THE LABLACHE LOCOMOTIVE 3D model

The Lablache was built by E B Wilson & Co of Leeds in 1848, for trials on the Midland Railway. The plan was to avoid the directional instability that could result from having heavy pistons pushing at different times in the cycle on each side of the locomotive. Two- at least I assume it was two, to avoid dead-centre problems- conventional cylinders were mounted under the front of the boiler and imparted a rocking motion to the central shaft. This drove both front and back wheels at the same time so the forces cancelled out. The cranks on the rocking shaft were set on a 1ft 9in radius, while the wheel crank throw was 1ft. E B Wilson & Co also tried to make the design of the vibratory-piston locomotive Albion, which used a similar lever-drive arrangement, into a practical proposition but gave up on it.

After running as shown for a relatively short time, it was then converted to a conventional layout, so it looks as if something didn't work out. Details of its performance cannot be given here, but we may note that the engine was officially timed at 79 miles an hour with a light train. On one occasion the Lablache hauled a freight train of 430 long tons at an average speed of 30 miles an hour, which was no mean performance at that period.