210 COALFIELDS AND COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



propped apart. The sleepers are of wood, properly ballasted, 

 placed 3ft. apart, and to these the rails, which are fished 

 together at the joints, are dog-spiked. Every now and again 

 a sleeper is made longer than usual, so that it can be well 



Fig. 131. Self-acting Incline. 



bedded in the ground to prevent the track from slipping down 

 hill. The rope is of the best plough steel, made up of six 

 strands with seven wires in each. The last rope was in use for 

 10 years. At the brow of the incline, as the ordinary rollers 

 would make too sharp a bend for the rope, 18in. diameter 



^S] 



Fig. 132. Roller and Bearings. 



sheaves are used. As these sometimes unfasten the clips 

 accidentally, a bobbin is attached to a sleeper close to the 

 sheave, so as to catch the axle of any runaway skip. Check 

 rails are placed parallel to the ordinary rails "at the brow of 

 the incline, so as to prevent skips running off the line. 



