Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-26
A VERY MARROW GAUGE.
Passenger Cars Running Safely or
a TeHs1nch Track

a Ten.Inch Track.
BosToN, November 30 There is
Something new under the sun" in
railroads. At least | have seen no
description in any New York pa
per of what has just been expert
mentally completed in Massachu-
setts. A perfectly working, safe
yes, much safer than the ordinary
road has been produced, and
which will revolutiouize traffic in
both passengers and freight. The
cost and the price of both will
come down one-half, and yet the
companies can coin money where
now they cannot pay expenses.
The young gentleman who con.
ceived this new plan is practical
wood and iron machinist, and also
an engineer. To show how narrow
a track may be, and bcpractical and
safe, with his own hands he con-
structed a railroad, having but ten
inches width of track, from the
elevated village of Hyde Park down
to the depot. He also with his own
hands constructed the cars to run
on the track. In these he carried
in six weeks over three thou-
sand passengers from the village
down to the depot without the
slightest injury to any one. There
were several short curves on the
way, and the track crossed
the highway twice. The people OF
Billenca, wishing road across
through their town from North
Billerica, on the Boston and Lowell
railroad, to Bedford, a distance of
eight and a half miles, requested
the protector, Mr.. George e. Mans
field, to come and give the people a
lecture on narrow track railroads.
Some said at is a chimerical no.
tion;" but others said, "This is of
God and must prevail and they
gave a helping hand and secured a
movement so far as to get petition
for a. charter from the legislature.
The charter was allowed. Then the
right of way was secured gratis the
whole distance. Two very able
men gave the way only because, as
they said, it was only a visionary,
crazy-headed scheme, and would
never be accomplished. But Butler
went in for one-fifth of the whole
stock, which was $4,000. Then
came the building of the road, which
was completed by the first Of Sep
tember, so that cars passed with
passengers over the entire route
that day, and secured the right of
way. There are eleven bridges on
Che route, one over one hundred
feet long. The rail weighs twenty
five pounds to the yard, which is
quite strong enough; twenty pounds
would do. The road is well built
and equipped, one grade is one
hundred and fifty-6ye feet.
The cars and engines of the road
will at once attract and fix the at
tention. They are very well pro-
portioned, and make a very hand
some appearance. The engine is
behind the tender and next to the
cars, so that when the train moves
the car next to the engine draws
down upon and increases the adhe-
sion of the engine to the track.
Both engines and cars are con-
structed so rs to be very near the
ground, giving great advantages in
regard 10 safety, also very little os.
cillation. The cars have an aisle
with one seat on each side, in the
same manner as ordinary cars have
two seats, each person having u seat
to himself. The cars are warmed
with steam, aFs we'll ventilated,
have closets, water-tank, all the
modern improvements, WesHng.
house brakes, etc. They weigh but
four tons and q half, ordinary cars
weighing, on an average, eighteen
tons. Hence Mansfield will carry
sixty persons with cars weighing
nine tons, while ordinary roads
must draw eighteen tons to carry
lllty.six persons. The engines are
equally light and less costly than
Oh ordinary roads. Ii is ouite evil