The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-24
Narrow Gauge Railroads.

The railways of the future" seem
likely to be biiIt largely on the mar
row gauge. Ii is q remarkable fac
that at this moment there are no few
cr than fifty locomotives i'll the
course of construction in British ma
chine shops, intended for narrow
gauge lines. These roads lie in Pert,
Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Nova
Scotia, on this Continent: and in
Russia, Austria and Sweden. Nari-
GUS problems have naturally arisen
touching the rolling stock for such
lines and, as The narrow gauge is
contemplated for projected railroads
of first importance in this country.
the solution OF these problems be-
comes of serious national moment.
{; is held by many that such road
can be run far more cheaply than
others; that, while expenses can be
made lighter than with the wide
gauge, receipts may be increased, and
tIst a maximum of speed attained
that shall at least not be inferior to
the pr sent average. Opponents OF
the principle deny these propositions
for various reasons, among which
the difficulties about rolling stock
are prominent. II has been thought
that the amount of solid material
needful to resist the shocks snd con-
cussions to be met, would defeat the
ends of economy and easy handling
mainly aimed IL by the new system
50 far as engines are concerned, il
word seem next TO impossible TO
give them the requisite strength
without the weight which in ma
cainery Is usually lis accompani-
Inent. Another grave point is that
# cures with short radii-shorter
that is 10 say, Than are possible with
the wide gauge can be, as is claimed,
made use OF with the narrow gauge
u special fitness will be called for
IN the locomotives, which may be in
Compatible with chespness no less
than with sfreGgth. These matter,
VIII now all he quito practical tests:
and knowledge will thus be gained
that shGuld be carefullv used bv
American aFiizanS and railroad men.
who are interested in the application
jf The new principle.
y new locomotive has lust beer
completed in Bristol. England. which
in this relation is very interesting
II Is called \ double boyle" and the
rro5lem.ifl is case was 10 build
machine able 10 woIk heavy traffic
over 2 grade of one in TWENTY-FIVE
joc eleven miles, and round curves
az three ch3iaS ra9iu,. Ii has beer
constructed, therefore, with twelve
wheels, six on 4 side, and. on trial.
has worked o. 4 curve oftwo and
half chains with perfect facility. Il
l. said, however, that other double
brgie' engines are nesrly ready fol-
the Peruvian line, which are to work
over gradients OF one in twenty, to
round curves 0f two chains, and Il
go this at the rate of thirty miles al
Eour, the gauge being two feet enc
s'NiEches. \ great number of very
Ugh carriages are also building. snG
experienced Observers say that ample
proof i AREA " shown by them o.
bow little the capacity of carriage,
aud frcight-vans need be lessened b,
even considerable reduction O.
gauge. Passenger-cars have been
built nineteen feet six inches long
and seven feet six inches wide, hand
sJmely fitted, and with commodious
seats for tWeuty-four persons. an6
we,@hin" bat three hundred pounds : (
while g second class vehicle. csrry-
ing thirty, weighs but two hundred /
aud tiiirty-twO pounds. In order TO I
diminish cOEcus~ion-a point Of much 1
doli'Scy and ccHsCquence-a new /
system of buffers snt coupling hg- !
been inTeuicd. This consists in run /
ming under each carriage an iron 4
Graw-har. and coupling the draw /
bars a adjacent carriages with
single link. Each carriage is furnish /
c at both ends with q single central /
buffer, presenting a convex surface. 4
and these buffers are brought almost 1
into contact. Esch buffer has
strong coiled spring, and about an
inch of play, and the general result
of the whole Continuance is that the /
riOsGnesS Of the coupling and the con-
.iBuiiy OF the draW-hsr render tho
rain of vehicles movable as a single
mass, and not rs a succession of de-
.achcd portions. The advantage OF
,5fety and convenience are obvious
IN the description, and the practical
working of the improvement only
reeds to be assured TO lead to its uni.
.arsal adoption.
The narrow guage has been much |
e3ked Of for some OF our Southern
md Southwestern lines, and, we pre-
-ume. on one, at least, of the trans
Continental roads, viii pretty GER
.2iniv lie employed. American me
,hauics are famous ali the world over
for .heir skill and originality, and for
-tcir ready adaptation OF means t.
ends. Doubtless they will devise
.mgT0v ements and notifications of
iht ir @ SIS for the narrow rUagn road
HAT may be constructed in their own
territory, such as will be best suited
to lis peculiar exigencies. Mean
while. the experiments thus made
abroad, and the IolIing stock thus be
ing built, should be carefully watch
ed by orr artisans, so that what
Is available mag be adopted, and
what proves unsuccessful may bc
rITefa.iv avoided.-N. L. Times.