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CHAP. XVIII



OF CAST IRON RAIL ROADS





	Rail-roads have hitherto been constructed as a medium between lock canals and cartage; in consequence of the expense of extending the canal to the particular works in its neighborhood.



	But as the small boats so materially reduce the expense of canals, they come near to the expense of rail-roads, with which they must now be compared. The usual estimate of rail-roads is about 1,600 l per mile, which are single, with passing places, and only calculated for a descending trade; the whole being formed of a gradual descent from the works the canal; generally so calculated, that a horse may return the empty wagons with the same ease as the full ones descended, on these the average work is about five tons to a horse, descending at the rate of three miles per hour, to one ton ascending, at near the same speed; on which the wear of the wagons is very considerable; which wear must generally fall on the company, while loading into the wagons, then unloading at the canal, where there is usually a deposit for want of boats, and again, loading into the boats, tends to increase the expense of conveyance, and injure the various articles.



	There can no idea formed of the expense of a canal compared with a rail-road, without being well acquainted with the circumstances; but these should be well considered before a rail-way is laid down; and the canal should considerably surpass the expense of the rail-road, particularly of the length is greater than two miles, in order to induce subscribers to relinquish it for a rail-way; and my reasons are, that when a railway is laid down, it excludes; in a great measure, the return trade and shuts out the prospect of extension; the county, beyond its extremity, has no more hope of assistance, than before its construction; nor will any company unite with it; for if it is added to , the difficulties increase, as passing places are inadequate to an important trade; consequently, it would be necessary to form them double, increasing the expense and repairs; without the power of raising succors to the high and interior county.



	Yet the small canal is sufficiently wide to pass at every part, and transfers a trade with equal ease; meandering the hills, it holds out assistance to the sun-burnt fields, and seems to invite connection: In a country, through which a rail-way or canal is constructed, there is some hope of progressive improvement and future extension; which intimately brings this inquiry to two questions: Whether do canals, or rail-ways, present the best prospect of extension? And, which will most facilitate conveyance by a union of branches?



	It is therefore prudent to consider the various circumstances, before a rail-way, of even one mile in length, is laid down



	Rail-ways of one mile, or thereabouts, will no doubt be frequently necessary, where it may be difficult to find water at the extremity; or when the trade from the works is not sufficient to pay the expense of machinery, and its extent being but one mile, can be of little importance to the country.



	But to bring these short spaces into the general system as much as possible, see D, in the Plate of Parts: which represents the apparatus for returning the empty boats to the collieries, to other works, in cases where a regular descent  can be obtained. Suppose, for instance, such  works distant six hundred, or perhaps, more yards, a single rail-way may be constructed; on the summit of which apparatus D is formed; and a carriage being constructed to receive the boat, the leading rope laps around the vertical wheel F; which wheel works by a multiplies movement in the wheel of the shaft  G, to which a weight is suspended;  on a loaded boat descending the rail-road, its power will wind up the weight; which weight is kept up by a stopper on the wheel, and is a power in reserve to draw up an empty boat; hence, when a loaded boat descends, it winds up the weight, and on entering the canal, the shaft of F And G arc cast out of gear, which suffers the carriage to descend sufficiently to allow the boat to float: an empty boat is then placed in this carriage; and the stopper being cast off the wheel on the G shaft, the descending weight will raise the empty boat; the movement being regulated by a break, on the shaft of F there are two pinions of different diameters, which are, that the wheel F performs more revolutions in a boat ascending than descending. When the boat descends, raising the weight, she loses her power upon entering the canal; consequently, the pinions must be cast out of gear  in order to give more length of rope for the carriage to descend, and allow the boat to float; therefore, the portion of the rope thus let off, must be wound up by the power of the weight, on returning the empty boat; which is done by casting the small diameter into gear. In the return movement, this mode of working will be found a very considerable saving to the proprietor, in consequence of a single place and rope answering the purpose; and, in order that the plane may be constructed cheap, a carriage to receive the boat should be made; the carriage to have from ten to twenty small wheels which will divide the weight on so many points, and case the plane; consequently the rails may be light and cheap.



	But where the nature of the ground will not admit of a regular plane, or the distance is too great, the boats may float on a carriage for the purpose, with six or eight wheels, and be conveyed to the pits or delphs by a horse; there take her cargo, and descending to the canal, be immediately ready for navigation.



	The reader, by reverting to the various operations of these small boats passing through; many of which, where the trade is great, must be performed with the utmost expedition, from which the greatest part of the numerous advantages arise, I hope, will now see the necessity of their wheels, which, like a boat or wagon combined, has, in a great measure, the double advantage of living in to elements. Therefore, if it is necessary to give them a name, in order to discriminate from other boats, as small boats for not divide the idea, in speaking of them, I have thought Beavers might be applicable.