PREFACE.
In connection with the marvellous growth of our railway system there is nothing of so paramount importance and interest as the evolution of the locomotive steam engine.
At the present time it is most important to place on record the actual facts, seeing that attempts have been made to disprove the correctness of the known and accepted details relative to several interesting, we might almost write historical, locomotives.
In this work most diligent endeavours have been made to chronicle only such statements as are actually correct, without reference to personal opinions.
In a broad sense, and taken as a whole, the old works on locomotive history may be accepted as substantially correct.
From these, therefore, and from authentic documents provided by the various railways, locomotive builders, and designers, together with the result of much original research, has the earlier portion of this account of the evolution of the locomotive steam engine been constructed. The various particulars of modern locomotive practice have been kindly supplied by the locomotive superintendents of the different British railways, so that no question can arise as to the strict accuracy of this portion of the work.
Nearly forty years ago it was authoritatively stated: “That kind of knowledge of the locomotive engine which answers the purpose of a well-informed man has already become so popular that it almost amounts to ignorance to be without it. Locomotive mechanism is very simple in its elementary nature, and the mind is naturally disposed to receive and retain any adequate explanation of striking phenomena, whether mechanical or otherwise; and hence it is that there are thousands of persons who, although in no way concerned in the construction or working of railway engines, are nevertheless competent to give a fair general explanation of their structure and mode of working.”
If such were true at that time it is abundantly evident that it is more so at the threshold of the 20th century, considering the growth of inquiry into, and appreciation of, scientific and mechanical knowledge by an ever widening and increasing circle of general readers, which has been one of the marked signs of intellectual development during recent years. Under such circumstances it is not surprising that the locomotive and its history have received a large share of public attention. Whilst railway officers, with the intelligence for which they are justly distinguished, have always evinced a proper desire to be acquainted with the evolution of the “steam horse,” the spread of education has increased and quickened a desire for knowledge concerning the locomotive amongst all classes in a remarkable manner. Many of the numerous illustrations that embellish the book have been specially collected for the purpose, and several will be quite new to the majority of readers. Special pains have been taken to admit only such illustrations the authenticity of which was known to the author, and for the same reason many otherwise interesting pictures, upon the accuracy of which suspicion rested, were excluded from the collection.
Despite these exclusions, we believe that no other book on locomotive history in the English language is so fully illustrated.
As it is proposed to deal with the railway locomotive only, it is not necessary to make more than a passing reference to the more or less crude proposals of Sir Isaac Newton, the Marquess of Worcester, Savery, Dr. Robinson, Leupold, and other writers and scientists, who hinted at the possibility of steam locomotion. Nor does the writer propose to discuss the alleged use of railways and steam locomotives in Germany at a date prior to their general introduction into England. The claims of Cugnot, Symington, Evans, Murdoch, and others as builders or designers of actual or model steam road locomotives will also be passed without discussion.
We take this opportunity of expressing our sincere thanks to the locomotive superintendents of British railways, who have all been so willing to assist the author, not only in supplying accurate data concerning the locomotives of their own design, but also for so kindly revising the portions of the volume that relate to the locomotive history of the particular railway with which each one of these gentlemen is connected.
In conclusion, we leave the “Evolution of the Steam Locomotive” to the kindly consideration of our readers, hoping that from a perusal of it they may derive both information and pleasure.
December, 1898.