HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IN NEW SOUTH WALES, 603 



On the Western line, from Parramatta to Penritli, the steepest 

 gradient is one in sixty -six for a length of seventy -four chains; from 

 Penrith to Bathurst the total lengths of the steepest inclines are 

 as follows : — One in thirty for one mile sixty-three chains, one in 

 thirty -three for sixteen miles fifty -three cliains, one in forty for 

 six miles twenty chains, one in forty-two for four miles two chains, 

 one in forty-six for thirty-one chains, one in forty-seven and 

 eighty-nine for seventy chains, one in forty-eight for forty-eight 

 chains, one in fifty for seventy-seven chains ; making thirty-five 

 and a-half miles of inclines ranging from one in thirty to one in 

 fifty. The longest continuous incline of one in thirty .three is one 

 mile and sixty-six chains. From Bathurst to Orange, forty-seven 

 miles, the steepest incline is one in forty, and the longest con- 

 tinuous incline two miles and seventy chains. From Orange to 

 Dubbo there are a few short inclines of one in forty, and from Dubbo 

 to Bourke very few steep inclines occur, the greater portion of 

 the line is either level, or on gi'adients of small inclination. 



On the Northern line, between Strathfield and Newcastle, the 

 steepest gradient is one in forty, the longest length of which occurs 

 in the descent to the Hawkesbury Bridge at Peat's Ferry, where 

 it is three miles long (See PI. XLIV.). On the line between 

 Newcastle and Singleton the steepest gradient for a short distance 

 is one in sixty-three. From Singleton to Muswellbrook there are 

 four short inclines of one in thirty-three, and from Muswellbrook 

 to Murrurundi the steepest gradient is one in fifty. Between 

 Murrurundi and Tamworth the steepest gradient is one in forty. 

 From Tamworth to Tenterfield there is a gradient commencing 

 at two hundred and eight and three-quarter miles from New- 

 castle of one in forty-eight for a distance of three and 

 a-quarter miles ; the steepest gradient is one in forty for a 

 length of three miles, in the descent from Ben Lomond. From 

 Wallerawang to Mudgee the steepest gradient is one in forty, 

 which occurs in a few short lengths, the longest of which is 

 about one and a-quarter miles. From Sydney to Kiama, on 

 the Illawarra Railway, there is no gradient between Sydney and 

 George's River steeper than one in sixty; the steepest gradient 

 between this point and Kiama is one in forty, which occurs in 

 three lengths, the sum of which is three miles. From Sydney to 

 Goulburn the sharpest curves occur at entering and leaving Picton 

 Station, where they are sixteen chains radius. From Picton to 

 Goulbui'n, one hundred and thirty-four miles, there is no curve 

 less tlian thirty chains radius. From Goulburn to Wagga Wagga, 

 one hundred and seventy-four miles, in descending the Cullerin 

 Range, twenty-two miles from Goulburn, there is one curve of 

 nineteen chains radius. With this exception, the smallest radius 

 of a curve is twenty chains. From Wagga Wagga to Albury, 

 seventy-five miles, the smallest radius of a curve is thirty chains. 

 The smallest radius of a curve on the portion of the line from 



