The steam
tramway engines, temporarily employed at Portrush, are made by Messrs.
Wilkinson, of Wigan, and are generally considered as satisfactory as
any of the various tramway engines. They have a pair of vertical
cylinders, 8 inches diameter and one foot stroke, and work at a boiler
pressure of 120 lb., the total weight of the engine being 7 tons. The
electrical car with which the comparison is made has a dynamo weighing
13 cwt., and the tare of the car is 52 cwt. The steam-engines are
capable of drawing a total load of about 12 tons up the hill,
excluding the weight of the engine; the dynamo over six tons,
including its own weight; hence, weight for weight, the dynamo will
draw five times as much as the steam-engine. Finally, compare the
following estimates of cost. From actual experience, the steam-engine,
taking an average over a week, costs--
L s. d.
Driver's wages. 1 10 0
Cleaner's " 0 12 0
Coke, 581/2 cwt. at 25s. per ton. 3 13 11/2
Oil, 1 gallon at 3s. 1d. 0 3 1
Tallow, 4 lb. at 6d. 0 2 0
Waste, 8 lb. at 2d. 0 1 4
Depreciation, 15 per cent. on L750. 2 3 3
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Total. L8 4 91/2
The distance run was 312 miles. Also, from actual experience, the
electrical car, drawing a second behind it, and hence providing for
the same number of passengers, consumed 18 lb.
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