HANDYSIDE'S ENGINE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 298, 9 November 1875, Page 2

HANDYSIDE'S ENGINE.

We take the foiiowing from the Western Press, a British paper.-—* 4 Sir J. Hawkshaw, and 100 members of the British Association, left the Clifton Down station in a train kindly provided by the Midland Railway Company.* On arriving at Avonmouth, Ihe party flrst inspected the works in progress at tbe docks. Having made the tour of the basin, they descended to the invert, and walked to' the foot bf tho gradient: of 1 in 10, which leads from the bottom^ of the basin to the top of the dam, a distance of 500 feet. The Handyside Cooapany's engine waa standing on the incline, retained in its position by its automatic gripping struts. It' was then ran up the grade and suddenly stopped, to see if the grips would bite the rails instantaneously, which tbey did most perfectly. The break wagon; also pro« vided with grips, was then coupled to j the engine, ita weight being about 13 ' tons, the engine ran up the incline at a good pace, suddenly stopped, and the break wagons gripped at once. Steam was used by tbe engine to endeavor to force the grip to slide, but without; effect. The power used was between three aod four tons, proving that on the incline of I in 10, one pair of grips wpuld hold between 30 apd .40 'ton's with safety. Owing to some slight accident to a plummer block early in the morning, the power: of the winding engine could not be practically shown, but it may be taken as a fact that it has already worked well at the Avonmouth Docks in drawing up excavations for the contractor. It mast have been a great disappointment to the patentee and inventor, Mr H. Handyside, hid not being able to demonstrate his system according to the programme laid out. Still, be must have been in a measure reconciled td tho situation when listening to the commendations of Sir John Hawkshaw and others of the association." . , The Bristol Post of the same data has the following additional remarks in reference to this invention: — "The specialty of the engine is that it is both a locomotive and a traction engine. The engine proceeds itself bp the incline, and having traversed a certain distance, becomes stationary, and firmly fixed upon the rails by selfacting gripping struts or shoes. The train is then attached by a steel chain, or steel wire rope, which is wound round a drum mounted in the framing of the engine. The axis or shaft of this drum works horizontally in the main framing of the engine, and is rotated direct, or with more advantage by gearing from a separate pair "of cylinders. The inventor, in the paper which he read on Saturday, stated tbat one of the engines had been working at Avonmouth very successfully, and that where previously they had required to use one engine (, r bringing tbe trucks to the foot of the incline, one ou the top to haul the loaded wagons to the top, and again a third engine or a locomotive for hauling the stuff to where it was required to be taken by the contractor, this engine had sufficed, thus performing the duty of three. Tbe locomotive was eeen at work upon a gradient of 1 in 10, and the suddenness with which it' was pulled up showed how powerful was the break when the grip was down upon the rail. The whole pressure of steam waa turned on, and this, added to the weight of the engine, 24 tons, failed to back it down the steep incline. Owing to eome temporary disarrangement of tbe winding gear, the party were unable to see tbe traction put at work, but, with that which they saw, Sir John Hawkshaw and many of the party expressed themselves gratified." , ;