Note 1 — Chapter I · THE OLD AND THE NEW ORDER OF RAILWAY LOCOMOTION

This is by no means the oldest steam-engine at work in the kingdom, the doyen being one built as far back as 1767, and used continuously ever since at Charles Clifford and Sons’ Metal-rolling Mills, Birmingham. It is of beam type, and the oak beam was only replaced at the end of last year by one of iron. In 1812 a new cylinder was put in, but the rest of the engine remains as it was 136 years ago, even to the connecting-rod for rolling-mill purposes. It is said that this G.O.M. is more economical than many of the modern engines used in the trade.