Experiment (locomotive)

Experiment was a steam locomotive designed and built by Richard Roberts in 1833 for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR). The locomotive had vertical cylinders driving via bell cranks.

L&MR 32 Experiment
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Richard Roberts Builder Sharp, Roberts and Co. Build date February 1833
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-2-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) Cylinders Two, vertical Cylinder size 13+1⁄3 in × 18 in (339 mm × 457 mm)
Career Operators Liverpool and Manchester Railway Disposition Sold December 1836; later scrapped

History

L&MR No.32^[1] Experiment was built in 1833 with vertical cylinders mounted just behind the chimney, driving the wheels via a bell crank. The locomotive also had piston valves. These valves were probably the reason that the design was not a success, rather than the bell crank transmission, which was used successfully in other locomotives.^[2] Another reason that the locomotive was not successful was steam leakage from the cylinders.^[1] Experiment was withdrawn after a few months.^[2]

Three similar locomotives were built for the Dublin and Kingstown Railway.^[1] Locomotives to this design were built for the Dundee and Newtyle Railway, but they were soon altered.^[2]