The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

CHAP. XXI.] THE LOCOMOTIVE BEPOETED AGAINST. 249
means of ascending the inclined planes. The directors felt them-
selves quite unable to choose from amidst this multitude of pro-
jects. Their engineer expressed himself as decidedly as hereto-
fore in favour of smooth rails and locomotive engines, which he
was confident would be found the most economical and by far the
most convenient moving power that could be employed.* The
Stockton and Darlington Eailway being now at work, another
deputation went down personally to inspect the fixed and loco-
motive engines on that line, as well as at Hetton and Killingworth.
They returned to Liverpool with much information ; but their testimony
as to the relative merits of the two kinds of engines was so
contradictory, that the directors were as far from a decision as ever.
They then resolved to call to their aid two professional engineers
of high standing, who should visit the Darlington and
Newcastle railways, carefully examine both modes of working
the fixed and locomotive—and report to them fully on the subject,
The gentlemen selected were Mr. Walker of Limehouse, and Mr.
Eastrick of Stourbridge. After carefully examining the modes
of working the northern railways, they made their report to the
directors in the spring of 1829. These engineers concurred in
recommending the employment of fixed engines in preference to
locomotive power ! Mr. Walker considered stationary engines,
working on the low-pressure system, to be safer than high pres-
sure locomotive engines which accompanied the passengers and
goods on their way. Even Mr. Stephenson's early friend,
Nicholas Wood, seems to have agreed with the other engineers
in their report against the use of locomotives. Mr. Wood's
evidence before the Committee on the Liverpool and Manchester
Bill was by no means cordial in support of the locomotive. He
did not seem to have any faith in the efficiency of Stephenson's
favourite steam blast. Speaking of the KiUingworth engines, he
then said, " Those engines puif very much, and the cause is to
get an increased draught in the chimney ; now we have got a
sufficiency of steam without it. I have no doubt that by allowing
the steam to exhaust itself in a reservoir, it would pass quietly
into the chimney without that noise."t And now, it seems, he
had been depreciating the power and speed of the locomotive
* Booth's Account, p. 71. t Evidence, p. 216.
11 *
—