A Treatise on Internal Intercourse and Communication in Civilised States, and Particularly in Great Britain (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 Excerpt: ... the traffic conducted along the railway, and also a statement of the price or first cost of these engines and their tenders; but on this subject the reports are entirely silent. If such information had been given, some idea of the actual expense or cost of the power might have been obtained; for the charges in the preceding statements are the mere actual outlays of working and repairing the engines, without a farthing of interest for capital invested, or replacement of the machines when worn out. That the error in the calculation arises not merely, however, from a mistake as to the expense, but also in the calculation of the power or capability of the engines, is apparent, from the fact that, while the directors report on 28th March, 1831, that they have a motive power sufficient to convey or "carry 3000 passengers per day" along the railway, or about 1,100,000 passengers yearly, and that "in a short time" they will be able to convey all the goods which can be " offered to them," yet in the after reports they always complain of a want of engine power. The charge which the railway company make, when they provide motive power, is d. per ton per mile on the level parts of the road; and an additional charge is made for the auxiliary power required at the inclines, or, rather, the ascents of Whiston and Rainhill. These charges confirm the foregoing statements, and show that the directors are fully sensible of the miscalculations of their engineers. As no estimates, except in the form of very vague statements, were ever published, of the general expenses of the railway, it might be sufficient to state, that these expenses, instead of being lower than the expenses of maintaining other routes, have exceeded all idea, and have advanced...