Notes of what has been done are always valuable for consideration and comparison, and that the following brief description and sketches may be found useful for reference, is the earnest wish of the writer. W. H. MILLS, M.INST.C.E. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. PAGE Location of a line of railway--Government regulations--Questions for consideration in connection with gauge, gradients, and curves 1 CHAPTER II. Works of construction: Earthworks, Culverts, Bridges, Foundations, Screw piles, Cylinders, Caissons, Retaining walls, and Tunnels 60 CHAPTER III. Permanent way--Rails--Sleepers--Fastenings--and Permanent-way laying 182 CHAPTER IV. Stations: Station Buildings, Roofs, Lines, and Sidings 248 CHAPTER V. Sorting-sidings--Turn-tables--Traversers--Water-Tanks and Water-Columns 285 CHAPTER VI. Comparative Weights of some Types of Modern Locomotives 304 CHAPTER VII. Signals--Interlocking--Block Telegraph and Electric Train Staff Instruments 313 CHAPTER VIII. Railways of different ranks--Progressive improvements--Growing tendency for increased speeds, with corresponding increase in weight of permanent way and rolling-stock--Electricity as a motive-power 348 INDEX 361 CHAPTER I. 1 Location of a line of railway--Government regulations--Questions for consideration in connection with gauge, gradients, and curves. Location.--The locating of a line of railway, or the determination of its exact route, is influenced by many circumstances. In a rich country, with thickly populated districts and large industrial enterprises, there are towns to be served, manufacturing centres to be accommodated, and harbours to be brought into connection; while, at the same time, there may be important estates which must be avoided and private properties which must not be entered. Each point will present its own individual claim for consideration when selecting the route which promises the greatest amount of public convenience and commercial success.