CAST GLASS RAILS AND SLEEPERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1552, 12 February 1887, Page 3

CAST GLASS RAILS AND SLEEPERS.

j Frederick Siemens, of Dresden, has succeeded i* casting glass in the same v(ay as aiVtal is cast, and obtaining an ’article corresponding to cast raetnl; [This east g,lasa is bard, not dearer .in than cast iiony 'tfnd has the advantage of transparency, so that all flaws ,can ,be defected before it is applied to practical use. 'lt will ’bo’ much lees tlx pose,fl to injury from, atmospheric in-, Sciences than iron, the process of production is not difficult, ilhe, chief feature being rapjd pooling,„The,;harflQqss and resistipg;powe^iof ibis c,apt. glass are, so g£*| tflqt j]experiments ~aro beipg.jusl now cnrried r( qat,.,at the,Siemens glass foondFji p^ r -!pi;esde { tbp purpose of the niaterial could, be ejnpjoyif.d,ff^ : r« op: railway?.. ■ ! A! sample,pt l i gli>ftß. sleep.'rs , recently tested at thp’ Anderson,., Foundry Comjjany (Limited), .Glasgow, resisted a jailing weight of ,3-jcwt, tailing upon ibfp!»le<»pef(\Rot; .in 'sand l .;baliastr, .commencing at 6in an j; rising ’by succeediriglin’cFeiaehtß,of 6iu to 9ffc- Gin —tlm maximum elevation to which the test could be "elelift'ed—without ‘effect until Ihe blow had been repeat di! for the sixth time. . Cast iron sleepers are expected to withstand V-similar MstSiip to 7ft only. I'he cost of glass sleepers will be bonsidt-rably cither cast [iron or steel, while the material is practically 'impefishablo as’- regards climate oranges and .influences, ,oj: -the ravages of such,.Jnßep i ts- j as. the whife .ant.