. Revised and enlarged ed. of the science of railways . rtraying its growthfrom the rude device of Hero down to compar-atively recent times. In this chapter I proposeto describe the locomotive as it is to-day. Mankind looks upon the locomotive as com-plete—as a perfect entity. This, however, is amistake. Many problems in connection with itare still unsolved, or, at least, only partially dilticulty has been, and is, to accomplishwithin a compass so limited, within confines sonarrow, in connection with so restless and unsta-ble a body, what the ingenuity of man seeks invain to attain sati
. Revised and enlarged ed. of the science of railways . rtraying its growthfrom the rude device of Hero down to compar-atively recent times. In this chapter I proposeto describe the locomotive as it is to-day. Mankind looks upon the locomotive as com-plete—as a perfect entity. This, however, is amistake. Many problems in connection with itare still unsolved, or, at least, only partially dilticulty has been, and is, to accomplishwithin a compass so limited, within confines sonarrow, in connection with so restless and unsta-ble a body, what the ingenuity of man seeks invain to attain satisfactorily wdiere every condi-tion is favorable. I shall not attempt to point out specifically thedefects of the locomotive, but merely to describeit as it is. In doing this, however, I shall indi-rectly call attention to the things yet to beachieved; at least it will have this effect withexperts and others familiar with the machineand its limitations. And in relation to the partswhich are apparently perfect, they are but steps 62 RAILWAY DESCRIPTION OF LOCOMOTIVE. 63 on the ladder leading, to something better. Itwill, for this reason, do good to keep them prom-inently in mind. Man grows, and, with him, theappliances he uses. All that is necessary toensure his utensils being bettered is that heshould set to work to make them better. Thesecond object I have in view in describing thelocomotive is to familiarize those who have nopractical knowledge of it (and never will have)with its construction and working. Every rail-road man should possess this knowledge. With-out it his education is incomplete. Its possessionwill broaden his intelligence and render himmore valuable to the com-pany he serves. This truthis so self-evident that it doesnot need argument or illus-tration. The end sought in a loco-motive is to draw the loaddesired with the least ex-penditure, including in thelatter material and w ear andtear. In the case of passen-ger engines speed is a fac-tor. In Gr
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