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BALDTVIN LOCOMOTIVE XVORKS. 9
case and uniformity. She proceeded about half a mile beyond the Union Tavern, at the
township line, and returned immediately, a distance of six miles, at a speed of about twenty-
eight miles to the hour, her speed having been slackened at all the road crossings, and it being
after dark, but a portion of her power was used. It is needless to say that the spectators were
delighted. From this experiment there is every reason to believe this engine will draw thirty
tons gross, at an average speed of forty miles an hour, on a level road. The principal supe-
riority of the engine over any ofthe English ones known, consists in the light weight,-which
is but between four and five tons,-her small bulk, and the simplicity of her working machinery.
XVe rejoice at the result of this experiment, as it conclusively shows that Philadelphia, always
famous for the skill of her mechanics, is enabled to produce steam-engines for railroads com-
bining so many superior qualities as to warrant the belief that her mechanics will hereafter
supply nearly all the public works of this description in the country."
On subsequent trials, the “Ironsides” attaineda speed of thirtyimiles per
hour, with its usual train attached. So, great were the wonder and curiosity
which attached to such a prodigy, that people flocked to see the marvel, and
eagerly bought the privilege of riding after the strange monster. The otiicers
of the road were not slow to avail themselves of the public interest to increase
their passenger receipts, and the following advertisement from P01115011‘: Amcrz'-
‘am Daily Aa'2m'lz'.m' of Nov. 26, 1832, will show that as yet they regarded the
new machine rather as a curiosity and a bait to allure travel than as a practical,
every-day servant:
“ NOTICE.-The locomotive engine (built by M. W. Baldwin, of this city) will depart daily,
wlzm tlze raeallltr is fair, with a train of passenger cars. 01: rainy (lays lmrxes will be
zzllzu‘l1m’."
This announcement did not mean that in wet weather horses would be attached
to [I12 locamatizxe to aid it in drawing the train, but that the us'ual horse-cars
would be employed in making the trips upon the road without the engine.
Upon making the first trip to Germantown with a passenger train with the
Ironsides, one of the drivers slipped upon the axle, causing the wheels to
track less than the gauge of the road and drop in between the rails. It was
also discovered that the valve arrangement of the pumps was defective, and they
failed to supply the boiler with water. The shifting of the driving-wheel upon
the axle fastened the eccentric, so that it would not operate in backward mo-
tion. These mishaps caused delay, and prevented the engine from reaching its
destination, to the great disappointment of all concerned. They were corrected
in a few days, and the machine was used in experimenting upon its eliiciency,
making occasional trips with trains to Germantown. The road had an ascend-
ing grade, nearly uniform, of thirty-two feet per mile, and for the last half-mile
of forty-five feet per mile, and it was found that the engine was too light for the
business of the road upon these grades.
Such was Mr. Baldwin's first locomotive; and it is related of him that his
discouragement at the difficulties which he had undergone in building it and in
finally procuring a settlement for it was such that he remarked to one of his
friends, with much decision, “That is our last locomotive.”
It was some time before he received an order‘ for another, but meanwhile the