Images Dated 12th September 2011

Rainhill Trials October 1829

These trials for early steam locomotives were run at Rainhill, near Liverpool, UK, to determine which would be used on the newly-completed railway from Liverpool to Manchester. Ten locomotives entered, but only five competed.The Novelty was the favourite, but withdrew due to engine problems. The Sans Pareil completed 8 of the required 10 trips before also suffering engine failure. It was later used on the railway, along with the winner, the Rocket, the only locomotive to complete the trials. It was the most advanced locomotive of its day, and the template for most steam locomotives since.The Rocket is shown on the left and the Sans Pareil on the far right

© Sheila Terry

The London Steam Carriage 1803

This was designed by Richard Trevethick and Andrew Vivian. The parts for the vehicle were made in Falmouth and assembled at Felton's Carriage Works, London. The single horizontal cylinder engine, boiler and firebox were placed behind the rear axle.The motion of the piston was transmitted to a separate crankshaft via the forked piston rod.The crankshaft drove the axle of the driving wheel via a spur gear. The carriage had 8 ft diameter driving wheels intended to smooth out the road and mimimise the chaces of the fire being extinguished by shaking. The Steam Carrige was first driven for about 10 miles, to Paddington and back through Islington, . It carried 7 or 8 passengers and travelled beteen 4 and 9 mph.On a later journey the carrige crashed into some house railings. This together with lack of commercial interest and a shortage of money led to the project being scrapped

© Sheila Terry

U.S. Army MK48 machine gunner patrols through a field in Afghanistan

September 12, 2011 - U.S. Army MK48 machine gunner assigned to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, patrols through a field looking for triggermen in the Alisheng district, Laghman province, Afghanistan

© Stocktrek Images

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