Hudson and Mohawk Rail Road. 147 



of several hundred pounds to llie inch, although it is intended to work 

 at a pressure of fifty pounds only. 



There are two cylinders, one on each side of the engine, towards 

 the rear of the boiler, each of five inches and a half diameter, and 

 sixteen inches stroke. The pistons move on the inside of the wheels, 

 which is an improvement on some of the English engines. The 

 shackle bars are connected with the axle of the front wheels, which 

 is bent into the shape of a double crank. There is a safety valve on 

 the top, of the usual description. 



The power of the engine is over ten horses, and its weight is six 

 thousand seven hundred and fifty eight pounds and a half, being 

 much less in proportion than that of the best English engines. As it 

 stands on the rails, it can be very easily moved by a single hand ! 

 The tender is a carriage mounted on smaller wheels, and carries a 

 square box with an avs^ning upon it, in which are apartments to hold 

 an iron tank, and the requisite quantity of fuel. It is dragged next to 

 the locomotive, and has a stout spring in front to keep it at the same 

 distance relatively from the engine. Behind these come the coaches 

 for the passengers. These run on iron wheels constructed like the 

 rest, with a flange or inner edge, which makes it impossible for them 

 to run off the rails. 



The coaches are built like the common post coaches, peculiar to 

 our own country, and vvill carry inside and out, about twenty passen- 

 gers each. They are very comfortable and convenient, but others 

 of the English pattern, are in contemplation. 



The following difficulties occurred upon experimenting with this 

 engine. The surging of the water in the boiler was so great, that it 

 passed over into the cylinders. This was remedied by building a 

 high steam chamber upon the top of the boiler. The eduction pipes 

 terminated too low in the chimney, and injured the draft, and the 

 chimney itself was too large. All this was remedied. The anthra- 

 cite coal was found to pack, and required a blast. An artificial blast 

 was given, and then the heat seemed too great in one place, and too 

 little in others. It did not diffuse itself, but melted the grates, and 

 the nozzle of the pipe from the wind reservoir. At present it con- 

 sumes wood ; the experiments are not complete, in relation to fuel. 

 The average speed of this engine with three loaded cars, equal to 

 about eight tons, is fifteen miles an hour, but it has frequently accom- 

 plished with the same load, (hirty miles an hour. The writer of this 

 communication, has travelled with it at that rate. 



