To Trap the Enemy's Train.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 70

To Trap the Enemy's Train.

In the art of mutilating the permanent way of our railways in Natal and elsewhere, the Boers are proficient. Here you have the process in action.

Whilst several men work under the rail with a lever at some bend of the track, oxen are yoked to the same length of metal, and soon Dull it from its place. The reason why

a rail at a bend is chosen is because, naturally enough, as the train comes rqund the curve 'its tendency is to fly outwards, and y/illi a rail gone the engine and carriages are soon_ running one wheel -along the side of the track and the other over the sleepers, effectively bringing the train to a standstill. The flange on the wheels is on the inside, so when the outer wheel conies to the gap the inner one, having nothing to prevent it so doing, at once drops down from its rail on to the slee'oers.

On curves also, where the tendency of the train i& to fly outwards, obstacles are so placed as to cause the Avheels to leave the rails; and any spare time over from these operations is sometimes employed in taking pot shots at the telegraph wire insulators.