UNIQUE LOCOMOTIVE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 5

UNIQUE LOCOMOTIVE

A BRITISH EXPERIMENT

CAPABLE tlFlOtf M.P.H.

Faced with intense' motbi-coach competition, the British railway companies are leaving no avenue unexplored "in order to regain their old-time prosperity, writes the London correspondent of the Sydney "Morning Herald." Extensive research in carriage and truck design and in the construction of locomotives has been translated into practical experiments. The London and North Eastern Kailway has been, perhaps, the most active of the four main companies in the work, and a striking example of its enterprise was given its first public trials recently. In the greatest secrecy, it built at its works at Darlington an engine unique in design and oiftcially described as a "high-pressure compound express locomotive." Uepresentativcs of newspapers were given an opportunity of travelling on the new monster's footplate, and while its speed on this run reached only 50 miles an hour the locomotive exceeded this by IS miles an hour at one-quarter of its full power when travelling the previous evening from Darlington to London. It will be capable of 100 miles an hour under favourable conditions. It will have to pass a further long series oE tests before it is placed on the regular express services between London and Edinburgh. HIGH BOILER PRESSURE. The primary object of the design is fuel economy, despite the high speed of which the locomotive is capable. Economy has been sought by employing an unusually high boiler pressure to give a greater output of power for the coal consumed. To this find the locomotive is1 fitted with a water-tube boiler of Yarrow-Grcsley type, giving a pressure of 4501b per square inch, ;ts compared with one of 2001b to ~3olb on the type of engine now in use. This is the first time that a water-tube boiler has been used in a locomotive in this or any other country, and it is expected that it will result in a reduction of fuel consumption of at least 20 per cent. At present eight tons of coal arc used on the London to Edinburgh run, so if the objective is achieved 116 tons or more will be saved oil this journey of 400 miles. It is expected that the engine will develop 2000 h.p., giving a large reserve of power for emergencies. Among other original features it possesses is the method of pre-heating the air used to supply the draught to the fire grate. The air is taken in through vents in the forepart of the engine and passes down a space between the boiler and the outside casing to the firebox. UNCONVENTIONAL EXTERIOR. The exterior appearance of the engine follows very unconventional lines, since, owing to the fact that the boiler has been built to the extreme limits of the railway gauge, there is no space, for the usual raised type of chimney. The chimney has, therefore, been sunk to the level of the boiler top, where it is placed in a channel, between two raised and converging plates. These plates, in conjunction with the downward curve of the forepart of the boiler, serve to throw the smoke upwards and clear of the driver's cab, instead of downwards and across the driver's line of visioij, as is ordinarily the case. This feature is of special importance, since a clear view for the driver of an express train is vital in the interests of safety. The engine is the largest and heaviest locomotive yet built in this country, having an overall length of over 75 feet and weighing nearly 170 tons. It has four leading, six driving, anil four trailing wheels. The engine is frankly an experiment. While the designer was convinced that it was sound in theory, he thought it advisable during the period of construction to issue a warning that there was no guarantee that its performance would be satisfactory. The tests which have now been made have dispelled all fears on that score, and encourage high hopes that the new engine will prove a real advance on any of its predecessors. The man responsible for this new monster of the rails is Mr. 11. N. Gresley, chief designer of the London and North Eastern