In Section IV. mention was made of tip-wagons supplied as an experiment to the Eaton line. These consist of steel tubs, U shaped in section, hung at each end on two trunnions riding in cast-iron pedestals, the latter being bolted to an under-frame of channel steel fitted with cast iron ends rivetted in, and so formed as to carry a drawbar with rubber cushions, to the end of which the coupler-buffer is attached. These wagons cost £20 as against £12 for the standard box wagon. They weigh 11½ cwts., and carry about this weight of coal, or a little more. Loaded with coal, they average a trifle under 24 cwt., exactly the same as the box wagon, which weighs 7½ cwt., and carries 16 to 17 cwt. of coal. Thus the paying loads of the two are as 3 to 4 for the same hauled weight. For short distances, where the emptying bears a greater proportional relation to the running time, or where the load must be got rid of in a particularly short space of time, tip-wagons may answer. For such purposes as my experience has had to deal with, they are a drawback, which, as I have previously pointed out, is increased by their inadaptability to the carriage of bulky goods. One of my strong contentions is that, on a small line, to avoid expense in rolling stock, every vehicle should be available for every purpose.
VII.
THE DUFFIELD BANK WORKSHOPS.
A brief account of my little works will be of some interest to engineers. I have already, in Section I., given an outline of my progress as a mechanic.
I will now describe the machinery by which the locomotives, carriage and wagon stock, and permanent way fittings have been constructed.
The machine-shop contains an 11 in. lathe for wheel turning, cylinder boring, and the heavier work; an 8 in. lathe for surfacing, sliding, and general work; a 7 in. lathe for screw-cutting and fine work; a 4 in. Pittler universal lathe, with a variety of automatic and other fittings, chiefly used for the smaller brass work, such as cocks, glands, lubricators, &c.; a 3 in. sliding and screw-cutting lathe, for very light work; a planing machine to take work 4 ft. by 1 ft. 6 in. by 1 ft 6 in.; an 8 in. stroke double-table shaping machine, fitted for hollow and circular shaping, specially used for machining coupling rods, &c.; a 4½ in. shaping machine with circular motion, for light work; a milling machine; a 9 in. stroke slotting-machine with compound table, for heavy work; a 2½ in. spindle drilling and boring machine; a 1¾ in. drilling machine, for general work; a screwing and tapping machine, to 1½ in. for bolts and to 2 in. for pipes; a cold-sawing machine, to cut iron up to 2¼ in. square; a slot drilling machine; a twist-drill grinding machine; two grindstones, three bench vices, and complete sets of screwing tackle and fitters’ tools.
The smith’s shop contains two fires, of which one is blown by a fan, and is suited for the heavier work; anvils for ordinary purposes and also for the treatment of angle iron, &c.; a 2½ cwt. gas hammer; a punching and shearing machine; a bench vice, and complete set of smiths’ tools.
The erecting shop contains an overhead travelling crane; an engine pit; a 30-ton hydraulic press for putting axles into wheels, crank pins into cranks, testing samples, &c.; a hand screwing and tapping machine to ¾ in. for bolts and to 1 in. for pipes; standards for fitting up frame-plates; a rivet heating forge; two bench vices, and tools for tube extracting and other special processes connected with the construction and repair of locomotives.
The iron-foundry contains a 16 in. cupola worked through a double tuyère by a “Root’s” blower; an overhead travelling crane; a core stove; charge-weighing scales; a large supply of boxes for general purposes, and special ones for cylinders, chilled-wheels, sleepers, gutters, &c., with all ladles and other appliances suitable for producing castings up to half-a-ton weight. Especial pains have been taken to turn out chilled wheels (13½ in. diameter), for the rolling stock, of perfect smoothness and of even depth of chill.
The brass foundry contains a furnace, a metal moulding bench, and the usual fittings.
The carriage shop has two lines of 15 in. gauge formed of cast plates bolted together and bedded in concrete, and contains a wood-morticing and boring machine; fitters and joiners’ vices, with every convenience for erecting, finishing, and painting two of the long 20 ft. bogie cars simultaneously, or eight of the standard wagons, according to requirements; all bulky joiners’ and carpenters’ work is also done in this shop.