FOREST TRAMWAY 315 



However, unless the tramway leads to the place where 

 the timber is to be converted, it will generally be preferable 

 to make a hard road and rely upon ordinary haulage, unless 

 the length of tramway is very long at least over i mile. 

 For, at the end of the tramway, the timber would have to be 

 unloaded, and then reloaded on to waggons ; so that, unless 

 the length of tramway be sufficient to more than pay for the 

 cost of reloading, out of the saving effected by the cheaper 

 cost of tramway haulage over ordinary road haulage, there 

 will not be much advantage in having the tramway instead of 

 a metalled road. 



The advantages of a tramway over a road are briefly : 



(1) Haulage is very cheap. 



(2) The tramlines can be moved, and spurs are easily 



made right up to the nearest ride where the timber is 

 growing. 



And the disadvantages are : 



(1) That unloading and reloading on to waggons is 



usually necessary. 



(2) That the tramway lines are not serviceable for other 



vehicles of commerce (if so desired). 



In laying tramways, a gradient up to I in 13 is admissible, 

 and curves with a radius of from 70 to 80 feet ; though, if only 

 short lengths of timber are being removed, the radius of a 

 curve may be much less. The rails should weigh about 5 Ibs. 

 per foot, and there should be sleepers about every 3 feet 6 

 inches apart. Lighter metal will suffice if the sleepers be 

 closer together. 



The most serviceable sleepers (or ties) are, for portability, 

 those made of corrugated steel ; though creosoted wooden 

 sleepers may be used. The usual gauge is 24 inches. Near 

 dangerous places, as where a steep gradient must terminate 

 in a curve, a short length of " run away lines " should be 

 provided, if possible. These should lead up hill, so as to stop 

 the bogies or trollies, and switch points will have to be 

 provided, so as to turn the trollies off. This, however, would 

 involve having a man stationed at these points. 



