On Tuesday morning, last week some private experiments took place near the running sheds of the Great Northern Railway, King’s-cross, with some machinery just erected there for cleaning railway carriages by mechanical means invented by the Earl of Caithness.

The invention consists essentially of two large vertical brushes driven by a little steam engine; a number of dirty carriages making up a train of any length is passed slowly between these revolving brushes; water is thrown upon the side of each railway carriage 2ft. in advance of the brush, from a vertical iron pipe pieced with small holes, placed an average distance of 8in. from each other. A second water-pipe, pierced with similar holes, directs another series of water jets directly upon the brushes.

The whole arrangement is not very dissimilar to that of hair brushing by machinery. This invention was made and patented by Lord Caithness towards the end of last year, when fitting up and trying a small revolving brush in one of the carriage repairing sheds at King’s-cross he resolved to order the construction of a machine for actual use. While this was in the course of manufacture he left England on a prolonged visit to the United States of America, an a week or two since returned, bringing with him a highly efficient and well-made stationary engine of 4-horse power, manufactured by the Baxter Steam Engine Company at Colt’s fire-arms manufactory. This little engine, which is very popular in America is used to drive the brushes at King’s-cross.