DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN KAIL AND TRACK. 



<I77 



of the rail it was inverted. Fig. 54 shows the effect of running on the 

 base for three years. The dotted line indicates the original section. 



BOSTON & LOWELL RAIL//A 



'II upwards, 6Zlbs 111/11111 



'miMMimlll^ 



Fig. 54. 



62-pound Peak-headed Rail, Boston and Lowell Railroad. Showing 

 weak after two years service, bottom upward. 



From ;i drawing in the U. S. National Museum. 



COMPOUND RAILS. 



The difficulty in obtaining satisfactory joint fixtures on the Amer- 

 ican pear-shaped section led to the introduction of the compound rail. 





-2&- 



Fig. 55. 

 • Compound Rail, Wood and Ikon. Designed i;y 15. H. Latkobe, 1841, for Baltimore 



and Ohio Railroad. 



i nvmg in the U. S. National Museum, 



Fig. 55 is from a drawing of a compound rail of wood and iron de- 

 signed by Benjamin H. Latrobe, in 1841, for the Baltimore and Obio 



