, and others to haul
the engine back to the work-shops. It was constantly getting out of
order; its plugs, pumps, or cranks, got wrong; it was under repair as
often as at work; at length it became so cranky that the horses were
usually sent out after it to drag it when it gave up; and the workmen
generally declared it to be a "perfect plague." Mr. Blackett did not
obtain credit amongst his neighbours for these experiments. Many laughed
at his machines, regarding them only in the light of
crotchets,--frequently quoting the proverb that "a fool and his money are
soon parted." Others regarded them as absurd innovations on the
established method of hauling coal; and pronounced that they would "never
answer."

Notwithstanding, however, the comparative failure of this second
locomotive, Mr. Blackett persevered with his experiments. He was
zealously assisted by Jonathan Foster the engine-wright, and William
Hedley, the viewer of the colliery, a highly ingenious person, who proved
of great use in carrying out the experiments to a successful issue. One
of the chief causes of failure being the rack-rail, the idea occurred to
Mr. Hedley that it might be possible to secure adhesion enough between
the wheel and the rail by the mere weight of the engine, and he proceeded
to make a series of experiments for the purpose of determining this
problem. He had a frame placed on four wheels, and fitted up with
windlasses attached by gearing to the several wheels. The frame having
been properly weighted, six men were set to work the windlasses; when it
was found that the adhesion of the smooth wheels on the smooth rails was
quite sufficient to enable them to propel the machine without slipping.
Having found the proportion which the power bore to the weight, he
demonstrated by successive experiments that the weight of the engine
would of itself produce sufficient adhesion to enable it to draw upon a
smooth railroad the requisite number of waggons in all kinds of weather.
And thus was the fallacy which had heretofore prevailed on this subject
completely exploded, and it was satisfactorily proved that rack-rails,
toothed wheels, endless chains, and legs, were alike unnecessary for the
efficient traction of loaded waggons upon a moderately level road.

From this time forward considerably less difficulty was experienced in
working the coal trains upon the Wylam tramroad. At length the rack-rail
was dispensed with. The road was laid with