The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-14

PRINcIPIES TO BE OBSERVED IN THE CUM
sTRuCTION OF RAILRoADs-CAUsE OF ACCT
DENTs-NARRow GAUGE ROADS NOW BUILD
ING IN EUROPE.
To the Editor of the World
SrR-The following are few memoranda as
to the narrow gauge and light railways:
PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION.
l. Speed: twenty-five miles an hour, 1nclud-
ing stoppages. r.
3. Rolling load not to exceed pressure OF
four tons to the wheel upon the rail. ,..., .,
8 Rolling stock roomy, with as little dead
weight as possible, and low centre of gravity:
4 Gauge of road determined after careful
investigation of all the circumstances IN the
case, as to present and future business OF the
road and all its connections, &C., &C.
Weight of rolling load of wheel OF car
ar-of q locomotive is one that requires the most
careful study and accuracy on the part of rail-
road managers. What causes seven-eighths OF
the accidents of all the road is the heavy weight
of the rolling load of each wheel or driver OF
the locomotive. The weight of the cars has
been increased so per cent and the weight OF
locomotives from Is tons to that OF ~ tons LOT
an ordinary passenger engine. Inc road.Deo
and rails about the same as when the macnlnes
weighed Is tons. In some cases the locomo-
tives weigh 35 tons. All this immense weight
on the rails acts the same as trip-hammer on
the Joints, and tends to weaken the bolts ana
fastenings, which is the cause of so many, accl-
dents. If the railroad companies would run
more trains with lighter rolling stock not one
half the accidents would occur. With the i'm
mense weight it destroys the road-bed as well
as the rails, but by the narrow gauge you avoid
all this weight, surplus of machinery and tim
ber to carry over each mile of road. Speaking
of narrow gauge road, mean gauge OF 8
feet inches. To use a narrower gauge tnan
this to carry passengers and tor trafhc De-
ieve to be mistake. A broad gauge IS Tor
speed of twenty-five miles an hour and mod
ern traffic, in my opinion, quite unnecessary,
and involves considerable additional expense II
the country be heavy one. The question OF
gauge is. however, one which requirers careful
and independent consideration in each instance,
especially if there be already railways in the
country with which the proposed line is likely
to be connected, and would especially call at
tention to the fact that the light system can be
applied to any gauge; thus the Cornatic Rail
way of India, guaranteed by the Government,
are about to construct their railway, feet +
inches gauge and 120 miles long, on this sys-
rem. under the advice and direction of Sir
Charles Fox & Sons, of London. Below give
the names and length of the narrow gauge rail
ways now building in Europe as per my latest
adyices from there:
Length
Name. in Miles.
Queensland, Australia, Government -,
Railway. Az@
Railway from Congeveram to Arcon-
Toronto Gray and Bruce Railroad, =.
Canada. .................... ~
Toronto and Nipissing Railway, Can
ic,Sa'0 aSa anu ................. 19O
Government Railway of Norway. l0l
These railways are all feet inches gauge
while economical they give sufficient width for
powerful locomotives, and insure great steadi-
, ness in running the trains. Locomotives OF
these STYLES are used, viz: Goods engine and
tender, 90 tons weight, wheels, 6 of which are
coupled; passenger engines and tenders, l6
tons weight in running order, wheels, OF
which are coupled; and tank engines, about 10
tons weight, wheels, of which are coupled.
Rolling stock, outside width of cars vary from
6 feet inches to feet. The speed varies from
II to rs miles per hour, including stoppages,
but when required trains have been run dis
tance of 60 miles per hour, including stoppa-
ges. These railways in India and Norway cost
from $4,000 to ST., 900 per mile, including en-
gines, cars and all equipments necessary to run
the road. The cost of working these lines is
yery much the same per train mile or per ton
as an ordinary railway; but in consequence OF
the low speed and light rolling load there is on
these light railways most important saving in
wear and te.u-both of permanent way; the
rolling stock and the safety to passengers is
more secure The road-bed may be made Of
fat bottom iron, 35 to 40 pounds to the yard, or
steel rails, S5 pounds to the yard laid on trans
verse hard wood sleepers, generally measuring
q e. roh1 hxyS hu Y rpctQn-
gular, laid from 2 feet inches to 3 feet apart,
centre to centre, well secured by spikes at the
Joints and elsewhere; fish plates, &C., ballasted
with gravel or sand, to the extent of 5000 Gu
bic wards per mile of single track. Having
given these few facts, which think cannot fail
to interest those who desire the spread of rail-
way communications in countries yielding a
light traffic, I would simply repeat that the
light system of railway construction which L
advance and which / shall be happy to co-ope-
rate in extending as far as possible is not lim-
ted to any particular gauge, but consists IN
adapting the constructions to the necessary
speed and to the requirements of the traffic in
each case, at the same time using the best ma
terial and workmanship. My experience and
best authority from the most eminent engineers
in Europe, Sir Charles Fox & Sons, London,
shows that through country of ordinary char
ter, where land is cheap, heavy bridges not re-
ouired. and where labor is obtained at low rates,
a thorough efficient railway of 8 foot inch
gauge can be completed, including everything,
for $4,000 twelve thousand dollars) a mile.
A railway of this gauge will do as much work
if not more than 4 foot 81 inch gauge, and
Will save in wear and tear 25 per cent. of its
operating expenses; also will do oil the work
that any country may require would advise
all railroad men with new enterprises to adopt
this gauge as standard, and not load down
your road with lot of dead weight, and carry
i around with you over every mile of road you
run. There are many places in this country
where it is almost impossible to get. the means
to construct and equip foot 81 inch gauge
tries ere building so many miles of road upon