Charles Hutton Gregory

“ One pump, if constantly at work, would, in most Engines, supply as much, or rather more water than is required by the Engine as equivalent to the steam consumed; so that by turning on or off either or both pumps, the Engine-man has the power of regulating the height of the water in the boiler at discretion. ”

“ As any diminution in the amount of steam used causes a corresponding diminution in the quantity of coke consumed, the skill of the Engine-man should be unceasingly directed to the reduction of so heavy an item of Railway expenditure. ”

“ As the addition of fuel causes a temporary reduction of the force of the fire, coke should not be laid on immediately before arriving at an inclined plane or any part of the road where much power is required; but when ascending an incline, coke should be gradually added when the Engine begins to beat heavily,—the draught is then powerful, and a regular supply of fuel required to keep up the fire. ”

“ The straps of the eccentrics should work with sufficient freedom, and the eccentrics must be firm in their right position on the axle, or the Engine will beat unevenly: if any escape of steam has been observed in the stuffing-boxes of the piston-rod and slide-valve spindle, or of water from the joints of the feed-pumps and suction-pipes, they must be screwed up ”

“ When the slide-valve gear is disabled, Engines with hand-gear possess an advantage which others want, in being able to be worked by hand, when a single cylinder would be unequal to the duty, from not being able to move the crank over the centres at starting. ”

“ In order to know the force of the steam, one hand may occasionally lift p. 20or depress for a moment the lever of the safety-valve, according as the steam is under or over the working pressure; and a little practice will soon enable a person to judge the extent of excess or deficiency. ”

“ As soon as the Engine is in a vertical position and rails inserted under the wheels, a temporary railway may be laid down in continuation, and the Engine again drawn on the main line. It will much facilitate the raising of the Engine if the water is drawn away out of the boiler as soon as it is sufficiently cool. ”

“ Before being allowed to take the entire charge of an Engine and train, the candidate must drive for several days under the direction of an experienced Engine-man, who must be on his Engine, and certify to his ability. ”

“ In other circumstances, provided the fire is low enough to require fuel, the best time to put on coke is when the water is sufficiently high to turn off the feed-pumps, the steam slightly blowing off, and the Engine travelling at a good speed. ”

“ If slipping is observed to an unusual extent, it may be inferred that there is not sufficient weight on the driving wheels, and the springs ought to be tightened by screwing up the nuts of the bearing bolts: or where the framing is hung to the springs by plain links, the spring pins must be lengthened the next time the Engine is in the repairing shops. ”

“ The wheels ought to be accurately square and firm on their axles, and the keys driven up tight. All the pins, bolts, &c., by which the slide-valve gear is connected, the lifting-links, and the slings of the slide-spindles, must be secure in their proper places; the spanners ought to be fast p. 8on the lifting and weigh-bars, and the studs on the spanners of the weigh-bars should be particularly noticed, as, if loose, they may be shaken off on the road and cause the stoppage of the Engine. ”

“ If there should be, at any time, an unnecessary quantity and force of steam, it is readily reduced by opening the fire-door, and by turning on the feed-pumps; if there should be too little, the Engine-man must be content to run slowly for p. ”

“ The Engineer or Superintendent of Locomotives of the Railway to which the candidate is desirous of being appointed, shall sign a certificate stating that he has conversed with him, has seen him drive, and has confidence in his steadiness and ability. ”

“ The connecting-rod is a very important part, and more liable perhaps than any other to fail for want of proper examination. The cotters must be secure, and in case the brasses have too much play they must be tightened up ”

“ In a p. 39six-wheeled Engine it requires the stoppage of the train until assistance arrives.
9. The Engine running off the rails. With an Engine-man who drives carefully, watching well the position of the switches, and the signals given him, and stopping when he sees any danger attending his further course, this is an accident of very rare occurrence. If the Engine should run off on hard ground and near the rails, it may sometimes be lifted on again at once, by screw-jacks, crow-bars, and long sways ”

“ A number of iron or wooden plugs, an iron plug-holder, and a 7 lb. maul, two cold chisels, a hammer and a file, spare washers, and duplicates of the principal bolts, nuts, pins, cotters, &c., a quantity of thick and thin cord, and some tarred line, a fire-bucket, two long crow-bars, a spare coupling-chain, with shackle and hook complete, several wooden wedges, about 2 feet long, 4 or 5 inches wide and 3 inches thick, and, if running long journeys, two spare ball-clacks, and a screw-jack. ”