THE FASTEST LOCOMOTIVE BUILDER IN THE WORLD.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2893, 24 May 1878, Page 3

THE FASTEST LOCOMOTIVE BUILDER IN THE WORLD.

Lately in Jackson, Michigan, at the engine works of the Michigan Central Bailway, a competition, took place between two gangs of workmen as to which could soonest put a locomotive together, and send her out of the shop in running , order. - Heretofore the usual time for doing this work, with a gang of five or six men, in the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, bas been from nine days to two weeks. When, therefore, the fact was published that the same feat had been accomplished at Jackson by, Stewart, with 14 men, in 25 hours, and by Walter Eddington, with his gang in 16§ hours, the engine builders of the country were loud in their expressions of disbelief. This piqued the Jackson men; and they determined to transcend all previous efforts. Accordingly on .November 16, the parts of two new locomotives, which had never been placed together, were collected, while on the two trucks were the boilers. As the clock struck seven, two gangs of 14 each, one commanded by Robert Stewart, and the Other by WalterEddington, sprang to their work. The boilers were raised by Jacks on the massive frames, the driving-wheels secured in their places, the cylinders, Talyes, link motions, connecting rods, levers, smoke-stacks, jacket bolts, &c, numbering altogether thousands of pieces, were secured in their respective places. The fires already lighted, convert into steam the water run in shortly after the start. Eddington's gang beats the other about a minute in the finishing touches. The engineer, standing in his,place, blows the whistle,,, turns on the steam, the driving wheels revolve, and the first engine moves down the yard. A few seconds later the other, with a shrill clarion- whistle, follows its completed companion. The spectators, 200 in number, who watched every detail of the work with breathless interest, break into a cheer, to which the grimy workmen, drenched in perspiration, give a hearty echo. Two hours and fifty minutes is the record from fifty watches, and the Jackson s shops and workmen are covered with a blaze of glory. The two. engines were attached to an excursion train filled with employes, and the exultant crew went to Detroit. Each engine made the trip of 76 miles without heating a journal, and they both ran as smoothly as if they had been months in commission. Walter J. Eddington, the winner of the competition, was born in Northumberland County, Ontario, twelve miles north of Coßurg, and served his apprenticeship in Coburg, Foundry under James Davidßon, Esq., son of Mr Davidson, once manager of the Bank of Montreal, and now the Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh, and brother of James Davidson, Esq., Dunedin. If we are not mistaken, Mr Stewart is a Canadian also, and a native of Montreal.—Canadian Paper.