Excerpt from Light Railways; Conditions Affecting Their Construction and Working: A Paper, Read Before the Liverpool Engineering Society, 19th February, 1896The standard gauge of this country has proved a wonderful happy medium, and, owing to the experts of this country having been employed in the introduction of railways on the Continent, it may be taken as the standard gauge of Europe.On ordinary ground where a railway can be constructed without any special difficulty, the cost between a 3 ft. 6 in. Gauge railway and that of the 4 ft. 8 in., or standard gauge, is only about 250 per mile, but when we come to mountainous countries, where a railway has to be made along hillsides with exceptionally sharp curves, and steep gradients, then, Of necessity, it must be of narrow gauge.It appears, therefore, that the only valid reasons for departing from the standard gauge of a country are, when developing a new country, when to attain a point, exceptionally sharp curves and steep gradients become a necessity, and when the railways are isolated and are a system by themselves, they may be to any gauge to suit the circumstances.There is every evidence that the traders, farmers, and all using railway wagons in this country, are in favour of having the standard gauge wagons that travel along the main lines of the country, in their yards and works, thereby avoiding transferring and second handling goods at the junction.

It must follow then that the railways required are single lines of 4 ft. 85 in. Gauge, upon which will travel the wagons used on the trunk railways of the country; but not the engines, carriages, or any of the heavier plant of the truck lines. A special engine will be necessitated, with lighter weight on the driving axle, and special carriages, with the oor and foot-boards arranged so as to render platforms unnecessary.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work.

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