392 
Secondary or Narroio Gauge Railways 
Our omnibuses and tramways in Paris have carried 170,000,000 
passengers per annum. 
Our curves are of small radius at the terminus, where the cars 
turn round ; one wheel runs loose and two wheels are flanged. 
The rails are laid in a double loop at the terminus. 
We have not yet decided upon any type of traction-engine, 
and have no special means of loading or unloading, and do not 
warm the carriages in winter. 
The following description of the secondary line laid by His 
Grace the Duke of Buckingham has been kindly furnished by 
Mr. Oxley, of Buckingham : — 
Ox THE WOOTTON LiCiHT EaILWAY. 
" This railwaj' was constructed in 1871 for His Grace the Duke of Bucking- 
ham and Chandos. It is eight miles long, and effects a junction with the 
Buckinghamshire Kailway at Qnaiutuu Station. The latter railway belongs 
to an independent company, and is worked by the Great Western Railway 
Company. 
" The railway consists of a main line from Quainton to a point not far from 
the village of Brill, 6^ miles long, and of a branch I J miles long, joining the 
main line close to Wootton Mansion, and ending at Moate Farm. The whole 
line is constructed on land belonging to His Grace the Duke, save in the case 
of one or two fields. 
" The sleepers are longitudinal, 6" x G", and about three-fourths of the lot. 
are of that description of Norway timber, known in London as ' die square,' 
as well as by being cut from whole trees ; the quality is extremely tough ; it is 
creosoted with 8 to 10 lbs. weight of oil per foot cube, and was delivered at 
Quainton at Is. lOcZ. per foot. 
" The transoms are 4" x 4", and have been generally cut from the waste 
elm and other timber of the demesne, and have been pickled in a solution of 
corrosive sublimate, which latter process so hardened the wood that it was 
foimd difficult to drive the tie-rod staples. All timber used on the estate for 
purposes of construction is j^repared in this way, by special wish of His Grace 
the Duke, whose experience of it is favourable. The longitudinals are 
connected at their ends by flat iron dowels, x 21" x driven in edge- 
ways, two to each joint. The gauge is preserved by the transoms being 
secured in position by wrought-iron tie-rods, having a nut and washer at each 
end, the connection between the transom and longitudinal being a plain butt 
joint, there being one tie-rod to each transom, to which the rod is held by two 
staples. 
" The ballast is 15" deep, 9" of which is ' bottom ballast ' — it consists in part 
of rough gravel, obtained at a few miles distance — and in part of ' burnt 
ballast ' prepared on the spot, the ground here being the Oxford clay, full of 
fossil ostreas of large size. 
" The line is practically a surface line, its few cuttings and embankments in 
no instance exceeding 10 feet in height. 
" There are no bridges, all the roads, five in number, being passed by level 
crossings. 
" The culverts are of earthenware pipes ; the drain-pipes are of the same 
material, but of smaller diameters than those used for the culverts. 
" The fencing consists of hurdles made from waste timber grown in the 
demesne woods, and is of a common and i)rimitive description, having cost 
about Is. per yard forward. 
" The rails are of the bridge pattern, weight 30 lbs. per yard, and were 
