New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-03

CAST IRON RAILROADS.

T, iAe Editor ef T1e \ Y T,iJune.
SIR: In TnE WEEKLY rsIBUSE of Feb. II. appears az
article headed Cast Iron Railroads. and inasmuch as the
subject OF magnitude and will bear discussion
take the liberty of repkng thereto. for more man
twenty five have been engaged in the manufacture
Of iron into machinery and for railroad purposes and
from tie light Of experience and the philosophy
have cleaned nom other sources consider the obectish
the rail insuperable In the outset CLAIM that
wrought rails be made cheaper than east, because
there little If any, in this country from which cast
rails could be made without remeng in order free Ii
from the impurities universally attending its frst Aud
state Upon the second melting the diyt and drOss
be separated from the mon, and the rails made compara
tyey perfect but IL is obvious that the cost must be
far enhanced that the wrought rail will be the cheapest of
the two pound for pound. while cannot conceive, for
10 follow the the same sht OF iron IN east rails
will the purpose at all No foresight could prevent
kdH deects various in cast iron rails which
would materially affect their strength and usefulness
although such nj ht be few and far between yet the
circun stances under which they would be brought to
light would undoubtedly prove disastrous to life and limb
Safeguards too secure cannot be hedged about the
iron pathway. The public mind year by year is be,
coming femerizcd with increased railway speed they
ere already impatienuy champing the bit Of delay
AT only forty miles per hour when sixty to eighty
can lust veil be STAINED for is equally SAFE they
10 escar from the guidance of the rails at either OF those
rates and certain destruction follow. Another OBJ
lection to the cast rail found in ybrs
tory motion of train OF which caused blythe concal
shape of the wheel also the sharp quick oscaory motion
If the locomotive, deriving this power from the
"'ions the working OF its machinery, both Of which
are particularly frying TO the rail flstenngs Busy
thought suggests another objection still more Troublesome
The TIRE ad OF tie drivers frequently have soft spots upon
their surfaces and when away by friction on the
rails, leave F0t face which at every revolution smes
upon them with the force of giant of Vulcan WELD
ing heavy sledge hammer; and while the comparison
the endurance of steady pressure gives to wrought iron
l. to iron that result is obtained from the best cast
material (which is astonshingy yarabe and they would
hot be- found TO approximate closely by wide margin
equally tested under pressure with quick stroke
sudden jar If Prof Barlows deductions correct a
the relative pressure of train under notion
whence the abrasion the rails Shavings are cut FROM
hu tha
ing concusively, by facts instead of theory which $50
often faEble that the pressure of passing train Is
vastly increased in state OF rest The surface
of n wheel made hard chilled for the purpose
obtaining f.0m greater and this is the ony superior
ty obtains the ught wheel The tread loco
connective driver is varaby made of wrought iron and
safe 10 that cast wheel upon rail would
not the purpose at ALL because the attraction 81
hesOn being sufficient the drivers would spin upon the
motion be obainedoyer the left The granular
cast iron would 10 have affinity in its composition
like while the fbrOus of the wrought rail
presents ddre head and front TO the embrace OF the
toilDg driver, speaking in unmistakeable Language
Yours till death" A certain amount Of atron Is 10
cessary popel atran and is be found in that
compass the resting of the driver upon the rail SO small
indeed is the brittle thread of bearing that IL berN
nothing short of the adhesive quality of the brous ~
accomplish the work. Locomotives continsaly
being increased In weight and have attained nothing0
proximatng to their maximum yet; but If their Dep
ings leave the evidence Of abrasion crumbng spin
"terng upon the rail surface consequent upon their e
let the width of the rail be increased which be dew
with ring additional cost besides the advantage Of
in time of need Yours A. j. LAsGwoRrHL
lflvouIee Feb % 1854