Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Latrobe Advance
Wednesday, June 15, 1881
Locomotive Boiler Feeding Made Perfect
A short time ago our attention was drawn to a very ingenious and at the same time very useful attachment on one of the engines of Ligonier Valley Railroad. It is a piece of mechanism designed to supply the boiler of the engine with a regular amount of water no matter at what speed the locomotive is running. It is attached to that part of the frame of the engine, under the boiler and over the pony wheels. Instead of looking clumsy or out of place, it fills a vacancy existing on all other engines except the Modoc, and gives the machine a handsome appearance. It was invented and patented by Samuel L. French of Ligonier, Pa., engineer of the locomotive upon which the above attachment may be seen. Mr. French claims for his invention that with it the pump is always working on a solid body of water and has no vacuum to contend with; that it reduces the wear of the plunger, gland valves, etc., of the pump, and also prevents the working of compressed air in the pump and pipes when no water is being fed to the boiler, thereby greatly reducing the cost of keeping the pump in order. He also states that the use of this innovation will save at least one-tenth of the fuel now used on engines. By means of an ingenious contrivance the engineer regulates the attachment and has full power over the pump from the cab. The once now in use has fulfilled the most sanguine hopes of the inventor, having proved successful in every particular. We predict that before a great while this machine will become a necessary attachment on all railroad engines.