Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

112 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. CUTTING THROUGH THE TRANSOMS PREPARATORY TO SHIFTING THE RAILS. must ascertain from each stationmaster that all broad gauge stock has been worked away, and he must also satisfy himself that the whole of the trains timed to leave the re- spective junctions in advance have departed. Having done this, he must issue a notice in the following printed form to every station- master between Penzance and Exeter : ‘ This is the last broad gauge train to travel over the line between Penzance and Exeter.’ “ On receipt of this notice the stationmasters at the stations between Penzance and Exeter must give a printed notice to the representa- tive of the engineering department, in the following form, that he can take possession of the line : ‘ This is to certify that the last broad gauge train from Penzance has left this station, and the engineering department can now take possession of the line from the station in the rear up to this station for the purpose of converting the gauge.’ ” It is easier to imagine than tö describe the feelings of regret with which these “ death warrants ” were delivered by men, most of whom had grown gray in asso- ciation with the broad gauge, “Death and who, like many of the Warrants” local inhabitants, resolutely de- Issued, dined to place faith in the utilitarian narrow track. However, the cer- tificates were given, and between 3.30 and 4 a.m. on Saturday morning, May 21, some 5,000 men commenced the task of abolishing the broad gauge. Before describing the operations, it is neces- sary to digress for a moment in order to relate how this army of labour had been gathered and was organized. All day long on the