DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN RAIL AND TRACK. 695 



On the Bilbao and Las Arenas Railway, of Spain, a system (see Fig. 

 110) is in use similar to the "Post" system as far as the fastenings are 



Fig. 110. 

 Metal Track, Bilbao and Las Arenas, Spain, 1889. 



(From a drawing in th-< I : S. National Mu9eum 



i 



concerned. The cross section of the tie does not vary, however, either 

 in depth or width. 



The bull-head rail is laid on "pot" ties on portions of the Central 

 Railway of the Argentine Republic. This system requires the use of 



Fig. 111. 

 Metal Track, Central Eailway, Argentine Republic, 1889. 



[From .i drawing in the U. S. National Museum. ) 



the chair with wedge fastening, (see Fig. 111). The rails are held to 

 gauge by iron tie-rods. 



JOINT FIXTURES. 



Failure of the rail at the joint has from the beginning of railway con- 

 struction directed thought towards the invention of the ideal fixture 

 "as strong at the joint as at any part of the rail," an ideal which, after 

 sixty years of experiment, has not yet been attained. 



HETTON RAIL 

 I8E4. 



Fig. 112. 

 Half-Lap Joint, Hetton Rail, 1824. 



i a drawing in the U S National Mu 



The miter or "half lap joint" was used on the Hetton Colliery road 

 in England in 1824. Fig. 112 is from a drawing in the collection. 



