Railway practice Volume 2; a collection of working plans and practical details of construction in the public works of the most celebrated engineers ...

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 Excerpt: ... are used. This stratum of Ballast shall be beaten into a firm and solid mass, by heavy beaters, worked by at least two men, and the thickness before mentioned shall be considered to apply only after this operation has been effectually performed. Upon this surface the blocks and sleepers are to be laid in their proper situations for receiving the rails. When Stone Blocks are employed, each block shall be bedded in its proper situation, by frequently lifting it by a spring lever to the height of 1 foot above the surface, and letting it fall forcibly on the ballasting; this operation shall be continued until no sensible difference of level is perceived after each fall: should the block then be found too low, it shall be removed out, and more material placed in its intended bed, and the same operation continued until the block has reached its proper level, and has obtained as firm and uniform a bed as can be obtained throughout the whole area of the under side of the block. When wooden Sleepers are employed, the ballasting for the intended bed shall be beaten by heavy beaters, and each sleeper also forcibly beaten when it has been placed in its position, until it has been firmly and uniformly bedded throughout its whole length, and reached its proper level. If it be found lower than required, it shall be removed, and additional materials placed under its bed: the same process as before must then be renewed until it has reached its proper level. The Rails must be laid at their proper level, each of them parallel to each other, and at the same height at any point. The joinings must be made perfectly even, whether square, half-lapped, or scarfed, and be firmly secured in the chairs. The two lines of way to be 6 feet apart, and the width between the inside of the ...