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

CHAP. VIII.] THE WYLAM WAGON-WAY. 83
now enabled to draw two. Still determined to make the experiment
of working his plate-way by locomotive power, Mr.
Blackett, in 1812, ordered another engine, after Trevethick'a
patent, which had yet two years to run. He also resolved to
employ the rack-rail and toothed driving-wheel, like Blenkin-
sop's, and he had the road altered accordingly. The locomotive
was constructed by Thomas Waters, of Gateshead, who exe-
cuted the work for Trevethick on commission. This engine was
of the most awkward construction imaginable. It had a single
cylinder six inches in diameter, with a fly-wheel working at one
side to carry the cranks over the dead points. The boiler was
of cast-iron. Jonathan Foster, the Wylam engine-wright, who
superintended its construction, described the machine to the
writer as having " lots of pumps, cog-wheels, and plugs, requir-
ing constant attention while at work." The weight of the whole
was about six tons. When completed, it was conveyed to
Wylam on a wagon, and there mounted upon the wooden frame
supported by four pairs of wheels, which had previously been
constructed for it. A barrel of water, placed on a rude frame
supported by other two pairs of wheels, served as a tender.
After a great deal of labour, the cumbrous and unsightly machine
was got upon the road. But the engine would not move
an inch ! When the machinery was set in motion, Jonathan
Foster says, " She flew all to pieces, and it was the biggest won-
der i' the world that we were not all blewn up." The useless
engine was taken oflF the road and sold; and Mr. Blackett's
efforts were thus far in vain.
He was still, however, desirous of testing the practicability of
employing locomotive power in railway traction, and he determined
upon making yet another trial. Accordingly, he pro-
ceeded to build another engine under his own and Jonathan
Foster's immediate inspection, in the Wylam workshops. The
new engine had a single eight-inch cylinder, and was fitted with
a fly-wheel; the driving-wheel on one side being cogged, m
order to enable it to travel in the rack-rail. This engine proved
more successful than its predecessors. Although it was clumsy
and unsightly, it was found capable of. dragging eight or nine
loaded wagons down to the shipping-place at Lemington. Its