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

360 LIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap. xxix.
tern of England, instead of remaining, as at present, comparatively
isolated.*
Another favourite idea of the Fast School of Engineers, was,
as already mentioned, the substitution of atmospheric pressure
for locomotive steam power in the working of railways. The
idea of obtaining motion by atmospheric pressure originated with
Papin, the French engineer ; but it slept until revived by Mr.
Medhurst in 1810, who published a pamphlet to prove the prac-
ticability of conveying letters and goods by air. In 1824, Mr.
Vallance of Brighton took out a patent for projecting passengers
through a tube large enough to contain a train of carriages ;
tube being previously exhausted of its atmospheric air. The
same idea was afterwards taken up, in 1835, by Mr. Binkus, an
ingenious American. Scientific gentlemen. Dr. Lardner and Mr.
Clegg amongst others, advocated the plan ; and an association
was formed to carry it into effect. Shares were created, and
18,000^. raised ; and a model apparatus was exhibited in London.
Mr. Vignolles took his friend Mr. Stephenson to see the model
and after carefully examining it, he observed emphatically, "It
won't do : it is only the fixed engines and ropes over again, in
another form." He did not think the principle would stand the
test of practice, and he objected to the mode of applying the
principle. Would it pay ? He thought not. After all, it was
only a modification of the stationary-engine plan ; and every
day's experience was proving that fixed engines could not compete
with locomotives in point of efficiency and economy. He
stood by the locomotive engine ; and subsequent experience
proved that he was right.
Messrs. Clegg and Samuda afterwards, in 1840, patented their
plan of an atmospheric railway ; and they publicly tested its
working on an unfinished portion of the West London Rail-
* In Ireland a peculiar gauge of five feet three inches has been adopted. The
Irish Eailway Commission did some remarkable things in its day. Amongst
others, it recommended a gauge of six feet two inches ; how they amved at
that precise width no one can tell. The Ulster' Railway was laid down for
twenty-five miles on this gauge, whilst the Drogheda line, which ran from
Dublin into the Ulster Railway, was laid down five feet two inches in width.
General Pasley was appealed to, and after consulting all the leading authorities
as to the proper gauge, he slruch an average, and arrived at five feet three
inches, which is now the Irish gauge.
;
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