| From the Charleston Mercury |
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| April 16, 1864 |
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| Steel Rails for Railroads |
| The Pennsylvania Railroad Company have
purchased, and are about to lay down, at terminal stations, where the
wear of the rails is most severe and rapid, one hundred and fifty tons
of steel rails. Rails made entirely of steel, and also a kind made of
iron and steel capped, are used already on most of the railroads of
England and France; and experience proves that steel rails last more
years than those made of iron last months. A test made on the Derby &
Midland Railroad showed that, while iron rails endured, at the termini
only six or seven months' wear, cast steel rails wore many years, and
are still in such condition as to promise four or five years of longer
use. The steel rail wears down fairly, the iron rail, as everybody has
noticed, splits, and thus becomes useless, and what is worse, dangerous.
Assuming that steel rails will last ten years, it is estimated that in
one hundred tons there will be a difference, in their use, over iron
rails, of $25 100, or averaging of $261 per mile, each year. |
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