110 On Railway Gradients. 



Great Western proprietary and opposing Landowners of the 

 District, on account of the introduction of inclines scarcely per- 

 ceptible to the eye. So formidable a character did the oppo- 

 sition assume, that Dr. Lardner was commissioned by the first- 

 named Company, to undertake a series of the most elaborate 

 experiments on the economical working of Railway Gradients. 

 Much time and research were expended in investigating a subject 

 ridiculed by opposing partizans ; and, in reviewing the subject 

 it is interesting to observe the bias and prejudice that interested 

 motives will lend to questions demanding the utmost calmness 

 and deliberation in discussion. The inclines, about which so 

 great a controversy arose, were those of 1 in 250. Dr. Lardner, 

 in carrying on his experiments, proved, that in the working of a 

 Train, the velocity acquired by Gravity alone in descent, was a 

 compensating feature in favour of grades, producing a result 

 nearly equivalent in value to the increased power incurred in 

 performing an ascent of equal ratio : recent experience has 

 established this an axiom. 



Tracing the growth of Railways, and their gradual extension 

 into remote mountainous districts, it is pleasing to note how 

 readily the Locomotive adapted itself to circumstances ; 

 how the opponents of severe inclines modified their views, and 

 became the foremost in the van of improvement. 



As an example of level lines in England, the London and 

 North-Western, and Great Western, stand pre-eminent. On the 

 latter it has been frequently remarked that the cuttings are so 

 level they are with difficulty drained. 



In the United Kingdom, as a general rule, Gradients of a 

 very favourable character prevail, and only in exceptional cases 

 the reverse is the case. 



In the United States of America there are Railways upon 

 which inclines of unprecedented severity have been introduced : 

 and American Engineers have in these cases, with national 

 energy, outstript all previous experience. I shall presently 

 quote the cases to which allusion is made ; before doing so, 

 however, I would observe that, as a rule, Gradients on American 

 lines are of a favourable character. 



On the continent of Europe some interesting innovations of 

 Railway experience have been made ; long steep Gradients have 

 been adopted with entire success. Such are found to be capable 

 of economical working, with heavy goods trains, and this, too, 

 combined with speed ; results highly encouraging to the Engineer 

 in countries possessing physical difficidties. 



The particulars of these, and other successes of engineering 



