LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES.

671

and in some instances gas distilled from “burning fluid” is usedin the lamps, the latter improving the brilliancy of the light.

A sand box is fitted to the top of the body of the boiler, withpipes passing down in front of the driving wheels, and is fitted withvalves, levers, and rods, passing along to the platform; by this meansthe rails can be sanded simultaneously. These boxes are elaboratein design, and in some instances support the bracket for the greatbell, by this means lessening the number of fixtures attached tothe body of the boiler.

The blow-off plug valves, heating and lubricating taps, are similarin construction to those in British practice.

The hand rail is placed somewhat higher up than in Britishengines, and passes along from the front of the cab, and across atthe front of the smoke box, the long studs or pillars for supportingit being secured to the body of the boiler and to the smoke box.

Cylinder and slide valve .—The cylinders are generally arrangedoutside of the framing, lying horizontally in some and diagonallyin others, the inclination varying to suit the requirements.The cylinders are of cast iron, and great attention is paid tosecure the best quality of material. They are cast open at bothends, the bearing surface of the covers being outside of theinternal diameter, flanges being cast on for securing the coversthereto. The steam ehest is jointed to the cylinder, not castalong with it as in British practice, thus simplifying the Casting,the joint being metal to metal, carefully faced and scraped, andsecured with bolts or studs in the usual manner. A port is cast onthe cylinder for the admission of the steam from the boiler, whichenters the valve casing through a rectangular port. The fasteningof the cylinders to the smoke box is effectually carried out by meansof brackets cast along with the cylinder, which have flanges forbolting to the top of the framing, and to the underside of the roundsmoke box, while some have the cylinders cast together.

In other examples a separate Casting, termed a saddle, is placedbetween the framing of the engine, and is curved to the round ofthe smoke box, to which it is bolted, as likewise a flange rests oneach frame, both surfaces being accurately planed and stronglysecured together; a flange, turned downwards, takes the inside ofeach frame, the whole making an extremely strong fasteningbetween the framing and the smoke box. The exhaust passage forthe waste steam is cast along with the saddle piece, whilst the