On Portable Railways
1884; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 35; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1243/pime_proc_1884_035_019_02
ISSN2058-1203
Autores ResumoNarrow-gauge railways have been known for 5 very long time in Great Britain.The most familiar lines of this description are in Wales, and it is enough to instance the Fcstiniog Railway (2 feet gauge), which has been used for the carriage of passengcrs and goods for nearly half a century.The prosperous condition of this railway, which has been so successfully improved by Mr. James Spooner and his son Mr. Charles Spooner, affords sufficient proof that narrowgauge railways are not only of great utility buz may be also very remunerative.In Wales the first narrow-gauge raiIway dates from 1832.It was constructed merely for the carriage of slates from Festiniog to Port-Madoc ; and some years later another was made from the slate quarries at Penrhyn to the port of Bangor.As the tract of country traversed by the railways became richer by degrees, the idea was conceived of substituting locomotives for horses, and of adapting the line to the carriage of goods of all sorts, and finally of passengers also.But these railways, although very economical, are at the same time very complicated in construction.Their arrangements are based upon the same principles as railways of the ordinary gauge, and arc not by any means capable of being adapted t o agriculture, to public works, or to any other purpose where the tracks are constantly liable to removal.Tbcse permanent narrow-gauge lines, the laying of which demands the service of engineers, and the maintenance of which entails considerable expense, suggested to the author, then a gentleman-farmer and distiller at Petit-Bourg, near Paris, the idea of forming a system of Portable Railways composed entirely of metal, and capable of being readily laid.Cultivating one of the largest PORTABLE RAILWAYS.
Referência(s)