48 RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. 



exceptional, and where it was absolutely necessary that he 

 should organize the most complete precautions to prevent the 

 possibility of trains, or portions of trains, running back down 

 inclines. Starting from sea-level, the line, which was laid to the 

 4 feet 8 inch guage, rose to a summit of over 8000 feet, and 

 on the mountain division there were many long gradients of 1 in 

 40, 1 in 33, and in one place a continuous gradient of 1 in 25 for 

 12 miles. The specially powerful engines reserved for these 

 heavy inclines were each supplied with an ordinary hand-brake, 

 a steam-brake, and a Westinghouse continuous brake. The 

 passenger carriages, which were of considerable length, and 

 carried on a four-wheeled bogie-truck at each end, were all fitted 

 up with the Westinghouso brake, and in addition each carriage 

 had its own hand-wheel brake with the pawl and ratchet gear- 

 ing. All the goods waggons, which were of the American type, 

 were fitted with hand-wheel brakes similar to those on the 

 carriages. Special gangs of trained brakesmen took charge of 

 the trains on these inclines, a brakesman to every carriage or 

 waggon, and were always in readiness in case of the breakage 

 of a coupling, or the failure in the Westinghouse brake or brakes 

 on engine. The immunity from accidents justified the combined 

 precautions adopted, and proved the possibility of working such 

 severe gradients with perfect safety. 



The long-continued application of the brakes on heavy 

 inclines naturally leads to the question as to the description of 

 wheel to be adopted for the work. Not only are the wheels 

 subjected to very severe torsional strains, but the temperature 

 at the circumference is raised very high in consequence of the 

 friction. Perhaps, theoretically, the safest wheel would be one 

 made out of a solid piece of metal, similar to the chilled cast- 

 iron wheels of the United States, or the steel disc wheels used on 

 some lines in Europe, in either of which holes can be left for 

 sprags. Wheels of this description can withstand very heavy 

 wear and tear, they are not affected by increased temperature, 

 and they certainly have the minimum of parts to work loose. 

 Of the built-up wheels, the strong forged-iron-spoke wheel with 

 steel tyres shows excellent results, and always gives due warning 

 of loosening by indications at the tyre rivets. The suddenness 

 with which the solid wooden centre wheels sometimes break up 

 and fall to pieces does not commend them for a service where 

 there must be a long-sustained application of the brakes. The 



