THE END-LOADIXG OF SHEEP TRUCKS. 589 



Sheep trucks are constructed with two floors, oue above the 

 other. These were lodded and unloaded through doors in the 

 sides over wharves specially constructed with rain|)s and small 

 yards, each of which latter was capable of holding the exact 

 number of sheep required for one floor of one truck. The number 

 of ramps and yards varied according to the importance of the 

 station, and a special siding was required for this trade. Seven 

 ramps, providing accommodation at one time for a similar number 

 of trucks, Avas considered a large equipment for one station, and 

 with these four (4) hours w-ere occupied in loading twenty-eight 

 trucks, while an engine was required for shunting each batch as it 

 was dealt with. Half this time was needed for unloading a train 

 of the same size. The drafting of the sheep into the yards, 

 driving them into the trucks, closing the doors of the latter and 

 the gates of the former, also the moving of the loaded trucks and 

 placing the unloaded ones in the exact position opposite the ramps, 

 all required labor, care, and time. In fact, the whole process was 

 cumbrous and expensive. Fitting up a sheep wharf was an 

 expensive item in the construction of a station, varying according 

 to the number of ramps provided. Fifteen years ago there were 

 only three stations thus provided, and the cost incurred at each 

 was £ 1,300. There was then only one gauge in the colony upon 

 which sheep were carried at that time, and therefore the question of 

 transhi^jping had not risen. It is difficult to see how this opera- 

 tion could have been carried out speedily or economically with the 

 appliances described above. 



Under the present system the trucks are fitted with end doors, 

 which, when opened, form the whole train — no matter what its 

 length may be — into an upper and lower sheep lane. An inclined 

 ramp with two floors suited to the heights of the truck floors is 

 provided, a small crush yard leads to each floor of the ramp, and a 

 large yard for the folding of the sheep completes the necessary 

 appliances, but drafting yards are now generally added for the 

 convenience of sheepowners ; they are not, however, essential to 

 the principle. 



A set of model yards, with the loading ramp, is shown on Plate 

 XVI. A. Yards of this description are provided at ail stations 

 where there is a constant trade, and the cost of erection is about 

 £400. The enlarged views upon Plate XVI. b show in detail the 

 method of constructing the standard loading and unloading ramp 

 at stations where yards are provided. 



For loading small lots of sheep at unusual places and for un- 

 loading them at stations Avhere yards are not provided a travelling 

 stage or ramp, similar to that shown upon Plate XVI.c, is provided 

 on each gaiige. Those ramjDS are folded up after use and run from 

 station to station with the train. In loading with these jjortable 

 ramps the yards are formed temporarily with a few movable 

 hurdles, which are carried about with the ramps. For unloading. 



