16 



TRANSACTIONS OF THK 



[NOV 



Cut No. 8 shows tlie wear on the edges of the ordinary fish- 

 plate at the end of the rails ; also the wear of the shoulders of 

 the rails. The ends oi the fish-plates are unworn, and appear 

 tight and firm to the trackmen. The Bolts may l)e screwed up 

 solid, yet the enda of the rails are free to move down and up 



Cut No. 8. 



upon the passage of the trains, and are more or less cut out, like 

 those shown in Cuts 5, f), and 7. The dotted line under the 

 ]>ase shows the loss of metal from wear on the joint tie. 



The smoothest ridiuij track is where the rails, like Cut No. 4, 



