500 EEPOET— 1891. 



Ordinary goods trucks may be made of any gauge, but for 

 cattle-trucks and horse-boxes the narrow gauge is incon- 

 veniently nari'ow. 



In general, also, it may be remarked that narrow-gauge 

 carriages, cattle-trucks, and horse-boxes are necessarily 

 deficient in lateral stability, and are easily derailed when 

 travelling at high speed over lines the levels of which are not 

 in perfect adjustment — a circumstance often occurring with 

 heavy goods traffic after a downpour of rain. The somewhat 

 recent occurrence of a train being blown over by the wind is a 

 striking illustration of the instability of narrow-gauge rolling- 

 stock. 



And, lastly, it may be remarked that cranes mounted on 

 narrow-gauge trucks cannot be used without the trucks being 

 first bolted to the rails to keep them from tipping over even 

 when lifting a very moderate weight. 



Inefficiency of Naekow-gauge Stock. 



The conclusions drawn by the author from the above con- 

 siderations are two : first, that the diminution of speed greatly 

 increases the number of engines, carriages, and trucks, as well 

 as the cost of labour, required to carry on a given traffic ; 

 second, that the reduction of the gauge diminishes the 

 efficiency of the rolling-stock in every important particular. 



Mode of dealing with Shaup Cubves. 



It may be and often has been argued that railways have 

 sometimes to be constructed in situations where the curves 

 must be so sharp that they cannot be worked on the standard 

 gauge. 



In these exceptional cases the author would suggest that,, 

 rather than set out a line to wriggle like an eel on a narrow 

 ledge notched out for miles on a precipitous mountain-side, it 

 will generally be better to take a bolder route, although involving 

 steeper grades and a different system of traction ; and that, when 

 these circuitous routes are unavoidable, it is a mistake by 

 narrowing the gauge to cripple the engine-power in places 

 where above all others it is most wanted, and that it is best to 

 use engines working with toothed wheels on a central rack, or 

 with horizontal drivers gripping a raised central rail. 



Working-expenses. 

 The study of the above-named considerations leaves little to 

 be said about the working-expenses of narrow-gauge lines. The 

 extra maintenance of the road, and the maintenance and 

 renewal of a larger quantity of rolling-stock, added to the 

 increase of the wages bill on account of the ereater number of 



