for Agricultural Purposes. 
395 
of the largest 4-\v]ieeled waggon admissible on this gauge will be taken at 
3' G" X 7 ft. but laefcrably at the proper proportion of 3 ft. x 6 ft., and the loads 
at a maximum average of 1 ton ; the locomotive weighing 2 tons, with 4^' 
cj'liuder, and capable of hauling net loads of mineral {i.e. paying loads) of 
7 tons up gradients of 1 in 50, and a ])roportionate number of cubic feet of 
bulky goods. Three times this load would be hauled on the level — say 20 
tons, but light railways being seldom level, and the locomotives being seldom 
fully loaded, an average paying load of 5 tons will be taken as being about 
correct. 
The loading and unloading costing in all cases about the same, the haulage 
only will be considered, and that only in the direction in which it is heaviest, 
the lighter return load having clearly no bearing on the comparison. 
A distance of one mile between the two points will be taken as about what 
is usually required ; although the relative cost will not very materially dift'er 
if the distance be two or three miles; the longer distance, however, being 
slightly in favour of the locomotives. 
The railway is supposed to pass along the sides of roads, or over fields, the 
lino being unfenced and carried through hedges in such a way as to be no 
impediment to the train, whilst preventing the passage of cattle. (The writer 
has some such railway cattle " stops " on his own line.) No allowance has 
been made in the comparison for way-leave or for land requiring to be bought, 
as in many cases the land is owned by the constructor of the line : therefore, 
in cases where such expenses arise, they must be added to the cost of haulage 
by steam in the following estimates. 
The cost of an 18" gauge line will be about 10s. per yard run, complete ; 
made up as follows : — 
s. 
Earth- work (2 cubic yards per yard run) .. 2 
Bridges (including cattle-stops) 1 
Ballast 1 
Eails (18 lbs. per yard, steel, with fish-plate) 3 
Laying and spikes 1 
Sleepers 1 
Sundries 1 
Cost per yard 10 
The writer's line cost rather less than this, but it is lighter, and he sawed 
up his own timber for sleepers. 
The cost of rolling stock would be — 
£. 
Locomotives 250 
12 Waggons at Ql, say 100 
And taking 2000 yards as equal to a mile of line (the extra amount being 
for sidings) the cost will be — 
£. 
2000 yards of line 1000 
Rolling stock 350 
Add 150?. for extras, and the total equipment of a mile of line will amount 
to 1500?. 
If we now take the engine as working 1 day a week, or say 50 days in 
the year for 8 hours a day, and making 1 trip every hour with a paying load 
of 5 tons, we shall have 40 tons moved per day = 2000 tons per annum. 
With a double set of waggons nearly as much again could be moved in the 
time ; but the above is taken as average work, it being easier to work another 
day each week than to press more into one day. 
