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Posted in Articles by Robert A. Chant. (Last activity on Sunday, November 01, 2020 at 10:34:00 AST.)

'Samson' and 'Albion' Locomotives: An Assessment of Current Conditions and Recommendations for Restoration

By Michael R. Bailey and John P. Glithero, July 7, 1993 (Members of the Friends of the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, members of the Newcomen Society.)

5.1 Overall dimensions.

Gauge:-	4' 8½"
Overall length:-	19'7" (Engine alone)
Wheel Arrangement:-	0-6-0, centre set flangeless. Front two axles only sprung.
Wheel diameter:-	48"
Wheel base:-	8' 8", equally divided.
Wheel type:-	Hackworth's 'Plug' wheels.
Cylinders:-	15" bore, 16½" stroke, vertical, driving rear wheels.
Cross head guidance:-	Variation of Watt's parallel motion.
Valve gear:-	Gabs.
Boiler:-	4' 4" diameter, 13' 4" long. Return flue.
Frame:-	None.
Tender:-	Originally probably two, one at the front carrying coal, one at the rear carrying water. Finally, one tender carrying both coal and water at the front, now missing.
Builder and date:-	Timothy Hackworth, 1838

5.2 General Description.

A plate on the right hand cylinder mounting carries the inscription "Timothy Hackworth New Shildon August 1838". Many of the features are characteristic of Hackworth's goods locomotives of the late 1830s, but some are distinctly atypical.

Figures 1 and 2 show "Samson" as it was at the end of its working life. These have been prepared by referring to old photographs and examining the engine.

Features typical of Hackworth in 1838:-

the wheel arrangement, type and size,
the springs and mounting brackets,
the boiler, type and size,
no frame,
vertical cylinders
use of a parallel link motion,
gab valve gear,
short stroke boiler feed pumps,
walk way round engine,
the valve chests offset vertically from cylinder centre.

Features not typical of Hackworth:-

the general arrangement, i.e., vertical cylinders driving the rear wheels directly and the boiler front overhang,
the "tail" on the boiler,
the exhaust pipe passing through the boiler,
the particular type of parallel motion,
one tender only as shown on photographs,
the chimney and front end cowling,
the tow hook on the rear buffer beam.

5.3 The General Arrangement.

Figure 3 shows the outlines of all the classes of Hackworth's goods engines. No contemporary drawings exist for the "Enterprise" class and so this sketch in particular cannot be relied on. It is very noticeable that the boiler on "Samson" overhangs at the front more than on any other locomotive. It will also be seen that after 1829 Hackworth always used an intermediate shaft with vertical cylinders. Another unique feature is the 'tail' on the back of the boiler, as discussed below.