Gigantic Locomotives.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 12, 9 October 1907, Page 7

Gigantic Locomotives.

AMERICA'S LATEST. Although only seventy-eight years havo passed since Stephenson built his pioneer locomotive "Rocket," a comparison between locomotives of that timo and this is not only interesting, but instructive. The " Rocket" weighed 7} tons; tlio latest railway oiigino of which wc have particulars weighs 258 tons in running ' trim. Several engines of this huge size havo been recently built for tho Erie Railway by tho American Locomotive Company, at their Schpectady Works. These engines are of tho "Mallet Articulated" type, with eight axles coupled together in two groups of four nxles, or eight wheels, to each group. All tho sixteen wheels under the ongine itsolf are drivers, and carry a distributed weight of 183 tons. Tho tender' is carried on two four-wheeled bogietrucks, and weighs, when ready for a journey, seventy-five tons, giving for ongine and tender a total weight of 258 tons. By way of further comparison, it may 'bo stated that tho " Rocket" had two cylinders,- each eight inches diameter, by 16i inches stroke, whilo tho " Erio " engine has four cylinders, two "high pressure" of twenty-five inches t dimeter, by 28 inches stroke; and" two "low-pressure" of 39 inches diameter, by 28 inches stroke. Tho " Rocket's " steam pressure was 50 pounds to the square inch, tho ".Erin's "■. is 215. From the front wheel of the " Erie " engine to the rear wheel of tho tender is 70J- feet. Provision is made tor carrying in tho tender 8500 gallons of water, and sixteen tons of coal. These "Eric" compound locomotives are the heaviest and most powerful yot built for any railway, their tractive power being !)4,800 pounds. This giant locomotivo runs on a railway lino of tlio same gauge as did its prototype tho "Rocket." NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST. The special locomotive which is to be used on tho heavy section and stoop grades of the Northern Main Trunk lino between Taumarnnui and Taihape, and which 'will be of a stronger and heavier typo than any. hitherto in use on tho New Zealand railways, will weigh, with tender, over ninety tons. It will he of the four-cylinder balanced compound typo, capable of hauling a loaded train up a grado of 1 in 50 at an uverage speed of twenty miles an hour. All the engines will bo furnished with tenders so as to provide ample eoal and water accommodation, and enable them to run long distances without stopping.