WEIGHT OF COACHES. 427 



the mark, and he seems inclined to digress, yet I have 

 only taken such of his observations as are consistent 

 with the subject of this chapter. Mr. Hooper is not so 

 much a man of letters as a man of axles, springs, and 

 carriage-bodies, who is desirous of seeing the work 

 in which he is interested carried out in the most per- 

 fect manner possible ; in addition to which he takes an 

 intelligent view of other matters not relating to his 

 trade. 



In speaking of newspaper correspondents, some 

 interesting letters appeared in the Field newspaper of 

 June loth, 1882. These have the advantage of being 

 written by a man who had some knowledge of the 

 construction of coaches, and are, consequently, w^orth 

 recording. 



WEIGHT OF COACHES. 



Sir, — I was brought up as a coach body-maker with Atkinson 

 & PhiUpson, and have been in their employment for fifty years. 

 I have thus seen the change from road to raihvay traveUing, and can 

 confirm some of the opinions expressed in letters in the Field. 



I assisted in making many of the heavy stage-coaches of old, and 

 saw the "Telegraph," " Highflyer," and others in course of construc- 

 tion. I assisted, too, in making the " Tallyho ; " and in the latter the 

 body was hung on four springs, back and front, without perch. This 

 is the first coach I recollect as having been fitted up in that way. 

 This I suppose was done to reduce weight and keep the body low, 

 so as to prevent the luggage from catching the wind in going over 

 the moors, where some coaches were blown over. I may well 

 remember the weight of the coaches, as it was the duty of the 

 apprentices at that time to assist in brmging them from the "Turf" 

 Hotel (the head coaching quarters at that day) to be examined, 

 oiled, and cleaned, and to take them back at night. At first it 

 required a man and six boys to take them, the coaches then weigh- 

 ing about 30 cwt. When afterwards the weight was reduced to 

 20 cwt., a man and three boys could take them. These light 

 coaches were famous for their good steady running, and were 

 finished off as perfectly as private carriages. They belonged to the 

 firm, and were run on the mileage system. I also assisted in making 

 Capt. Watson's coach, afterwards sold to Lord Hastings, which was 

 considered a light coach in that day, and weighed about 18 cwt.. 



