Why did the original locomotive design fail to become a lasting commercial success?
Answer
The engine was too heavy for the existing track infrastructure
While the locomotive was capable of producing the necessary force to pull a load, its weight caused severe mechanical issues for the infrastructure of that era. The tracks at the time were primarily cast-iron plates designed for the lighter loads typical of horse-drawn tramways. The locomotive was too heavy for these rails, causing them to buckle and break under the engine's weight. This demonstrated the significant gap between having a powerful working prototype and developing a system that could reliably function on existing industrial infrastructure without causing structural damage.
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