TIMOTHY HACKWORTH AND THE LOCOMOTIVE

Robert Young

Published by

The Hackworth Society

In conjunction with

The Book Guild Ltd

Sussex, England

First Published 1923

This edition 2000

Published in Great Britain by

Athaneaeum Press Ltd, Gateshead

APPENDIX N.

TIMOTHY HACKWORTH'S INVENTIONS. (Page 375.)

(Abbreviated from a " brief " prepared by the late John W. Hackworth.)

1. The Test Carriage.-Constructed in 1811 to determine the tractive force of plain wheels on smooth rails, and after various experiments, the proportionate weight of machine and load to be drawn was resolved.

2. Locomotive with Two Cylinders.-Made at Wylam in 1812 by Timothy Hackworth and Jonathan Foster. This was on four wheels, but owing to its weight, often broke the light cast-iron rails.

3. Locomotive with Eight Wheels, " Bogie Engine." To surmount the difficulties experienced with the previous engine, in 1813, Hackworth constructed an eight wheeled engine, known as the bogie or truck engine, which was in other respects similar to its predecessor, having two cylinders and the exhaust steam discharging into the chimney. Engines of these types, with but trifling alteration were used at Wylam up to 1862.

4. Side Rods instead of Chains were invented by Hackworth and first applied to the first locomotives made for the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825.

5. Double Acting Drums for Inclined Planes, 1826.These superseded single drums, i.e., a horizontal shaft carrying two drums of diameters proportioned to the respective lengths of the inclined planes. Thus the gravity and momentum of the waggons descending one incline, assisted the engine in hauling the ascending waggons up the other.

In 1827, Hackworth built the " Royal George," which decided the question of locomotive practicability, embodying the following inventions :

6. Improved Single Return Fire Flue for boiler containing double the heating surface of those previously in use.

7. The Steam Blast which increased the steam generative capabilities more than four fold.

8. Six Wheels Coupled.

9. Spring Mounted on Four Wheels.

10. Spring Balance Beams.-The original use of six coupled wheels, four of which were spring-mounted, the springs being applied so as to perform the double functions of "balance-bearns," and "bearing-springs." The novelty did not consist alone in this two-fold use; no railway locomotive had been spring-mounted before.

11. The Original Disposal of the Steam Cylinder as now used in Locomotives.-The first example of placing the cylinder central with the crank's journal and the centre of its orbit. This direct action plan is now universally practised, to the exclusion of the two former modes. Trevithick's, with the cylinder in the centre of the boiler, and a crosshead stretching across to connect the power to cranks at opposite sides of the engine; and Hackworth's plan at Wylam, known as the " grasshopper " arrangement.

12. The First Application of Springs, instead of Weights, to the Safety Valve.

13. Self-Lubricating Bearings, with a depot for oil.

14. The Short Stroked Pump.

15. Exhaust Steam Jet underneath the Fire grates.

16. Exhaust Steam to Heat Feed Water. Part of the exhaust steam used as a jet underneath the firegrates for stimulating combustion, and part, for heating the feedwater in an iron cistern.

17. The " Sanspareil " Locomotive which competed at Rainhill in 1829.

The "Globe " Locomotive, containing the following novelties.

18. A New Description of Boiler Flue, with single fire-tube and radiating small tubes across the main flue.

19. Steam Dome on Boiler for obtaining dry steam.

20. Inside Cylinders and Crank Axle.

21. Valve Gear Reversed by Single Lever.

22. Original Wrought Iron Girder Bridge, a model designed with stone piers, spanned with wrought iron plate girders.

23. Original Plan of Shipping Coals for Middlesbrough, 1830.

"Majestic" Class of Locomotive, containing the following novelties, 1830.

24. Six-Wheeled Coupled and Spring Mounted Throughout.

25. "Single Multitubular Fire-Tube."

26. Crank Shaft in Fixed Bearings without Wheels.

27. "Lap," in Slide Valves, for Working Expansively.

28. Original Use of Two Feed Pumps.

"Wilberforce" Class of Locomotive with:

29. Return Mullitubular Fire Tube, 1830.

30. Double Return or Triple Fire Tube.

31. Relieving or Equilibrium Piston, 1833, applied to the ordinary slide valve of powerful engines to simplify the operations of, stopping, starting or reversing the engines.

32. "Trunk" Engine. - The " Trunk," or "Ram” engine-commonly known as "Penn's Trunk Engine"_ was originated by Mr. Hackworth in 1835. He first applied it to an incline engine, with a forty inch cylinder, and a thirty inch stroke. It was erected at the top of "Black Boy " Incline, and was only taken down in 1874.

33. Double Trunk Engine. -The "Double Trunk” said to be a second invention of Mr. Penn - Mr. Hackworth introduced into a locomotive he made for Russia in 1836.

34. Railway Carriage and Locomotive Wheels .- Mr. Hackworth invented sundry wheels both for carriages and locomotives.

35. Wheel Tyres.-The wrought-iron wheel tyre was Hackworth's invention.

36. Sledge Brake for steep gradients. The Sledgebrake, applied to passenger carriages running down steep gradients, originated with Mr. Hackworth, and was applied in 1838.

The locomotive " Sanspareil" No. 2 was built in 1849 with the following novelties:

37. Welded Boiler.

38. First Outside Slab Frame in one solid piece ot wrought iron.

39. Piston and Rod in One Piece of hammered scrap iron.

40. Passover Slide Valve.