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The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

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68<br />

HISTORY OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMERICA.<br />

<strong>in</strong> carriages or wagons, and made <strong>the</strong> <strong>first</strong> ten trips<br />

backward and forward upon <strong>the</strong> two miles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> road,<br />

runn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> thirty-five miles, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g stoppages, <strong>in</strong><br />

one hour and forty-eight m<strong>in</strong>utes.<br />

<strong>The</strong> second ten trips were <strong>in</strong> like manner accomplished<br />

<strong>in</strong> two hours and three m<strong>in</strong>utes. <strong>The</strong> maximum<br />

velocity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kocket dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> trial-trip was about<br />

twenty-n<strong>in</strong>e miles an hour, or three times <strong>the</strong> speed<br />

that one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> judges had declared to be <strong>the</strong> limit <strong>of</strong><br />

possibility.<br />

Nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> Novelty nor <strong>the</strong> Sans-pareU was ready<br />

for trial untn <strong>the</strong> 10th. <strong>The</strong> weight <strong>of</strong> carriages at-<br />

tached to <strong>the</strong> Novelty was only seven tons. In start-<br />

<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> eng<strong>in</strong>e went <strong>of</strong>f <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>e style for <strong>the</strong> two miles,<br />

but, on return<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> pipe for <strong>the</strong> forc<strong>in</strong>g-pump burst<br />

and put an end to <strong>the</strong> trial. <strong>The</strong> pipe hav<strong>in</strong>g been repaired,<br />

<strong>the</strong> eng<strong>in</strong>e made a trial-trip, without a load, and<br />

is said to have run from twenty-four to twenty-eight<br />

miles an hour.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Sans-pareil was not ready until <strong>the</strong> 13th, and,<br />

when <strong>the</strong> boiler and tender were filled with water, it<br />

weighed 400 lbs. beyond <strong>the</strong> prescribed conditions <strong>of</strong><br />

four-wheel eng<strong>in</strong>es ; but never<strong>the</strong>less <strong>the</strong> judges allowed<br />

it to run upon <strong>the</strong> same foot<strong>in</strong>g as <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, and it<br />

travelled at <strong>the</strong> average speed <strong>of</strong> fouirteen miles an hour,<br />

with its load ;<br />

but at <strong>the</strong> eighth trip <strong>the</strong> cold-water pipe<br />

got out <strong>of</strong> order, and it could proceed no far<strong>the</strong>r. It<br />

was <strong>the</strong>n determ<strong>in</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> judges to award <strong>the</strong> prize<br />

to <strong>the</strong> successful eng<strong>in</strong>e on <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g day, October<br />

14th.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> trial commenced, <strong>the</strong> Novelty aga<strong>in</strong> broke<br />

down. <strong>The</strong> builder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sans-pareil requested an<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r trial, but <strong>the</strong> judges decided that she was beyond<br />

<strong>the</strong> prescribed weight, and besides consumed and<br />

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