The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-27 00:00:00

NATIONAL UNIFORMITY OF GAUGE.

In a few days, in one vol. imperial Svo., second edition, enlarged,
price ss. cloth lettered,
THE HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF
THE RAILWAY SYSTEM.
Illustrated by the Evidence given before the Gauge Commission.
By SAMUEL SIDNEY, Author of " Bristol a Free Port," &c.
With a Map.
London Edmonds, 154, Strand ; and Vacher, Parliament-street.

rn a few days, in one vol, Imperial, Bvo., 2d edit., cm/lived, price 5e.:
cloth lettered,
NATIONAL UNIFORMITY OF GAUGE.
HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF THE RAILWAY SYS-
TEM ILLUSTRATED

By the evidence given before the Guage Commission. By SAMUEL
SIDNEY, author of "Bristol a Free Port," &c. With a Map. Lon-
don : Edmonds, 154, Strand ; and Vacher, Parliament-street.

CONTENTS.

A brief history of the Gauge question—The modern form of Rail.
ways originated by George Stephenson—Uniformity of Gauge* (i. e.
of width of each pair of rails from each other) required to render
Railways as free as common roads—Question—shall the Gauge be
adapted to the Engine, or the Engine to the Gauge?—Projection of
the Broad or Seven-feet Gauge on Great Western Railway—Robert
Stephenson reports against it, to Directors of Rail—Objections theo-
retieal and practical—Consequent abandonment of joint station at
Euston-square for the two Companies—Disjunction to be regretted—
Shareholders alarmed by expense of making Great Western road—
consult Mr. Nicholas Wood and Mr. Hawkshaw—they report against
7 feet, and in favour of 4 feet 8% inches—lntermediate Gauge of 5
feet adopted by Mr. Braithwaite for Eastern Counties—same Gauge
adopted for Northern and Eastern by R. Stephenson to preserve
uniformity—both reduced to prevailing Narrow Guage, with Mr.
Braithwaite's approbation, to secure uniformity with Northern lines
- case of Break of Gauge, on junction of two Railways of diffe-
rent widths, at Gloucester—Evils brought about by break of Gauge
—Compels a transfer of passengers from Broad Carriage to Narrow,
and from Narrow to Broad—like the old stage coach system—com-
pels transfer of private carriages—of horses and cattle—of mineral
ore and coal—unpacking of merchandise—repacking—difficulty with
cattle—breakage with merchandise—pilferage—injury to coal—delay
and expense—a Break of Gauge a barrier to trade like a Custom
House—a tax of time—a tax of money—all taxes paid by the public
—Birmingham Manufacturers agitate against Break of Gauge—Me-
morialise the Board of Trade—Mr. Wyndham Harding's pamphlet—
Opinion of—from education—from experience of the two systems—as
an eye-witness of the effects of the Break, a competent witness on
the effects of Break, and on comparative value of the two Gauges—
he prefers Narrow Gauge as being, at least, as safe—as speedy—more
convenient to commercial public—cheaper to make and to work
Board of Trade report in favour of 4 feet 8% inches or Narrow
Gauge—Uniformity of Gauge advocated by men of all parties in
Parliament—Motion fer Commission to investigate Break and merits
of the two systems made, by Lord Dalhousie in the Lords, and Mr.
Cobden in the Commons—Unanimously voted—Commissioners report
in favour of Uniformity of Gauge and of the National (4 feet 8%
inches) Gauge._
- - - •

A/TIMIS ;1, EVIDENCE.—Narrow Gauge in England in proportion
of nine miles to one of Broad Gauge—Narrow Gauge universal—in
France—in Belgium—hi Brunswick—in Saxony—in Bavaria—in Italy
—in the United States.—Messrs. Brathwalte, Bidder, Fernihough,
Hawkshaw, Locke, M'Connell, Rastrick, Stephenson, N. Wood, and
E. Woods—Engineers, all in favour of Narrow auge and Uni-
formity ; —Messrs. Bruyeres, Creed, Ellis, Harding, Mile', Hudson,
Laws, Sandc rs—Railway Managers, all in favour of Narrow Gauge
and Uniformity ;—Messrs. Bass, Chaplin, Horne, Hayward, Jones—
Carriers, and Messrs. Brown and Budd—Welsh Miners, all in favour
of Narrow Gauge and Uniformity ; —Generals Gordon and Burgoyne
in favour of National Uniformity.
Mr. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Engineer of the Great Western
Railway ; Mr. Charles Alexander Saunders, Secretary of the Great
Western Railway; Mr. Seymour Clark, 3fanager ; and Mr. Daniel
Gooch, Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Western Railway, in
favour of the Broad Gauge and the Break of Gauge.
The Report of the Commissioners, the natural result of the evi-
dence—The Railway Clearing-house system explained. A Great
Fact in favour of National Uniformity--Continental Philosophers,
and England's Wealth—concluding Remarks—Abridgment of Evi-
dence, arranged under separate heads—Narrow Gauge Witnesses—
Intermediate Witnesses—Broad Gauge Witnesses.