Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/112



John Farey, Esq. 10 August, 1831. should be made very broad on the edges, and of proportionate strength. The present Coaches have been faulty in these respects, and yet the machinery is too heavy. Another way of getting sufficient power to go up hill, is to have the pistons only a suitable size for going along the ordinary, road, and to introduce wheel-work, which can be thrown into action when a hill is to be ascended, and which will turn the wheels of the Carriage round only once for three turns of the cranks of the Engine, and consequently with a triple force. Mr. Hancock has shown me the parts of such machinery which he is now making for a new Steam Coach, with wheel-work and endless chains, on a plan which I think very likely to answer for ascending moderate hills; but for very steep hills I think it is desirable to have a help by post-horses. The immediate desideratum is, to construct a Steam Coach with the power and strength necessary to go quickly and safely along the best lines of road which can be found, without any steep hills upon them, and taking assistance of post-horses where it is necessary. If that is accomplished, and such a Coach is worked continually for two or three years, it would probably lead to the knowledge of the proper kind of machinery to go up steeper hills; but if the adoption of Steam Coaches is to wait until they are rendered much more perfect, it will be a very long time, because practice is essential to finding out a proper plan.

Do you think there is any danger in going down a hill in a Steam Carriage?—Much less than in a common Stage Coach; for by backing the Engines, so that their power is brought to act in opposition to the turning round of the wheels, and with the assistance of drags or brakes, rub on the rims of the wheels, and aid in retarding their motion by friction. Steam Coaches will safely go down all moderate bills, such as are met with on our best lines of turnpike roads, say between London and Holyhead'; and with machinery such as Mr. Hancock is now making, if it is suitably proportioned. I expect a Steam Coach would not require assistance to get up hill at more than five or six places between London and Holyhead.