Model of Arthur Parsey's compressed air locomotive, 1845
- Made:
- 1845
Model compressed air locomotive, constructed in 1845 to demonstrate A Parseys patents of 1839 and 1844, presented to the Directors of the Great Western Railway by the late Sir James Caird Bt. (shipowner).
This model was constructed to demonstrate A Parsey’s patents of 1839 and 1844. The locomotive was to be driven by the discharge of compressed air from the two large copper reservoirs through the cylinders, the reservoirs being re-charged at pumping stations along the route.
The system was considered but ultimately rejected by the Great Western Railway and a full-sized locomotive was not built. Compressed air locomotives were, however, widely used in later years to haul trains in mines, particularly in Germany and the USA.
Details
- Category:
- Railway Models
- Object Number:
- 1999-7793
- Measurements:
-
12 x 15 x 38 in.; 304.8 x 381 x 965.2 mm
- type:
- model locomotive
- credit:
- British Rail, Clapham