Ebook The History and Development of Steam Locomotion on Common Roads

In dealing with Steam Transport on Common Roads the following division of the subject is usually adopted: -

1. Road Locomotives for the conveyance of Passengers, Parcels, and light goods at quick speeds.

2. Road Locomotives for Heavy Haulage and the conveyance of goods at slow speeds.

3. Agricultural Locomotives for use on farms.

In the present work the history of steam locomotion has been traced from the earliest down to modern times. The engines belonging to the first division being fully illustrated and described; the latter portion of the book also contains illustrations and much practical information relating to road locomotives placed under the second head.

The book is divided into seven sections: -

Introduction.

The Period of Speculation.

The Period of Experiment.

The Period of Successful Application.

The Modern Period.

Practical Notes on the Design and Construction of Road Locomotives.

Traction Engine Law.

The first five sections are chiefly historical, the Modern Period, however, contains many useful notes and tables of dimensions.

This work is a far more exhaustive treatise on this subject than has hitherto been attempted. There is not a book in existence which gives anything like a complete history of steam locomotion on common roads.