balloon," 

 as it is proposed to give it buoyancy sufficient to raise thirteen tons ; and it 

 is to be 120 feet long, exclusive of hemispherical ends. Mr. Fitter conceives 

 there will be little difficulty in steering this aerial ship, but he seems altoge- 

 ther to overlook the absence of a guiding resistance, for though he may be 

 able to turn the machine round, that would be of no avail in steering, unless 

 there be some resisting force superior to that of the wind. 



Railways Opetied.—One of the lines of rails of the Bolton, Blackburn, 

 and West Yorkshire has been opened. The Tiverton branch of the Bristol 

 and Exeter line was opened on the 12th June. 



Compromise of the Gauge Question. — It has been decided by a committee 

 of the House of Commons, "that the dotible gauge shall be laid down 



