The Locomotive Of Today

INTRODUCTORY. Ihe modern locomotive, as we see it to-day, incorporates the combined efforts of many master minds, and although the general character of the earlier engines has not been radically departed from, the details have been greatly improved and the dimensions considerably increased. This addition in size is not so apparent when comparing" Engiish engines as foreign ones, for the reason that the loading- gauge adopted for the Engiish railways is more limited than that chosen by our friends over the seas; conséquently our locomotives not only have, but probably always will have, to be more closely built. A comparison of weights will give a more graphic impression : where the engine of 1830 only weighed from 8 to 10 tons, that of to-day often turns the scale at between 45 and 50 tons, yet the height from rail to chimney is approximately the same, and the extreme width will only vary a few inches. The locomotive of 1900 is more solid and compact than its predecessor of 70 years ago. Our remarks are confined chiefly to the details of British locomotives, but at times reference is made to Continental and American practice, as comparison often adds interest. Each section is devoted to some member of the locomotive organism, and as the engine must primarily be dependent for power on its steam generator, we take first the boiler, following with the engine, cylinders, motion, etc., and finally deal with the carriage, running gear and tender. The contents of this book have been carefully revised since their original appearance in The Locomotive Magazine, and illustrations of some typical examples of modern practice added, together with their chief dimensions.