Wellington
The big impediment revealed by the first two engines was the state of the permanent way and the lack of any cushioning suspension. The track was often carelessly laid and with rails of only 3ft in length there were frequent derailments. He devised a new chair and used half-lap joints between the rails instead of butt-joints. Wrought iron replaced cast iron wheels and he used the steam pressure of the boiler to provide a shock-absorber suspension for the engine. These improvements were detailed in a patent filed with the iron-founder Mr. Losh of Newcastle on 30 September 1816.
Together with the head viewer, Nicholas Wood, Stephenson conducted in 1818 a careful series of measurements on friction and the effects of inclines, or declivities as they were generally called, using a dynamometer which they developed. These were to stand him in good stead in later developments of the railways.
Engines constructed on these principles from 1816 were being used until 1841 as locomotives and until 1856 as stationery engines. One of these was called Wellington and another My Lord.
Read more about this topic: Killingworth Locomotives
Famous quotes containing the word wellington:
“When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte,
As every child can tell,
The House of Peers, throughout the war,
Did nothing in particular,
And did it very well:”
—Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)
“Something is about to happen. Leaves are still.
Two shores away, a man hammering in the sky.
Perhaps he will fall.”
—Alfred Wellington Purdy (b. 1919)
“An age and a faith moving into transition,
the dinner cold and new-baked bread a failure,”
—Alfred Wellington Purdy (b. 1919)