73

E.—l

Enclosure 11. REPORT of Teials made with the Westinghouse Continuous Aib-Beake on the Wellington and Masteeton Railway, 25th March, 1876. The train upon which the trials were made consisted of a Tank Engine (4 wheels coupled), a Guard's Van and three Passenger Cars (6-wheeled), the total weight being estimated as follows:— Tons. cwts. qrs. lbs. 1 Engine ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 0 0 0 1 Van ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 16 2 0 3 Cars ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 5 2 0 Passengers ... ... ... ... ... 0 10 0 0 Total ... ... _... 37 12 0 0 The length of train without Engine was 133 feet. The Engine and Guard's Van had the air-brake mechanism, connected to the ordinary hand-brake fitted with wooden blocks. The Cars had cast-iron blocks. The brakes on Engine and Van were so arranged that they could be worked by hand in the usual way, independently of the air-brake. The air-brake fittings were such that the blocks could be controlled by the Driver or Guard on every wheel in the train. The compressed air, for the application of the brake-power by the Guard, was stored in a reservoir under the Van. The following aro particulars of the various experiments devised to test the application of the brako under the varied circumstances attending trains in motion, as taken by several persons; in some cases a slight difference of time was reported, and in such cases the moan time was adopted:—

No. and Nature of Test. State Speed in of Miles Kails, per Hour. Gradient. Time of stop from application of Brake to absolute rest. Distanco run from application of Brake to absolute rest. Wind. 1. Ordinary Station Stop with air-brake applied by Driver, steam being first shut off Seconds. Yards. Dry 30 ... 17 108 c Dry calm. 2. Ordinary Station Stop, hand-brake applied on Engine and Van, steam being first shut off 32 ... 40 127 j> u 3. Air-brake applied from Engine, steam shut off, and Engine reversed, but no steam applied 26 1 in 166 16 133 down n jj 4. Air-brake applied from Engine, Engine reversed and steam applied Greasy 30 1 in 227 20 181 down » 5. Brake applied from Engine, full steam on. Engine in third notch Damp 33-32 1 in 440 18 222 down ;> 6. Stop made at given point as if for water Exactly opposite. 7. Time disconnecting and connecting Cars with air-brake attached Disconnecting, 0 sees.; connecting, 10 sees. 8. Time ditto without air-brake ... 9. Time taken by pump to restore pressure in reservoir (of Engine only) after brake had been used K 7 ' Pressure raised from zero to 50 lbs. in 44 sees. 60 „ 52 „ 70 „ 62 „ 80 „ 76 „ „ „ 90 „ 92 „ L » n 100 „ 124 „