CHARLES HUTTON GREGORY.

London, March, 1841.

PRACTICAL RULES, &c.

THE MANAGEMENT OF A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE IN THE STATION.

The careful examination of a Locomotive Engine when in the Station, and
its judicious management while running, are essential to the full
performance of its duty, and to ensure the safety of the passengers by
the train.

While an Engine is stopping at the Station before a trip, the fire should
be properly kept up,--the tubes clear at both ends,--and the fire-bars
picked free from clinkers: the regulator should be closed and
locked,--the tender-break screwed down tight,--the reversing-lever fixed
in the middle position, so that the slides may be out of gear,--the cocks
of the oil-vessels and feed-pipes turned off,--and the steam blowing off
from the safety-valve at a pressure of 35 lbs. per square inch; if
blowing off in any excess, the waste steam may be turned into the
Tender-cistern to heat the water, and the door of the smoke-box may be
opened to check the fire, but it should be fastened up again 10 or 15
minutes before the time of starting.

Before an Engine starts with a train, the attention of the Engine-man
should first be directed to its being in complete working order; with
this view he should go beneath the Engine, and carefully examine the
working gear in detail.

The connecting-rod is a very important part, and more liable perhaps than
any other to fail for want of proper examination. The cotters must be
secure, and in case the brasses have too much play they must be tightened
up; observing, however, that brasses should never be set so hard as to
cause friction. If there are set-screws at the side of the cotters, they
should be tight, and all cotters should have a split-pin at the bottom
for greater security. The cotters which fasten the piston-rods to the
cross-heads should be firm in their place, as well as the set-screws,
keys, or other connections, by which the feed-pump pistons are secured to
the piston-rod.

The brasses of the inner framing which carry the inside bearings of the
cranked axle must be examined, and any considerable play prevented by
screwing them up if necessary. The wheels ought to be accurately square
and firm on their axles, and the keys driven up tight. All the pins,
bolts, &c., by which the slide-valve gear is connected, the
lifting-links, and the slings of the slide-spindles, must be secure