CHEAP AND LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 20, 24 January 1870, Page 3

CHEAP AND LIGHT RAILWAYS.

o Home papers contain interesting accounts of a new description of railways which seems especially adapted for such a purpose as communication between Mount Rochfort and Westport, or between Nelson and the West Coast. Tbe engine used, known as the Fairlie Engine, or "Little Wonder," built by the "Fairlie Engine and Steam Carriage Company," for the Portmadoc Festiniog Railway Company, North Wales, has obtained great celebrity from the fact of its having to work the narrowest gauge passenger railway in existence. The line has been worked now about six years, and during that time there has not been the slightest ■accident of any kind. Its guage is only two feet. Although the line is so narrow in guage, it is far the most successful, commercially, that has ever been made. The Festiniog line is for about 11 miles one continuous ascent of about 1 in 80, with very many curves, some of which are as small as 100 ft radius. The "Little Wonder," although weighing but 19| tous fully equipped with fuel and water for the road, will haul after it 120 tons ata speed of 15 miles an hour for the whole 11 miles; a feat, considering the guage and weight j that could only be accomplished by the Fairlie Engine. The engine runs with remarkable smoothness, and will pass round curves of 50ft wiih the utmost safety at 20 miles an hour. Clear width of steam carriage inside, Bft. Total weight of steam carriage, with fuel and water and a4O miles ruu, 16 tons. Accomodation for 90 passengers. This Steam Bogie Carriage has ample power to take one additional light carriage, specially constructed to accomodate 60 passengers, at an average speed of 30 miles per hour, on ordinarily constructed lines, and the cost per train mile will average about one-half tbat of the ordinary passenger train. The weight on the driving wheels is 2\ tons per wheel, instead of 5 to 8 tons ou a wheel as now ordinarily in use thus effecting great economy in the maintenance of way, and wear and tear of rails.