Letter to Robert Stephenson and George Stephenson

Liverpool 8 January 1828

Dear Robert,
The Liverpool Railway Company have ordered a Loco-motive Engine to be made for them as soon as possible, on the plan we fixed upon when you & I parted – I here send you a scetch of the Boiler – I think it ought not to be longer than 8 feet and about 4 feet diameter – The tube for the coke about 30 inches diameter & the two side tubes about 8 or 9 inches – You will observe I have allowed the Water to flow as much round the mouth of the tube as possible as that will be the hotest part. I think it would be best to put angle iron round the corners of the tubes, and also the end flange - I think you may get the tubes nearer to the end of the Boiler than I have shewn – This you and Elliot can fix upon, which is the best method of turning them - And you must
[in lhs margin, at right angles]
I have got into a fine hobble by giving Dickinson an order for Chairs, by the neglect of he and Crabey as I am plagued about them every day.

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all make up your minds that there is not to be one particle of water or steam to be seen _ There should be as much pains taken with the Chimney as any other part of the Boiler. I think it should stand about 15ft. 6in from the level of the Rail with a very nice ornamental top - I think you ought to put some strong stays from the end of the Tube to the far end of the Boiler; as you will find by calculation there will be a great force against the fire-door-end of the Boiler as you cannot make this end of the Boiler egg shaped| – You will make wooden spoked wheels for this engine I think we will make the Tender for the water Barrel and bellows here so that you need not send us any axles or eccentrics for that purpose - The Company expect this Engine will be here in about 3 months – If this Engine turns out well it will give a good effect to this concern -
Could you not put a vessel upon the bottom of the Boiler something like what I have shewn to heat the water for feeding the Boiler – If you put it on this way the exhausting pipe should turn up against the boiler to prevent the water being thrown out by the steam. When you get your Plan completed send me a sketch _
Let us have a full account of Brandreth’s carriage, & all the news from Darlington -
Your afft. Father
Geo Stephenson

P.S. The small tubes will not require to be so strong as the other parts of the Boiler and you must take care that you have no thick plates and thin ones as is often the case with those which come from Bedlington.

You must calculate that this Engine will be for all the Engineers in the Kingdom nay indeed the World to look at - Do you think you could try a pair of bellows to the Darlington Engine that went last?
G S
Will you desire Mr. Longridge to let me know whether he accepted the order for the Bottom Rails or not, as he never answered my letter to that purpose- And if he has taken it, when we may expect them deli’d__