92 



THE IMPROVED WYLAM ENGINE. 



CHAP. VI. 



pensed with. The road was laid with heavier rails ; 

 the working of the old engine was improved ; and a 

 new engine was shortly after built and placed upon the 

 road, still on eight wheels, driven by seven rack-wheels 

 working inside them with a wrought -iron boiler 

 through which the flue was returned so as largely to 

 increase the heating surface, and thus give increased 



\ power to the engine. 1 The following is a representation 



\of this improved Wylam engine. 



WYLAM ENGINE. 



As may readily be imagined, the jets of steam from 

 the piston, blowing off into the air at high pressure 

 while the engine was in motion, caused considerable 

 annoyance to horses passing along the Wylam road, at 



/ l By the year 1825, the progress 

 made on the Wylam railroad was thus 

 described by Mr. Mackenzie in his 

 * History of Northumberland : ' "A 

 stranger," said he, "is struck with 

 surprise and astonishment on seeing a 

 locomotive engine moving majestically 



along the road at the rate of four or 



five miles an hour, drawing along 

 from ten to fourteen loaded waggons, 

 weighing about 21 tons; and his 

 surprise is increased on witnessing the 

 extraordinary facility Avith which the 

 engine is managed. This invention is 

 a noble triumph of science." 



