The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-05
FROM BROAD TO STANDARD GAUGE
Tho Great Western Railway the Inst to
Make the Change In EnElnnd.

Tho Great Western Railway the Inst to
Make the Change LIN England.
The broad gauge railway ceased to exist in
Great Britain ON May u. when the Great
Western Railway was changed to standard
gauge. Tho peculiar construction of tho
track. which necessitated change in
the roadbed OF more than two hundred
miles Of track in ono day. tho removal
of broad gauge vehicles out OF the system for
ever. the complete stoppage Of traffic during
tho progress Of the change and tho signil-
canoe attached to the work. caused the event
to be surrounded with many interesting and
memorable circumstances.
The part OF the system that was changed Is
in Devonshire and Cornwall. On other parts
Of the system third rail was laid many years
ago. and narrow gauge or broad gauge trains
were run as desired; but on the lines that ex-
tend from Exeter to Penzance. at Land's End.
only broad gauge trains were or could be run.
The rails are laid on longitudinal sleepers. or
stills Of lumber. instead Of on cross ties. and
are connected together and held in place
by cross ties. called transoms. every six
feet That plan Of track laying. or some-
thing on the Same general principle. is
used by most Of the street car lines. On the
Great Westerns lines IL has bean a very steady
and easy track. hut exceedingly costly. in
that construction IL third rail was not possible
and because Of that and tho fact that the line
ran to the further end of England and was in
the nature OF stub line. with no connections.
Two days We're required for tho change
III Re was divided Hs aank
ab4n sxy Of So fsG
along the track side during tho preparations.
y alt the t"9a
freight cars were sent out of the Devon and
sengsr cars Was redaced t" tho owos q init
BY Friday night every train had to bo sent out
INK beore ont the ter 4P a ''Ae af'S
London. at I0:I5 <. NJ. May 20. on ut the n" finai
trip. The chief officials OF the Great Western
Hallway were aboard the train and also num-
the realm rs invited guests Tho platform Of
the station was crowded. and dozens. OF cam.
the scene. All along tho line were big crowds
OF people to salute the train. and hundreds Of
torpedoes. placed on the track were exploded
BY tho train In its passage.
Tho work on tho change had been begun
Every alternativs cross piece or transom. had
1t the proper length Tor tho standard gauge.
and thG remaining transons had been partly
Cornwall. whore tho line WAS dOuho track. II
met many trains hurrying eastward to get out
OF tho territory. Toward tho close OF tho day
the vacating trains formed Il long procession.
Soon after reaching Penzance. and after the
assurance that not Il single broad gauge train
was behind II. tho Cornishman" started for
London on its last trip
Tho workmen began changing the track at ,
A. NJ. Saturday. 1t was close competition OF
section against section. each endeavoring to
finish lirst The transOms were taken out, and
the longitudinal stills were prled with crow
bars Into position at tho standard gauge. tight
against the sawed transoms: to which they
were botod. There was considerable difficulty
on the sharp curves, but the work WAS done
nicely and by nightfall Saturday the whole
| track had been converted. On sunday stand
ard-gauge engines were run over tho changed
track at slow speed and by their aid inequali-
ties We're discovered and defects rcmedied. On
Monday tho full trailic was resumed.
During the, stoppago of trafllc the mails were
| sent nlong the coast by fast steamboats, be-
| longing to tho Great Western Railway Com
pany. touching at Truro. Falmouth. Fowcy,
PenZance. and at or near other points reached
by the railway; and where the communication
was not direct tho mails were carried from the
| coaches with fast horses. Tho company had
made preparations for the change by building
| the bodies OF all new cars to standard gauge
| and putting them on broad gauge trucks and
| wheels where desired Now most OF the work
| OF transforming cara will be to transfer the
| bodies from ono set OF wheels to another.