NARROW GAUGE AS APPLIED TO BRANCH RAILWAYS IN N S.AV. XXVII. 



comparison has nothing to do, dealing, as we are, with the per- 

 manent requirements of the future. 



This traffic represents, therefore, 624 train miles, per mile per 

 annum, with an average gross load, behind engine, of 166 tons, 

 equal to 103,584 tons gross annually, of which 66,144 tons is 

 dead, and 37,440 tons live load. 



As to the comparative cost of this service, on lines of each 

 gauge, we may omit, as independent of gauge, the general 

 charges and the traffic department expenses, which vary with the 

 volume of traffic, more than with the number of trains in which 

 it is carried. The maintenance and locomotive expenses, in 

 N.S.W., in 1896-97, were about 32d. per train mile. Hence the 

 cost of working the above traffic, as regards these two depart- 

 ments on the standard gauge, would be, annually, per mile, 

 624 train miles x 32d. - £83 4s. 



Now let us see how this same volume of traffic would be con- 

 ducted by a 2 feet line. 



Taking the up journey first, we have 31,200 tons to be conveyed 

 annually, and for the dead load, each 100 tons has to be sub- 

 divided, according to the proportions already given, into 

 42 x 0-38, 14 x 1-57, 17 x 1-00, 14 x 2-00 and 13 x 4-00, so 

 that for each 100 tons of goods, 134*94 tons of waggons will be 

 required, equal to a total of 42,101 tons dead up loading. Then 

 taking i, as before, of the live up load, 31,200 tons for the 

 down traffic, equal to 6,240 tons, we get, as the mean live loading 



annually, 31 » 200 + 6 > 24Q = 18,720 tons, and 42,101 tons dead 

 load equals 60,821 tons gross. 



The comparison between che hauling capacity of an ordinary 

 branch standard gauge engine, as regards load behind it, with a 

 first-class 2 feet engine, ceteris paribus, except as to speed, which 

 will be referred to later, is about 3 to 1, therefore, if the average 

 of 166 tons gross load be assigned to the former, 55 tons will be 



60 821 

 that of the latter, and — "—- — tons = 1106 train miles will be 



55 



