Re-enactment of the Rainhill trials at Carrog.

[brian1951]

Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaL9hRA ... -ZKJaxrVX0

[Mountain Goat]

Was good. The three engines in the trials were not the only locos in existance in those days. The Neath locomotive works at Neath Abbey in Wales had built quite a few along with Stevensons works in England and others. Some locos were more useful for powering pumps for mines as a small compact steam engine that could be used to where it was needed was far more useful to the colliery owners then the massive beam engines that had been needed in the past, so we must remember the needs of the owners at the time. After all. A pump is far more useful to get rid of water so coal could be accessed down a mine, as one could move coal waggons by horses and such a useful and compact engine was a huge investment in its day. Hence why the colliery owners were often more likely to use some of these early designs as semi-stationary semi-moveable engines.

Another thing to consider is how much information had been shared between those who were making these early locomotives from Trevithics first steam locomotive which ran between late 1803 and 1804 (1804 it was officially trialled) onwards to many others. Both Neath and Stephensons locomotive works were in communication sharing ideas and plans. One of the largest shared improvements were the invention of the safety valve as this was something the first few locomotives along with stationary engines had issues with. This film also demonstrates how many improvements have been designed since those days.

[Chops]

A most insightful film. To my recollection, the elder Stephenson was heard to remark to his son, regarding the favored Novelty, “don’t worry about that one son, she ain’t got no goots.” It is also my impression that Stephenson, Sr. was precisely aware of the superiority of the multiple flues, from his intense research regarding a miner’s lamp, that would not ignite coal seam gas. Another point of interest is that the Rocket’s boiler was tested hydrostatically, using cold pumped in water, to detect leaks and such. One surviving letter from Jr. to Sr. Discusses the alarming bulge, of 3/8th of an inch, under 50 psi of static water pressure, of the boiler backhead, and what was to be done? The solution was a series of stays holding the back head from bursting, or warping, which would detach the flues. Lastly, no small consideration, and I’ve never seen a reference to it, is how did water get moved from the tender to the boiler? It seems a reliable and simple one way valve was used to allow water to be pumped into the boiler, but in 1827 one could not go out and purchase a length of rubber hose; it did not exist. Closest thing I’ve heard is something about a stitched leather affair, but nothing specific.