Darjeeling Himalayan Railway locomotive by Sharp, Stewart, & Co., Glasgow.

Original description says: Mr. P. J. Wright, to whom we are indebted for the photograph and information, says that the principal upward traffic is rice — and downward tea - as well as a good deal of passenger travel. Darjiling is the terminus of the little railway, and is every year visited by tourists from all quarters of the globe to see the little railway and to enjoy a sight of the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, 29,000 ft. above sea level, in the main range of the Himalayas. In our illustration the man next the engine is Engineman Duncan, and to his left is Engineman and Mechanic P.J. Wright, who was formerly connected with this road. The journey by train from Silligore to Darjiling, which is 7000 ft. high, is done in 6 hours, including 1 hour 25 minutes stoppage for water, fueling and refreshments along the line. The average gradient being 1 in 30. The sharpest curve being 75 ft. radius. A few of the principal dimensions are as follows: Weight of Engine in Working Order — 14 tons; weight on driving wheels, 7 tons 10 cwt.; weight on leading wheels, 6 tons 10 cwt. Diameter of Wheels — 2 ft. 2 ins.; diameter of cylinder, II ins. The engine's Length of Stroke — 14 ins. Heating Surface of Tubes — 276 lineal ft; of fire box, 40 ft.Fire Grate — Length, 3 ft. 7/16 ins.; breadth, 11 ins.T otal Grate Area — 8.75 sq. ft. The water tanks arc variously placed on the engine, the saddle tank, one under boiler and one under the cylinders holding in all 400 imperial gallons. The engines are fitted with Walschaerts valve gear, and they do their work remarkably well.

"Railway and locomotive engineering : a practical journal of railway motive power and rolling stock" (1900s). Scan from the Internet Archive of Book Images. (Admin)

Date: 2014-09-02
Owner: Gallery Administrator
Size:
Full size: 1338x924