278 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 



The Gradients. 



But taking tlie sj'stcm as it is, the Commissiouers have set them- 

 selves the task of ascertaining how the traffic may be worked safely 

 and expeditiously at the lowest cost. They found that in 1888 they 

 had 631 miles of steep gradients, varying from 1 in 30 to 1 in 75. 

 Taking the successive gradients on each of the three trunk lines and 

 the Sydney and Newcastle connection, the following comparison is 

 presented : — 



Thus, on the Northern line, in the course of 343 miles, there is, owing 

 to the mountainous nature of the country traversed, a total climb for 

 the engines to accomplish of 11,623 feet; on the Western line there 

 is a total climb of 9,188 feet in 247 miles ; and on the Southern line 

 of 9,183 feet in 287 miles, with nearly corresponding descents, and 

 what this means to the cost of working heavy traffic and in maintenance 

 must be something very great. An engine which can haul 750 tons 

 at 18 miles an hour up an incline of 1 in 150, can only deal with 250 

 tons at half that speed up an incline of 1 in 30, and it can therefore 

 be well understood how strenuous are the efforts of the Commissioners 

 to reduce the steepest gradients where possible. The accompanying* 

 diagi-am showing the gradients on the Western line will indicate the 

 natui'e of the countr}' traversed. 



Tlie Position and Prosi^ects. 



In all this there has, perhaps, been rather too much of technicality 

 for a popular guide. But an effort has been made to show what are 

 the difficulties to contend against, and what progress has been made 

 in overcoming them. We must recollect that in stating the New 

 South Wales Railway system has been profitable in the year 1894-5 

 to the extent of 3*6 per cent upon the capital outlay, the period of 

 depression recently passed through affoi-ds insufficient data as to the 

 prospects when trade, and consequently traffic, shall have revived, and 

 the earnings of the people shall have expanded. This tells upon all 

 railways ; and upon adequately maintained lines like those under the 

 control of the Now South Wales Railway Commissioners, is certain to 

 add to the earning power materially. Beyond which, settlement is 

 steadily extending in the interior, and the development of agriculture, 

 dairying, and mining, as well as of those branches of the pastoral 

 industry represented by frozen and chilled meat shipments, preserved 

 meats, tallow, and so forth, will inevitably, at an early period, add 

 greatly and increasingly to the traffic. Money can now be raised for 

 railway construction at hardly more than 3 per cent, interest, and 

 even upon the present rate of earnings, this means that a profit can be 

 earned over and above the cost of construction. The costly trunk 

 lines through the mountains are already here; and future extensions 



