EARLY WESTERN RAILROADS. 
89 
As the old rails wore out, and when the manufacture and 
use of rolled-iron rails became more general, these took the 
place of the old cast-iron edge-rail. They were used in lengths 
of from ten to eighteen feet, and being all flat-footed, were 
not secured to the stones by chairs, but were spiked down. The 
joints between two rails were made with a clasp, which gripped 
the flanges of both, the whole being usually secured to a stone. 
The rails were spiked to the same stones to which the original 
chairs had been fastened. Besides these, other stones were 
packed under the rails so as to, as far as possible, ensure a 
continuous solid bed. The rolled-rails were of various patterns; 
the four more especially used, shown in the diagram, being : — 
1. An ordinary bridge rail weighing 45 lb. per yard. 2. A 
solid rail of similar form weighing 60 lb. per yard. 3. A 
Vignoles flange rail weighing 53^ lb. per yard. 4. A similar 
but smaller rail weighing 38§ lb. per yard. 
The traffic over this line gradually decreased until 1880, when 
the portion between Princetown and the " Kock " was reconstructed 
for locomotive purposes, and a connection effected with the Great 
Western Eailway at Yelverton. 
The alterations were completed, and the railway opened, in 
August, 1883, the permanent way being the standard Great 
Western (narrow-gauge), of which a sketch is given for comparison 
with its predecessors. 
REDRUTH AND CHACEWATER RAILWAY. 
In 1824 the Redruth and Chacewater Railway Company was 
incorporated for making and maintaining a railway or tramroad 
from Redruth to Point Quay, with several branches therefrom; 
and also for restoring, improving, and maintaining the navigation 
of Restronguet Creek. The length of the main line was nine and 
a-quarter miles, and there were four branches, amounting together 
to about five miles. The capital was £22,500. This line was at 
one time laid with Barlow rails. A portion is now part of the 
West Cornwall line, the remainder is worked by a locomotive. 
BODMIN AND WADEBRIDGE RAILWAY. 
The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway was first authorized 
by Act, dated 1832. It was the first line in the West on which 
steam-power was used, and was opened in 1834. The total length 
