The DeWitt Clinton was not a success. Its design had some flaws. The engine did not provide a safe place for the engineer, who has to also stoke the boiler. However the reason for its failure was that it was found it could not generate enough power. It was limited in traveling below 15 miles per hour. Its inaugural run was August 9, 1831. It was built for the Mohawk and Hudson railroad. The Clinton was a small engine. There was poor draft across the fire which limited its power. After 1831 it was overhauled. It ran for a couple months and then was stored for the winter. It also ran in 1832, but was scrapped after that year. The coaches were actually stagecoaches mounting to railroad wheels. The original having been scrapped it lives on only in replicas. A replica is on display at the Ford Museum.
Info gleaned from Model Railroader May 1979.
No comments:
Post a Comment