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

CHAP. VIII.] ME. BLACKETT'S LOCOMOTIVE EXPERIMENTS. 85
1813 he took out a patent, in the name of "William Hedley, his
viewer, for a frame on four wheels on which to mount the locomotive
engine. One of the first experiments which he made
with this frame was, to test the adhesion of the smooth wheels
of a carriage, properly weighted, upon the smooth rails of the
road. Six men were placed upon the frame, which was fitted
up with tvindlasses attached by gearing to the several wheels,
"When the men were set to work the windlasses, Mr. Blackett
found that the adhesion of the wheels on the smooth rails was
sufficient to enable them to propel the machine without slipping.
Having then found the proportion which the power bore to the
weight, he demonstrated, by successive experiments, that the
weight of the engine would of itself produce sufficient adhesion
to enable it to drag after it, on a smooth tram-road, the requisite
number of wagons in all kinds of weather. Thus was the fallacy
which had heretofore prevailed on this subject completely dissi-
pated, and it was satisfactorily proved that rack-rails, toothed-
wheels, endless chains, and legs, were alike unnecessary for the
efficient traction of loaded wagons upon a moderately level
road.
As may readily be imagined, the jets of steam from the
piston, blowing off into the air at high pressure while the engine
was in motion, caused considerable annoyance to horses passing
along the Wylam road, at that time a public highway. The
nuisance was felt to be almost intolerable, and a neighbouring
gentleman threatened to have it put down. To diminish the
nuisance as much as possible, Mr. Blackett gave orders that so
soon as any horse, or vehicle drawn by horses, came in sight,
the locomotive was to be stopped, and the frightful blast of the
engine thus suspended until the passing animals had got out of
sight. MucTj interruption was caused to the working of the
railway by this measure ; and it excited considerable dissatis-
faction amongst the workmen. The following plan was adopted
to abate the nuisance : a reservoir was provided immediately
behind the chimney, into which the waste steam was thrown
after it had performed its office in the cylinder ; and from this
reservoir, the steam gradually escaped into the atmosphere