Slave Narratives

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...received careful consideration. The boiler adopted was of the "Bel paire" type, with 56 inch shell and a working pressure of 180 pounds to the square inch, and still bearing the light frames in view, the cylinders were made 17 by 24 inches, and of the half saddle type. Balanced valves of the "American" type were put in. The engine as reconstructed weighed 110,500 pounds in working order, of which 36,500 pounds were on the truck and 74,000 pounds on the drivers. The gain in tractive power was about 35 per cent. Several locomotives were thus reconstructed, and after being in operation for about three years, on a mileage of 378,100 miles, the cost of maintenance for running repairs was $6,261.38, or about 1.65 cents per mile. In fuel consumption, when running against the original engine with 18 by 24 inch cylinders, and on the same trains, and with the same number of coaches, it was found that the reconstructed engine ran an average of 36 miles to a ton of coal, as against 31% miles run by the original engine to a ton of coal, showing a saving of 13 per cent, in fuel in favor of the reconstructed engine, while on a heavier train they were demonstrated to make better time with 8 coaches, than the original engine could do with 6 coaches. The question of reconstruction is one towhich the mechanical officers of roads which have not much money to spend on new locomotives may well devote some of their time and experience. To roads not possessing modern equipped boiler shops, there are always the locomotive building establishments, from which new boilers and cylinders, side rods, etc., of modern design and make may be procured at reasonable rates, and the moderate expenditure involved in reconstruction should recommend itself to...