THE STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2131, 22 May 1889, Page 2

THE STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

The new steam fire engine for tho Borough of Ashburton, which arrived oa Monday evening, was unpacked yesterday aud taken to the Brigade Station la Burnett sreet. It is a vertical engine of the London Brigade pattern, ani It may be mentioned as a proof of the estimation m whioh these engines ere held that thirty out of the forty-six land steam fire engines belooghg to the Metronolltea (London) Fire Brigade are of this type, ihe manufacturers are Sband, Maeoo, and Co. whose engines approximate as marly as possible m travelling end carrying arrangements to the well-known manual engines of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The Aahbnrton engine, which Is made of the •■ B " sze, is made with strong wrought iron framing, mounted on steel spring!, with patent mail-coach axles, and high wood-spoke wheels for rapid travelling, ifili forelocking carriage ift of wrought iron,' with pole and fittings for horses, and them is a box for hose and implements, with driving seat and footboard made of wall* seasoned mahogany, fitted to the from* m front of the boiler, and forming aeati for the firemen m travel ling. The euotiog pipes are carried on each side, and ft bunker is provided for fuel, bo that all tho requisites for putting the engine to work' a-e carried by it. When travelling to a fire the engineer stands on the baok footboard and, as previously stated* seating accommodation is provided for tha firemen. The steam oylinder, slide valvo, and fittings are the same as used In thi amplest form of the r rdrmrj itesm eDgine, tbe pump is connected to tha steam cylinder by a rigd gun-metal casting, while tbe steam and water pistons ore joined by inflexible ateelroda, the crank being also of steel with suitable connecting rod. The pump ia entirely of gun*metal, with delivery and suction air vessels of copper, and the valve* so arranged that instant aeeesa eon bo obtained to them. The steam, exhaust, and other pipes are of copper, with .gunmetal connections. Tha trailer ia supplied with a gun-metal feed pnmp, forming part of the engine. An Injector is alaS fitted to serve oa a duplicate ia esse of ' need, both the injeotor and the puma being arranged with the necessary fitting* to use the water passing through 15» engine hose pipes or any other aupasly* The oapaoity of the engine is 260 gaSoag a minute. Most probably a trial will bo held OB Friday,