NARROW GAUGE SUSPENSION RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3047, 23 November 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

NARROW GAUGE SUSPENSION RAILWAY.

A novel and experiment'll railway has just, been constructed at Aldershott Camp. It is of 18in. gauge, and upon the “ suspension ” principle, patented by Mr J. B. Fell. It is t > be worked by a locomotive engine specially designed and built by Messrs Manning, War.Uc, and Co., of the Engine Works, ' Leeds, It is to meet military as well as other requirements that the “ Narrow Gauge Suspension Bailway ” has been introduced. It can be made and worked at a much less cost than any other form of railway, and is capable of carrying the whole of the traffic of branch or miners lines. The whole railway consists of a continuous structure, formed of wood or iron ; a single row of pillars stand at regular intervals along the line; the lower ends of the pillars rest upon wood , sleepers, and are steadied by transverse diagonal struts ; holes are dug iu the ground, the pillars placed in position, a d the earth well rammed down. The length of the pillar varies according to the contour of the ground, for their upper ends must range with each oth *r. so as to carry the superstructure ; this is formed by two lougi tudinal beams of wood (or iron) placed side by side, with a space between them, bolted to, strutted from, and supported by the pillars. The railway will thus be sometimes only 3ft. above the surface, while iu crossing valleys or ravines it may be from 20ft. to 30ft. high from the ground, and it may have curves or gradients as on any other railway. These longitudinal beams form continuous •‘sleepers,” and carry four rails; two on their upper surfaces, and two ou thei outer sides ; the surface rails are of iron, these carry the train, and may be of any gauge, from Sin. to iSin. ; the side rails are of wood or iron, nailed along near the lower edges of the 1 teams, so as to be below the level of the carrying rails. They are peculiar to this system, and act as “guides” for the horizontal wheels of the waggons and carriages. Where sidings occur, or shunting is required, the switches are formed by making a 20ft. length of the railway to point on one end, while the other end, resting ou a pair of rollers, travels from the main line to and from the siding. 'I he carriages arc suspended below the axles, by which arrangement the centre of gravity is brought very low, and they are furnished with horizmtal wheels running against the “guide’’rails above described, whereby the equilibrium of the carriage to leave is maintained, and it is rendered almost impossible for it to leave the rails. A committee of Boyal Fngi eers having been appointed by the War Uflicc to investigate the merit) of the system reparted so favorably that an experimental locomotive line of 13in. g.,uge, about one mile in length, has been made at Aldershott Camp. All the details appeals to have been carefully considered, and, if the result is as satisfactory as anticipated, it is intended to make several miles of this railway in and about the camps at Aldershott, and in leisure times the soldiers will he exercised in taking down and putting it up again for military transport service.