English: Logging locomotive for wooden track by the Curtis Manufacturing Company, of St. Louis, Scientific American, January 23, 1897, page 59.

LOGGING LOCOMOTIVE FOR WOODEN TRACK.

Our publication on August 1 of a cut and description of a logging locomotive, which the designer termed a steam missionary, has brought to our office a photograph of a machine which the builders think is "an improvement on Mr. Stephens' locomotive." It will be seen from the illustration that the locomotive in questionis an eight wheeled geared tram engine built especially for logging use. The wheels are 30 inches in diameter, with a double flanged 12 inch face; and they are mounted in sets of four on flexible trucks, so as to allow easy running on very rough roads. All the wheels are used as drivers. The engines have cylinders 7 inches in diameter by 10 inches stroke, and by means of cut gearing run a countershaft. From this countershaft the front axle of the rear truck is driven by a heavy steel chain ; the back axle of the front truck being driven by chains from the back trucks. The sprocket wheels are double flanged, so as to prevent the chain from running off. All the gearing is made of cast steel. Both the front and rear axles of the locomotive. as will be seen from the engraving, are run by means of side connecting rods. The 40 horse power boiler, which is of a special locomotive type, is fed by a small duplex pump. The locomotive is also provided with a steam siphon for drawing water into the tanks. It has been in use for some months on a rough wooden track, hauling from 30,000 to 40,000 feet of logs per day.

The total (cost of building the wooden track is from $300 to $400 per mile, according to the class of country on which it runs. Where the ground is rather swampy, it requires several small bridges, but on ordinary level ground the cost does not exceed $300. This machine is so geared as to take ordinary loads at from four to six miles per hour, and if first-class track is furnished, the speed will be considerably greater.

The Curtis Manufacturing Company, of St. Louis, who are the builders, state that this engine, which is run by two men. is doing work which formerly required thirty yoke of oxen and five men.

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