William Knapton

1855.

of Albion Foundry, York

Gas Engineer, Iron and Brass Founder 1857 'Lighting Railway Carriages with Gas.- A novel experiment was tried by Mr. Knapton, of the Albion Foundry, York, which threatens to revolutionise the system of lighting railway carriages. Some six years ago Mr. Knapton took out a patent for an invention called a “dry gasometer," and this contrivance has now been fixed the bottom of a railway carriage. The gasometer can be filled by means of a flexible tube from any of the station-mains. The gas is introduced into the compartments of the carriage by the ordinary piping, and can turned on and off at pleasure. The Great Northern Railway Company have given directions to Mr. Knapton to fit up a carriage in this manner, and should the plan be adopted a great saving will effected and a brilliant light secured. The gasometer will contain more gas than requisite for the journey from York to London. Three lights will burn nine feet of gas in the hour, and, taking the Journey at six hours, a consumption of 54 feet will take place at cost of little more than 2d., as against a pint of oil at 1s. 6d. This is an immense saving to the company, and compared with the expense of the gasometer is trifling.'. Note: This is very different to the invention of Julius Pintsch, which used a special type of gas.

See also W. H. Knapton and Co

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