|
This Engine was built by Richard Trevithick, a Cornish miner, in
consequence of a wager of 1000 guineas that he would convey a load
of iron a distance of 9 miles into "Merthyr Tydvil",
South Wales, upon a cast iron tramroad by the power of steam
alone.
The engine was finished in 1804 and succeeded in accomplishing the
feat of drawing after it several wagons containing 10 tons of iron
bar at the rate of 5 miles an hour, but it was ill constructed
machine and having got out of order it was deserted by its
builder. The boiler was cylindrical in form, flat at the ends and
made of cast iron; the furnace and flues were inside the boiler in
which a single cylinder of 8" dia. and 54" stroke was
immersed.
In this engine was first employed the "force draught"
created by the steam, for working without a high stack, the
exhaust system being turned into the stack about a foot above its
junction with the boiler. |
Table of
Contents
