498 EEPOET— 1891. 



the road, the relative damage to the road increasing with the 

 very necessity for keeping it more perfectly in level than would 

 be required with wider gauges. 



An illustration of this came under the author's notice when 

 the 5ft. Sin. gauge of the railways in Canterbury, New Zealand, 

 was reduced to 3ft. 6in., the platelayers' wages rising at once 

 to nearly double their previous amount. It may be mentioned 

 that the ballast was weak, being merely round shingle, and 

 could only be kept in place at the curves by boxing it up with 

 earth — in fact, burying it in the formation — a precaution which 

 however has been found necessary on many lines of standard 

 gauge, especially since the flange-rail came extensively into 

 use in place of the double-headed rail commonly used on 

 English lines. 



With regard to renewal of material, it cannot be said that 

 the gauge has any relation to the durabihty of rails and sleepers, 

 except that there is more wear upon the rails with the narrow 

 gauge than with the broader gauges, the speed and the work 

 done remaining the same. 



EOLLING-STOCK. 



The next question we come to is that of rolling-stock, and 

 here we really arrive at the consideration by which the ques- 

 tion of gauge is practically governed. 



First, let it be here repeated, if need be, for the hundredth 

 time, that " light " and " narrow gauge " are not convertible 

 terms as applied to railways. Light railways may be worked 

 with greater advantage on wdde than on narrow gauges, whilst 

 narrow-gauge railways, if required to carry heavy traffic, will 

 involve as heavy works and as great, if not greater, construc- 

 tive cost, than if made to the standard gauge. 



Let us consider the question of rolling-stock under the two 

 great divisions of engines and carriages. 



And first with regard to engines : — 



Engines. 



Now, what are the characteristics of engines on the broad 

 and narrow gauges, as compared with those built for the 

 standard gauge ? 



The 5ft. Sin. gauge affords room for the simplest arrange- 

 ment of the valve-gear with inside cylinders of large diameter, 

 and of large outside cylinders without objectionable overhang, 

 whilst with tank engines the extra 6in. adds a considerable 

 mileage to the length of the trip between the visits to the 

 watertanks. 



The 3ft. Gin. gauge involves reduced area of firegrate and 

 diameter of boiler, whilst the diminished width of base involves 



