THE FAST EXPRESSES TO EDINBURGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9220, 24 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE FAST EXPRESSES TO EDINBURGH.

It was stated some time ago that the Great Northern Railway Company were about to adopt the trough-feeder system on their line for supplying their express engines with water on a continuous run from King Cross to York distance of 1884 miles — when the fast running commences next summer, as well as upon other occasions when a long mileage has to be traversed at great speed, with large consumption of water. This decision of the locomotive and engineering authorities, if it had ever been arrived at, will not be carried out, as it is intended to build for the engines large tenders capable of holding 5000 gallons of water, so as to enable the locomotives to run from London to York without a stop. It may be interesting to the railway travelling public generally to state that 5000 gallons of water weigh close upon 23 tons ; that the consumption of water, at a high rate of running, is about 1000 gallons per hour, thus requiring 3500 gallons for a three and a-half, and 4000 for a four hours'continuous run. It is in order to provide for contingencies that it will be necessary to carry 5000 gallons of water. With respect to weight, it may be added that a tender carrying the great quantity of' 23 tons of water would weigh of itself some IS tons, so that with about three tons of coal on board— the necessary complement for this long run —and one ton weight for the brake and other apparatus, the entire tender when loaded would weigh 45 tons, or some 13 tons heavier than the largest tender at present used upon any line. On the London and North-western lino the tenders need not carry more than 1000 gallons of water on very long runs, and that is due to the trough or " pick-up" system. -