Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. 281 so constructed as to have the roof on the plane of any possible avalanche, and the train can therefore pass through them in perfect safety. The sheds are of five types, the chief of which is as fol- lows : The uphill side is held by a retaining Types crib of cejar Of SHOW- , . . logs. The sheds. ® rafters are supported at one end by this crib, and at the other rest on a framed bent, the middle of the rafter being supported by struts. As a rule the uprights are five feet apart between centres, but at points where unusually severe slides may be expected this distance is reduced to four feet. As a shed is a valuable structure, and also subject to fire, ample precautions have been taken. A complete system of piping extends throughout the shed, and the shed itself is broken into short lengths separated by “ fire-breaks.” These breaks are covered by split fences, which consist of heavy V-shaped cribs, to guide the slide over the adjacent sheds. Another remarkable piece of engineering in the Ulecillewaet Valley is the section called the “ Loops.” A correspondent of The Times thus describes them :— “ First the line runs southwards along the side of the gorge towards the The glacier; then it crosses a high “Loops.” , bridge and curves back on the other side, coming out near where it started, but on a lower level. Next it curves round INTERIOR OF A SNOW-SHED. {Photo, William Notman, Montreal.) into the second ravine, swings across it, and comes back again at 120 feet lower level, and yet only 130 feet farther down the pass. There it doubles upon itself and crosses the river, immediately recrossing again. Here are six almost parallel lines of railway in full view, each at a lower stage, and each made up largely of huge trestle bridges.” Proceeding eastwards, the trains have to climb a steep gradient round the loops, and so great is the distance that has to be travelled to make the rise, and so much time is necessary to accomplish the distance, that it is quite possible for an active man to drop off a I