Milford Packets, No. 2, Crocodile and No. 3, Escape; Holyhead Packets Wizard and...

Steam Boat Engines (21 items).

1147. Milford Packet No. 2, Crocodile (TB & TC) and No. 3, Escape (TD & TE); Holyhead Packets Wizard (SJ & SK) and Dragon (RB &RC). May-Aug., Oct., Nov. 1824, Sep. 1825, Jul. 1826., Mar., Sep., Nov. 1830. 21 items.
Four sets of two 40 horse power side lever boat engines, with 35½ inch cylinders, 3½ foot strokes.
Crocodile re-named Adder 1837.
Escape's engines increased to 50 horses 1830, re-named Doterel 1837.
Wizard's engines later increased to 50 horses, re-named Otter 1837.
Dragon's engines increased to 50 horses 1830, re-named Zephyr 1837.

Midship section of the boat and engines (partially coloured), section at fore and aft end of the boiler, "fore and aft section" (section of engine room etc.), plan of the engine sleepers - drawings made in the London office and used for all four boats.

Drawings re Crocodile only: Section and plan of boiler - partially coloured drawing made in the London office; paddle wheel shaft - original and partially coloured reverse drawing; paddle wheel and shaft etc. - original and coloured reverse drawings; sections and plans of the boiler - shaded drawings made in the London office; sketches and note re pipes, shafts etc. sent to the Foundry (3 small sheets stuck together); note about the positioning of the shafts. Some of these drawings bear letter codes.
Also sketch section of boiler for Dragon; section and plan of boiler - reverse drawing used for Escape, Wizard and Dragon (also used for Aladdin and Navy Meteor); paddle wheel and shaft - reverse drawing used for Escape, Wizard and Dragon.
Also drawings of new cylinders, 1830: cylinder, slide valves, case etc., 50 horse without steam cases and belts - coloured reverse drawing used for Dragon (also used for Albion); sketch of cylinders, working gear etc. for 50 horse cylinders with belts - partially coloured original and partially coloured reverse drawings used for Escape and Wizard (also used for Cinderella); new belted cylinders - original and shaded reverse drawings used for Escape and Wizard (also used for Cinderella, Harlequin and Alban). All these drawings except the sketch bear letter codes.

Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 780. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 314, 316.

For H. M. Post Office. All four boats were built by Graham of Harwich. Crocodile was built for the Milford station and referred to as "Milford No. 2" before she was named Crocodile. Escape was also intended for the Milford station, but by Mar. 1832 she was operating from the Holyhead station. Wizard and Dragon were both built for the Holyhead station. The boats were re-named in 1837 when the Navy took over the Post Office packet fleet. The drawings for all four of these boats were kept in the same book, No. 780. Henry Hazleton allocated separate portfolio numbers to all the boats, despite the fact that they did not have separate drawings: Crocodile was Portfolio 5/1147, Escape was Portfolio 5/1148, Wizard was Portfolio 5/1149 and Dragon was Portfolio 5/1150.