THE GAUGE OF OUR RAILROADS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 4

THE GAUGE OF OUR RAILROADS.

OPINION OF "ENGINEERING." "Engineering," in tho course of nn article on New Zealand railways, expresses doubt whether the New Zealand Government was well advised in the adoption of tho 3ft. Gin. standard. The writer says-—"Tho matter is now practically beyond recall, but tho question remains an interesting one, looking (0 tho greater facility and less cost of subsequently increasing the capacity afiorded by the wider gauge, anil the certain future expansion of traffic throughout the Dominion. It is easy to be wise after tho event, but it is beginning to look as if thoso engineers were right who thought that, in Africa.. generally, in parts of India and Australia, and in Japan, whero narrow lines have been made, it would liavo besn wiser to have laid originally light standard-gauge line?, equipped with light engines suitable (0 the beginning nf traffic. On those, wearing out, their strength and powoT might have been increased, in renewals from timo to time, fo as to meet, in (lie easiest, and least expensive way, the inevitable expansion in business, while in India and Australia, if this had been done, the, unfortunate break in the gauge would have been avoided."