Handbook of Railroad Construction; For the use of American engineers. / Containing the necessary rules, tables, and formulæ for the location, construction, equipment, and management of railroads, as built in the United States.

by George L. Vose

OF THE ROAD-WAY.

196. The flooring of any system is about the same; consisting of transverse floor beams, placed either on the top or bottom chords, (according as the road-way is more or less elevated above the water-way,) which support longitudinal timbers, upon which are placed cross-ties. In some cases, two curves of diagonal plank have been placed across the floor beams, spiked at right angles to each other, by which the bridge is considerably stiffened laterally.

General dimensions for the floor may be thus:—

Transverse timbers, 3 feet from centre to centre,	8 ×	14
Track strings, notched 2 inches to floor beams,	12 ×	14
Cross-ties placed one foot apart, (clear,)	3 ×	6

Fig. 73.