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Bray's traction-engine drawing a girder...through the streets of London by night... 1862. Creator: Unknown
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Bray's traction-engine drawing a girder...through the streets of London by night... 1862. Creator: Unknown
Bray's traction-engine drawing a girder 74 feet long and weighing twenty tons through the streets of London by night - the monster load passing the Bank of England, 1862. A wrought-iron girder, of the hog-back construction...had to be removed from...New North-road, to...Dulwich, where it is to form part of a bridge for the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway...Two strong trucks were put underneath it, the one in front being a large four-wheel boiler truck, and the second, which bore the weight behind, a very heavy "trolly" with two wheels. These trucks together formed the carriage, the girder being kept in its position by stout chains...Naptha lamps, to light the workmen and give warning to all passers-by, were fixed along the whole line of the girder; and, thus equipped, with the traction-engine yoked in front, the massive load went upon its journey, multitudes turning out...and crowding the footways to witness the unusual sight...It was daylight when the final destination was attained...It would have required twenty-five horses to draw it by the ordinary method, and the difficulty of getting such a number of animals to pull together, to say nothing of the obstruction they would cause to the regular traffic, may be readily imagined'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862
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Media ID 35123753
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Bank Bank Of England Cast Iron City Of London England Construction Crowds Dark Darkness Engine Enormous Girder Heavy Huge Iron Large Lights Pulling Steam Steam Engine Steam Power Traction Engine Illustrated London News Naptha White And Black
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this photograph, a traction-engine, believed to be Bray's, pulls a colossal wrought-iron girder through the bustling streets of London during the night of 1862. The girder, measuring an impressive 74 feet long and weighing a staggering twenty tons, was destined for Dulwich where it would become a crucial component of a new bridge for the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. To transport this monumental load, two strong trucks were ingeniously devised. The front truck was a large four-wheel boiler truck, while the second, which bore the weight behind, was a heavy trolley with two wheels. These trucks formed the carriage, with the girder securely held in place by sturdy chains. Naptha lamps were affixed along the entire length of the girder, providing illumination for the workmen and serving as a warning to the countless onlookers lining the streets. The traction-engine, harnessed to the front, propelled the massive load forward, leaving a trail of awe and wonder in its wake. Throngs of Londoners gathered to witness this extraordinary spectacle, crowding the footways and turning out in droves to marvel at the engineering feat unfolding before their eyes. The scene was a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless march of progress, as the city's residents bore witness to the power of the traction-engine and the unyielding determination of the workmen who made this daring transportation possible. This photograph, taken from the pages of the Illustrated London News in 1862, offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, showcasing the remarkable feats of engineering and the spirit of innovation that defined the Victorian era.
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