substituted, similar to what is now used in the engines of the London and
Northwestern Railway. This arrangement gives better results, and occasions
no trouble whatever.

_Storage of petroleum._--The length of line now worked with petroleum is
from Tsaritsin to Burnack, 291 miles. There is a main iron reservoir for
petroleum at each of the four engine sheds, namely at Tsaritsin, Archeda,
Filonoff, and Borisoglebsk. Each reservoir is 66 ft. internal diameter and
24 ft. high, and when full holds about 2,050 tons. The method of charging
the reservoir, which stands a good way from the line, and is situated at a
convenient distance from all dwelling houses and buildings, is as follows:
On a siding specially prepared for the purpose are placed ten cistern cars
full of oil, the capacity of each being about ten tons. From each of these
cars a connection is made by a flexible India rubber pipe to one of ten
stand pipes which project 1 ft. above the ground line. Parallel with the
rails is laid a main pipe, with which the ten stand pipes are all
connected, thus forming one general suction main. About the middle of the
length of the main, which is laid underground and covered with sawdust or
other non-conducting material, is fixed a Blake steam pump. As soon as all
the ten connections are made with the cistern cars, the pump is set to
work, and in about one hour the whole of the cars are discharged into the
main reservoir, the time depending of course upon the capacity of the
pump. All the pipes used are of malleable iron, lap-welded, and of 5 in.
internal diameter, having screwed coupling muffs for making the
connections. At each engine shed, in addition to the main storage
reservoir, there is a smaller distributing tank, which is erected at a
sufficient height to supply the tenders, and very much resembles the
ordinary water tanks. These distributing tanks are circular, about 8½ ft.
diameter and 6 ft. high, and of ¼ in. plates; their inside mean area is
calculated exactly, and a scale graduated in inches stands in the middle