Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various
page 68 of 144 (47%)
page 68 of 144 (47%)
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brighter and can easily be kept clean. There is greater simplicity of
design generally, and the universal substitution of coal as coke for fuel, with its consequent economy; and last, but not least, the adoption of standard types of engines, are among the changes which have taken place in locomotive practice during the past quarter of a century. [Illustration: FIG. 8.--LONDON, CHATHAM, & DOVER RAILWAY.] [Illustration: FIG. 9.--GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY.] [Illustration: FIG. 10.--MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY.] Having now reviewed, as far as the limits of this paper will allow, the locomotive practice of the present day, the author would in conclusion draw attention to what may possibly be one course of locomotive development in the future. Time is money, and it may be in the coming years that a demand will arise for faster means of transit than that which we possess at present. How can we meet it? With our railways laid out with the curves and gradients existing, and with our national gauge, and our present type of locomotive, no great advance in speed is very probable; the mean speed of express trains is about fifty miles an hour, and to take an average train of 200 tons weight at this speed over a level line requires between 650 and 700 effective horse-power, within the compass of the best engines of the present day. But if instead of fifty miles an hour seventy is required, an entirely different state of things obtains. Taking a train of 100 tons, with engine and tender weighing 75 tons, or 175 tons gross, the first question to determine will be the train resistance, and with reference to this we much want careful experiments on the subject, like those which Sir Daniel Gooch made in 1848, on the Bristol and Exeter Railway, which are even now the standard authority; the general use of oil |
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