180 
maximum advantage in the use of continuous breaks, viz., a 
train weighing 60 tons, and consisting of an engine weigh- 
ing 20 tons without breaks, a tender weighing 10 tons with 
breaks, and a train of five carriages weighing 30 tons, we 
see that a retarding force of 17,000 lbs. could be called into 
operation. 
If we compare with this, a train of the same weight sup- 
plied with only a single break van besides the tender break, 
the retarding force would not ordinarily exceed 5,400 lbs. 
Hence, in this case, the advantage of the continuous self- 
acting break would be in the proportion of 17,000 to 5,400, 
or more than three to one. 
From an average of the whole experiments, it was evident 
that a train fitted throughout with the continuous breaks, and 
detached from the engine, might be brought to a state of rest 
at different rates of speed in the following distances : — 
When travelling at 20 miles an hour, in 24 yards. 
55 
30 
55 
53 
55 
55 
40 
55 
94 
55 
55 
50 
55 
147 
55 
55 
60 
5 * 
212 
55 
This exhibits in a very clear manner the advantages of 
this class of breaks, in which the whole weight of the train 
is employed in generating the retarding force required to 
stop it. 
If there were added to the above an efiScient break on the 
engine as well as on the carriages, the whole train might be 
brought to a stand, when running at a velocity of 50 miles 
an hour, within a distance of 150 yards. 
Mr. David Chadwick drew attention to the improvement 
of the condition of the working classes since the year 1839, 
and to the causes to which that improvement was to be 
attributed. 
