The summaries are prepared from examples in actual use, and represent the number and weight of sleepers, chairs, and fastenings in each instance. Even with the same weight of rail, the practice differs on various lines as to the weights of the chairs and fastenings; and the selections have been made to show a fair average. On some railways the chairs are secured partly by tree-nails and partly by spikes, or crab bolts; on others only spikes are used. The prices put down are the estimated values of the materials delivered into the Permanent Way Stores of our own home railways, and are exclusive of all costs of freight, carriage, or distribution to the site of laying down. The prices are only comparative, and fluctuate up or down according to the current value of the raw materials from which the various items are manufactured. Lighter rails and smaller fastenings cost more per ton than those of a heavier type, as they involve more labour and workmanship. STEEL BULL-HEAD RAILS (90 LBS. PER YARD). _Estimated Cost of Materials for One Mile of Single Line._ -------------------------------+--------------------+----------+---------- | Weight per mile | Price. | Amount. | of single line. | | -------------------------------+--------------------+----------+---------- |tons. cwt. qrs. lbs.| £ s. d. | £ s. d. Steel bull-head rails, 90 lbs. | | | per yard (30-ft. lengths) | 141 8 2 0 | 5 0 0 | 707 2 6 Steel fish-plates (deep), | | | 41 lbs. per pair | 6 10 0 0 | 6 15 0 | 43 17 6 Fish-bolts and nuts | 1 4 0 0 | 12 15 0 | 15 6 0 2112 creosoted sleepers, | | | 9 ft. × 10 in. × 5 in. | -- | 0 3 10 | 404 16 0 4224 cast-iron chairs, | | | each 50 lbs. | 94 5 3 0 | 3 10 0 | 330 0 1 8448 iron cup-headed spikes | 3 15 2 0 | 10 0 0 | 37 15 0 8448 tree-nails, at per 1000 | -- | 3 10 0 | 29 11 4 4224 oak keys, at per 1000 | -- | 5 0 0 | 21 2 5 -------------------------------+--------------------+----------+---------- £|1589 10 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------+---------- STEEL BULL-HEAD RAILS (85 LBS. PER YARD). 243 _Estimated Cost of Materials for One Mile of Single Line._