Trevithick’s next best known locomotive, his _Catch-me-who-can_, is
represented in the national collection by a 9-inch-long nonoperable
model (USNM 244889). The model (figure 62) was transferred to the Museum
from the U. S. Department of the Interior in 1906. Nothing further is
known of its origin.
The original _Catch-me-who-can_, built for Trevithick by Hazeldine and
Rastrick of Bridgnorth, was exhibited in the summer of 1808 in London on
a small circular railway laid down on part of the ground now occupied by
Euston Square. The public was charged admission to enter a small
enclosure to view the demonstration or ride in a small car pulled by the
locomotive.
As on his 1804 locomotive, a single cylinder projecting partly within
the end of the boiler was used, but it was vertical instead of
horizontal. The rear wheels only were driven, actuated by long, return
connecting rods attached to the ends of a wide crosshead. Because of the
necessary arrangement of the cranks on the ends of the rear axle, it was
entirely possible for the engine to stop on dead center. This was
likewise a fault of the 1804 locomotive, which had a single crank.
The engine is said to have weighed 8 tons and to have traveled at a
speed of 12 miles an hour, but troubles with the track ultimately
brought the demonstrations to a halt. No dimensions are known today of
the original _Catch-me-who-can_, which has long since disappeared.
[Illustration: Figure 62.—Model of Trevithick _Catch-me-who-can_,
1808.]