The Viaduct Works' Handbook

PREFACE. The want of a handy book, containing reliable data upon which approximate estimates for bridges, roofs, buildings, railway machinery, &c., may be formed, has long been felt, more especially by persons at a distance from home, and having charge of en- gineering work in foreign countries. Information on these subjects will accumulate in the hands of any one who is called upon to superintend extensive engineering works, and who will be at the pains to make notes of all that appears to deserve attention. The materials forming the following pages have been collected chiefly from work actually carried out at the Viaduct Works, which has passed through the author’s hands during a period of about fourteen years while employed there. In order to make the book more generally useful, such tables have been added as are likely to be required in estimating work of the nature described, with a catalogue of articles manufactured at the Works. The prices mentioned are to be understood as merely approxi- mate; they will, of course, be modified according to the variations in the price of iron,* the quantity, mode of payment, &c. It is, * The price of manufactured iron has varied in the last fourteen years as much as £3 to £4 per ton, and is continually varying.