1884.J 



NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



15 



The Third Form (see cut No. 3) represents, on a more or 

 less exaa-orerated scale, bad surfaced rails as thev come sometimes 

 from tlie Mills. Sucdi rails are called " lloug-h Hails " in the 

 Book of Tabulations, and give to tbe moving cars a very de- 

 cided series of shocks, making an unpleasant motion for pas- 

 sen ijers. 



The Second Form (see cut No. 7) develops from the Third hy 

 service as soon. as the joint Ijccomes weak or worn, and if allowed • 

 to continue develops into the First Form. 



A large number of new steel rails, from not being properly 

 straightened, have short vertical bends at and near the joints, 

 which cannot be improved by the trackmen; consequently, the 

 joints are low and the wheels pound them when new. 



Cuts Nos. 6 and 7, besides representing the 1st and 2d Forms 

 of Permanent Set in rails, show the receiving ends cut out by 

 trains running in one and the same direction, as that sliown in 

 Cut No. 5. 



This has proven to be a very serious matter, the ends of the 

 rails ]ieing so badly injured as to prevent the surfacing of the 

 track, until taken up, the injured portion cut off, redrilled and 

 relaid. 



On rails of the First Form (see Cut No, 6), in most cases the 

 fish-plates will l)e found worn, bent, or broken, and the joint tie 

 or ties loose (see Cut No. 8). This is the worst form the rails 

 are allowed to assume, from the fact that the receiving ends of 

 the rails are rapidly '• cut out" under heavy traffic (as shown in 

 Cuts Nos. 5 and 6), and the cost of transportation increased. 



The wear of fish-plates, as shown in Cut No. 8, or even the 

 upper edge of angle plates, is far greater than is generally sup- 

 posed. The renewal of the plates, even on old rails, has been 

 of greatest service on some roads in maintaining good and easy 

 riding tracks. • 



