RACK RAILWAYS. 93 



On the Bhore ghat and Thul ghat adhesive inclines, where the 

 ascent is from the Bombay flats to the tableland of the Deccan, 

 there used to be, when I was there many years ago, frequent 

 safety or catch sidings at intervals with reverse grades, the points 

 of which were kept normally open to the siding, and were only 

 closed by a pointsman, when the signal of the descending driver 

 indicated that he had full control of his train, but whether this 

 practice is now continued since the introduction of the more 

 powerful modern brakes, I am not aware ; and in this country of 

 high wages, it would add considerably to the working expenses 

 of the section. 



The Government Consulting Engineer in the case of the Nilgiri 

 line, reported against the adoption of safety sidings, except in a 

 modified form. His report states, "I am of opinion that, except 

 when the features of the country are such as to make it possible 

 at reasonable cost, to make a guard siding at the upper end of a 

 station, of sufficient length and grade to stop a runaway with 

 absolute safety, it is wiser to rely on the brakes, and to make 

 quite sure of their efficiency. I believe I am correct in stating 

 that catch sidings do not exist on any rack railway elsewhere. 

 They cannot be laid in at any place where there is a rack. They 

 were not ordered by the Board of Trade after the Snowdon 

 accident." 



I do not understand the statement that catch sidings cannot be 

 laid where there is a rack, as points and crossings, as already 

 described, are in use on several rack lines. 



.As to speed on the rack, it is stated that a velocity of 17 to 20 

 miles per hour, is easily and comfortably attained, but it is evident 

 that on such a comparatively short length as ordinarily is required 

 for the rack ascent, this matter is of minor importance. 



Two systems have been adopted in lines of which a rack section 

 forms a part, firstly, that in which one or more rack engines are 

 employed, only on the rack length, taking up trains brought to 

 the foot of the incline by the ordinary adhesion engines, and 



