Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

116 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. In one or two places, where the line had been relaid previously, cross-sleepers had been introduced, chairs /being provided at the narrow width. On these lengths the rail had merely to be transferred from one set of chairs to another and the sleeper ends cut off ; but at stations, particularly large ones, the work was of a most exacting character, owing done on the following day being to complete the laying in of some of the fittings, and to finally ballast, test, and adjust the line. For testing and consolidating the track a number of narrow gauge engines were em- ployed to pass to and fro over the several sections, which, one by one, were certified complete and ready for the passage of traffic. BROAD GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES IN THE “ MORTUARY ” AT SWINDON, WAITING TO BE BROKEN UP. Over seventy engines are included in this photograph. to the number of lines and the complicated blocks to be laid in. At Plymouth and some other large centres the broad gauge lines were entirely swept Line away, and new sets of switches and crossings inserted; but whichever expedient was adopted, the work proceeded apace, and by Saturday night the gauge was narrowed practically throughout and the sleepers tied, all that remained to be The Gauge converted in Thirty Hours. The entire work was finished well within the appointed time, thanks to the that prevailed and the com- pleteness of the arrangements ; and the Sunday night mail train from Paddington to Pen- zance, after traversing the Lon- don and South-Western Railway from Exeter to Plymouth, continued its journey to Pen- zance over the newly-altered track. On Mon- fine weather