Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-18

AAiio LOU VI ANtNNiiig Ao''N'eNA N'iii -
the middle of such a heavy grade, was nat
urally a source of establishment to the whole
party, and we do not need to say that it was
one which no ordinary standard gauge engine
could by any means have accomplished.
Another notable feature in the running of
the road is the fact that there is no diminu-
ton of speed in passing over such heavy
grades and sharp curves rs would test the ca
pacity of the standard gauge machines to their
utmost. In one instance a grade of 100 feet
was passed at a speed of 20 miles per hour, by
simply gving the machine a small additional
amount of st am, and sharp curves We're re-
peatedly rounded without any noticeable jerk
ing, or oscillatory motion, at rate of speed
which, under like circumstances, on n com
mon-gauge road. would have literally thrown
the passengers from their seats
The engineer who ran the excursion train
on this occasion, is man of evident candor
and intelligence, and of long experience in
railroading, having run standard gauge ma
chine for the past thirty years. 1t is not with
out significance, therefore, that he is very en-
thusiastic over the merits of this new enter
prise. He states unquOlifedly that, in al his
experience, he has never seen locomotive
which handled a train so readily, behaved SO
well under all circumstances, and. in general,
showed so many points of excellence as does
the ariel, which is now under his charge on
the Billerica & Bedford railroad. Among the
good points in these narrow gauge machines
which this engineer speaks of with certain
knowledge, that of their great economy of fu-
ell is worthy of mention, the subject being one
in which the general reader will BE- more par
ticularly interested The regular days work
of his engine, the engineer states, is \ run of
50 miles to do this work She consumes only
$50 lbs. of coal, which costs thu company at
present s.. - per ton making the expense for
fuelperday only 81. SO and suchis the capacity
and construction of the fire-box that he would
have no trouble. were it necessary or d,sira-
BILE, in making such fire at one end of the
route as should last for the round trip of II
miles, without being touched or replenished.
For standard-gauge machine to do like
amount of work would require the consump-
ton of not less than p tons of coal.
Upon returning to Bedford, after having
passed over the full length of the road and re-
turn, the excursion party assembled in the
gentlemens room of the commodous and
comfortable railroad station, and. after organ
izing an informal meeting by the selection of n
chairman, committee was appointed to draw
up statement of the impressions and conclu-
sions reached by the party after their careful
inspection of the road its rolling stock. and
all other appliances. In due time this COM
1 Al. /.
sive statement of opinion and conviction which
is appended to this article 1t is worthy of
especial note that this paper was signed by
every member of the visiting delegation with
out qualification or hesitation on the part of
any one
Mr.. George f. Mansfield the builder and
manager of this the first two-fect gauge rail
road in America, was assiduous in his atten-
tons to the party and gave his old Windham
county friends every possible facility for
careful and thorough inspection of the line
in every particular. Mr.. Orlando Stewart
the engineer already referred to- answered n
great variety of questions asked him by differ
ent gentlemen after the assemblage in the sta
tion for general consultation. and w. II. Ly-
man, the conductor of the train. who was for
merly resident of this county, made himself
exceedingly useful and agreeable to the party
during the passage over the road. One point
in particular upon which special inquiry was
made, both of Mr. Mansfield and Mr.. Stew
art, was in relation to the probable effect of
heavy fall Of snow upon road with SO mar
row gauge as two feet. In replying, both
gentlemen We're united and decided in the
opinion that the difficulty experienced would
be less than on a wider gauge, from the
fact that the quantity of snow to be removed
would be much less in proportion to the
power of the machine while at the same
time the full weight of the locomotive and
other rolling stock hangs so low down upon
the track, on Il two-feet gauge, that every
pound of weight and force would be applied
in an upward direction in lifting the snow
from the track, thus mat rally lessening the
disposition to ride up0R the snow, instead of
under it, as is the case with broad-gauge ma
chimes standing higher up above the rails
Although the signed statement herewith APP
pended renders it practically unnecessary to
do so, we cannot forbear to say, in conclusion,
that We believe that every member of this
party came home fully satisfied and convinced
of the perfect adaptability of the two-feet
gauge system to all the needs of our West
River valley. Several of the party were, be-
forehand, very sceptical on the subject but
personal view and experience of the road
appealed to the eye and the Judgment as no
printed or spoken words can do. Not a few
OF the gentlemen composing the party earnest
and out-spoken railroad men as they are, had
for months past been feeling Enthusiastically de-
spondent over the constantly waning prospects
OF the three-feet gauge road to Whitehall, and
they went to Bedford on that morning with
no other feeling than that two-feet gauge
might possibly do for the West River valley.
since three-feet gauge could not be built :;
but every one of these gentlemen came away
thorough converts to the two-feet gauge sys-
TEN, not only for the West River valley, but
entirely satisfied that such a road is precisely
what we want, and all that We want through
to Whtehall-and for the simple reason that
such road will meet every possible require
ment in point of speed, safety and capacity,
while it can, beyond doubt, be built for
sum which will make it paying property, and
at the same time keep the road in the hands
and control of the people ON its line. We
venture the confident prediction that when
ever two-feet gauge railroad shall be built TO
South Londonderry as now proposed, it will by
the simple force of circumstances, in "A brief
time thereafter be continued through to White
hall, N. Y, as originally proposed for the
three-feet gauge!