RAILWAYS 



RAILWAYS 



automatic couplings ; and (2) 

 loose coupled stock without con- 

 tinuous brakes. Most goods wagons 

 fall into the latter class. 



In America long open cars, with 

 a passage along the middle and 

 seats on each side, are standard 

 for passenger traffic. In the British 



it will encounter, and which will be 

 encountered even by a rly. that hugs 

 the sea, will necessitate changes in 

 the steepness of the ascent, with 

 occasional stretches of descending 

 gradient, and also the introduction 

 of curves. To what extent the 

 engineer will preserve uniformity 

 of gradient and straightness by 

 taking the line through elevations 

 in cuttings or tunnels and across 

 depressions on embankments or 

 viaducts will depend on circum- 

 stances. On British rlys. the steep- 

 ness of a gradient is defined by 

 stating the distance in which there 



Railways. 1. Engine and coach of first train in the U.S.A., which ran from Albany to Schenectady, Aug. 3, 1831. 

 2. Metal railway ticket, Leicester and Swannington Rly., opened July 17, 1832. 3. Interior of Euston station, London, 

 c. 1840. 4. First down train on the Metropolitan Rly., London, passing Fraed Street junction, Jan. 10, 1863. 5. Train 



with uncovered 3rd class carriages, c. 1860 



is a rise or fall of one unit, while in 

 America a percentage notation is 

 employed; thus a gradient of 1 in 

 100 is the British equivalent of the 

 American 1 p.c. grade, and 1 in 200 

 is a half p.c. grade. The weight of 

 the trains that can be hauled by a 

 single 1 ocomotive over a given length 

 of line is determined by the steepest 

 gradient occurring on it, and this is 

 therefore known as the ruling gra- 

 dient ; but in some cases, where 

 the trains can " rush " the ascent 

 by the aid of the momentum pre- 

 viously acquired, a gradient steeper 

 than that fixed on as the ruling 

 one may be allowed, while in 

 others the trains may be assisted 

 up by a " bank " or " pusher " 

 engine. A gradient exceeding 1 

 in 166 is now considered steep 

 for express traffic ; but many 

 steeper gradients are to be found 

 even on important lines, e.g. the 

 Lickey incline on the Midland 

 main line south of Birmingham 



3, ty courttsy of L. & N.W. Rly. 



runs on a slope of 1 in 37 for two 

 miles. 



The degree of curvature of a 

 simple circular curve is expressed in 

 Great Britain by stating the length 

 in chains (1 chain = 66 feet) of the 

 radius of the circle. In America 

 the degree of a curve is the angle 

 at its centre subtended by a chord 

 of 100 ft. Besides increasing re- 

 sistance, curves are objectionable, 

 because they tend to derail the 

 trains. To prevent accidents of 

 this kind the outer rail of the 

 curve is laid somewhat higher than 

 the inner one, the tilt thus given 

 to the train counteracting the 

 overturning tendency. 



ROLLING STOCK. In the United 

 Kingdom railway rolling stock is 

 classified under two heads : (1) 

 Coaching stock, including passenger 

 cars, mail vans, and other vehicles 

 fitted with continuous brakes and 

 closely coupled together by means 

 of screw couplings, or, occasionally, 



Isles cars of this type are used on 

 some electric rlys., but carriages 

 with separate compartments are 

 still retained for local trains driven 

 by steam. Long distance trains are 

 usually composed of corridor or 

 vestibule stock with lavatory ac- 

 commodation, dining cars, and at 

 night sleeping cars for first-class 

 passengers. Formerly the chief 

 British rlys. issued first, sedond, 

 and third class tickets, but the 

 Midland Company abolished 

 second class in 1875, and its ex- 

 ample has since been largely fol- 

 lowed. Trains de luxe for trans- 

 Continental travel have many of 

 the conveniences of an hotel, such 

 as separate state rooms, library, 

 smoking-room, barber's shop, bath- 

 room, and typist's room. 



Passenger trains are commonly 

 heated by steam from the engine, 

 transmitted through train pipes 

 to radiators in the carriages, and 

 are lighted by gas or electricity. 



