Cnntiiumts |i[aiIiuii]T §ralics- 



By AETHUR WHARTON METCALFE, 



Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. 



Head January lltji, 1888. 



PART I. 



THE groat interest taken in tlio aubject of railway brakes 

 by the public generally, and by engineers in particular, 

 and the favourable reception usually accorded to papers on 

 this subject, have encouraged the author to bring this paper 

 before the Engineering Section. 



The early history of the railway brake is identical with 

 that of the brakes used on the vehicles om]>loyed on the 

 plateways and trainroads in colliery districts, and on the 

 lines which connected these with the ports from whence 

 the coal was shipped. 



Some of what are considered the most recent and most 

 important improvements in railway brakeS can be traced to 

 these early brakes, among those are : — 



I. The use of cast-iron in brake blocks. 



II. The distribution of the brake-pressure over a largo 

 surface, and the consequent reduction effected in the wear 

 and tear of brake blocks. 



Those improvements are due to Mr. Le Caau, who patented 



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