Correspondence. Electric Traction on Railways.

Abstract

Dr. Harrison. not include everything. A t all events, the extra expense was a comparatively slight increase in the cost of maintenance. With regard to the wear and tear on the rails, it was very singular that there was such a difference. Mr. Willox had shown him some rails, taken from the Metropolitan Railway some years ago, that had worn in an extraordinary manner, and Mr. Willox had taken to hard rails. Dr. Harrison had not had quite that experience on the North Eastern Railway, but certainly a t junctions, and, to a certain extent, a t points, rails had to be taken out after 5 years instead of 10 years. On the straight main lines, however, not very much difference was found in the wear; there was certainly more, but that might be accounted for by the larger number of trains running, and the smaller driving-wheels of the electric trains.