This engine is also of the Side Crank, Side Gear pattern, the engine
is mounted upon the side of the boiler, upon a long heater, which
is securely bolted to the boiler by three brackets. It is of the
Locomotive Guide pattern, and has a cross-head pump. The cylinder rests
its full length upon the heater and is lagged. It has the link reverse
gear and plain slide valve, Friction Clutch, Injector, Automatic Sight
Feed Lubricator, Governor, Extension Front and Straight Stack. The hand
steering wheel is on the opposite side from the band wheel.
The boiler is of the round bottom fire box style with double riveted
seams, and has a dome in the center, and is mounted upon the wheels in
the rear with a wrought iron axle which passes around underneath the
boiler and is held in place by brackets attached to the side of the
boiler.
These brackets contain springs.
The traction wheels are of the cast iron rim style, with wrought
iron spokes cast in both rim and hub and mud cleats are cast on rim.
The foot board is furnished with a water tank and tool box and all
necessary fittings and attachments are supplied to make a complete
traction engine.
[Illustration: Nichols & Shepard Traction Engine.]
Q. What harm would result from firing for a short time without the bar?
A. None to speak of to furnace or grate bars, but the quantity of air
admitted to the fire box would make it exceedingly hard to keep up
steam and the hole thus made would cause a great loss of fuel.
Q. What should be done if a bar in a rocker grate should fall out?
A. Take a piece of flat wrought iron and cut it to fit the bearings,
this will do for some time and will not interfere with the rocking
of the bars. Or, take a heavy piece of plank, covering the opening
completely, and cover the plank carefully with ashes, surrounding it on
all sides to protect it as much as possible from the fire.
Q. Will not this latter prevent the rocking of the grate?
A. Yes, and it can only be cleaned by raking out from underneath.
Q. How should such difficulties be avoided?
A. A good engineer will always have on hand at least two or three extra
grate bars.
Q. Should a boiler be forced beyond its normal capacity?
A. Never force a boiler beyond its normal capacity, as such excessive
firing distorts the fire sheets and results in leaks and fractures.
Q. Should intense fires be started in or under boilers?
A. Never build an intense fire in or under a boiler until the shell is
well heated. Hot fires in or under cold boilers hurry their destruction.