Genre:

Illustration, Drollery; Reportage, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J L, pseud.  [John Leech] *

Subjects:

Railways, Commerce, Accidents, Politics, Government

People mentioned:

George Stephenson

    Spoof report of a sale of Lord George Bentinck's various railway locomotives, each one assessed as if it were a horse. 'King Death', for example, a 'well-known engine' with several deaths to its name, was run into the yard and 'pronounced "no go"', and despite 'great difficulty experienced in getting him to start', proceeded 'at a slapping pace, then stopped short, and finally "backed" over the temporary embankment'. The characteristics of other locomotives make cynical allusions to railway mania and the Irish question. The illustration strengthens the comparison of locomotives to horses.