LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES.

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summit, and has a double line of rails with fixed engines whichwind the carriages up and down by means of Steel wire ropes. Theinclination is very steep, sometimes about 40°, and the carriages areso arranged that the seats are kept horizontal, and the wheels arearranged to grip the rails in such a manner as to prevent theirleaving the rails, and powerful automatic brakes are fitted to preventaccident in the case of a rope breaking.

A light System of railroad has been introduced into Canada , thegauge being 3 feet 6 inches. The gradients are steep and thecurves sharp. The permanent way has timber sleepers, and therails are flat-bottomed, weighing 56 Ibs. per yard, being fastened tothe sleepers with dog spikes. The engines are coupled in eightwheels, and weigh 30 tons, taking a load of 360 tons up a gradientof 1 in 60. Curves are used in some places of 500 feet radius ongradients of 1 in 60 and 1 in 70. In one case a gradient of 1 in 50extends for four miles.

ENGINES FOR NARROW-GAUGE MINERAL LINES HAVING STEEP

GRADIENTS.

The lines leading from the numerous mines and works in ourmineral and manufacturing districts to the main lines of railwaywere formerly merely tramways worked by horses, but the need formore ready and cheaper communication soon led to the introduc-tion of a special dass of locomotive engine fitted for such work.

The following are the details of tank engines employed on oneof these branch lines about 2 miles in length, connecting the limequarries with the main line of railway. The quarries are situatedat a height of nearly 1000 feet above the sea; the country is verybleak, and much exposed to snow and rain storms in winter. Start-ing from the lowest level the line runs 1400 yards 1 in 80, 360 yards1 in 12, 450 yards 1 in 15, 630 yards 1 in 18, 680 yards 1 in 15. Thegauge of the rails is 32 inches; the rails, 28 lbs. per yard. Thissingle line was originally indifferently constructed, and crosses adeep ravine on a narrow embankment about 150 yards in length,before commencing the steep ascent of 1 in 12, with curves of oneand a half chains in some but not dangerous parts of the line. Thefirst experimental engine on this line was designed and constructedby Messrs. Hawthorn & Co. of Leith, the usual formula beingadopted, and which has been found to be quite correct in practice.

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