Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/73



Mr. Walter Henrick. 5 August, 1831. place the Engines four feet from the axletree of the hind wheels, and the communication of the chain is to allow me to put my work on the springs, and the play of the carriage up and down is accommodated by the chain.

Is your cylinder on springs?—Yes, every thing on springs

Do you make use of one or two cylinders?—Two.

What size?—Twelve inches in the stroke, and nine inches in the bore.

Has your Engine met with accidents?—No, except once I broke my chain; but in the course of five minutes we could replace that chain, by taking an extra chain with us.

Are your boilers easily cleaned?—In all the experience I have had with the working of boilers, I have found that they never require cleaning. I consider that the ebullition is so rapid, and the action of water so violent, that it will not allow any dirt to fix.

How long do you calculate one of your boilers would last?—It depends upon the thickness of metal. The boiler we use I consider will last, in locomotive Engines, from a twelvemonth to two years.

What is the thickness of the iron that you use?—I should suppose about the eighth of an inch thick.

Of what material are they composed?—Of the best charcoal iron.

What is the appearance of your Carriage; has it an unsightly appearance?—I think my present Carriage is any way from being handsome, because it has been built entirely for experiments.

Does the chimney rise above the Carriage?—No, you cannot see the chimney.

When steam is let off, where is it let off?—You can see nothing of it.

Then there can arise no annoyance either from smoke, or from waste steam?—None at all.

Do you find that horses are frightened by your Carriage?—I think I may say safely, that not one horse in a thousand will take the least notice of it: occasionally a horse may shy at it. I have seen fine blood horses come along, and shy at a wheelbarrow lying in