RAILWAY CONSTANTS. 



211 



But since A > 67, 



31-31/' < 272 - 67 = 205, 



•••/' < 6-6. 



Thus it follows that the resistance from friction, properly so 

 called, in these experiments was less than Gj^jjlbs. per ton, and 

 the angle of friction would therefore be less than 1 in 340. 



These results are not as definite as could be desired, but they 

 seem to be the only ones to which the data supplied by the ex- 

 periments are sufficient to conduct us. Had the moment of the 

 train commencing to move, and the moment it came to rest, 

 been observed, its mean velocity M'ould in each case have been 

 known ; and although that would not have been sufficient to 

 establish the amount of resistance at any given speed, it would 

 at least have supplied the means of better approximation. Had 

 the experiment, however, been satisfactorily conducted with a 

 view to develop the effect of the resistance of the air, the time 

 of passing each successive stake should have been observed, and 

 thus tlie rate of the variation of the speed woiild have been dis- 

 coverable, as we shall presently perceive. 



Since the preceding paragraphs were set in type, the writer of 

 this report has been favoured by Mr. Edward Woods, engineer 

 to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, (to whose 

 intelligent aid the Committee has been throughout its proceed- 

 ings much indebted,) with an account of the times of passing the 

 successive stakes in the experiment made with the five wagons 

 loaded with the reduced weight of 25*58 tons. Mr. Woods, 

 however, wishes it to be understood that for this observation of 

 the times M. de Pambour is not responsible, it having been taken 

 on the occasion by Mr. Woods himself for his individual satis- 

 faction. 



The foot of the inclined plane corresponded with the stake 

 No. 19; and it will be observed, that the time of descejiding 



