In the permanent way and ballasting, the reduction will be about one-half. I should propose to make the rails about 52 lbs. weight and the timber 12 × 6; the quantity of ballast would probably be rather more than half, but at the present prices of iron and timber the saving could not be less than 2,500l. per mile.
From a careful revision of the works generally, I consider that a reduction may be effected in the following items, and to the amount specified in each, viz., ballasting gradients and curves:—
| £ | s. | d. | ||
| Reduction in earth work | 16,500 | 0 | 0 | |
| "in length of principal tunnel | 14,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30,500 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Saving by single line. | ||||
| Earthwork | 25,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tunnels | 11,500 | 0 | 0 | |
| Viaducts | 15,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Permanent way and ballast. | ||||
| To allow for sidings, say 50 miles, 2,500l. | 125,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 207,000 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Per contra. | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Pipe on 41½ miles[65] | 138,500 | |||
| Increase on inclined planes, 10½ miles | 6,500 | £ | s. | d. |
| 145,000 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Engines for the 41½ miles | 35,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Patent right, say | 10,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 190,000 | 0 | 0 | ||
| The difference in first cost therefore is | 17,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| To this must however be added the cost of the locomotive power, with its attendant expenses of engine-houses, &c., which cannot, I think, be put at less than | 50,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Making a saving of | 67,000 | 0 | 0 | |
I have not included in the expense of the Atmospheric apparatus that of the telegraph, because at its present reduced cost of 160l. per mile I am convinced its use would repay the outlay in either case.
It would appear, then, that the line can be constructed and furnished with the moving power, in working order, on the Atmospheric System, for something less than the construction only of the railway fitted for the locomotive power, but without the engines; and that taking into consideration the cost of locomotive power, a saving in first outlay may be effected of upwards of 60,000l.
But it is in the subsequent working that I believe the advantages will be most sensible.
In the first place, with the gradients and curves of the South Devon Railway between Newton and Plymouth, a speed of thirty miles per hour would have been, for locomotives, a high speed, and under unfavourable circumstances of weather and of load, it would probably have been found difficult and expensive to have maintained even this; with the Atmospheric, and with the dimensions of pipes I have assumed, a speed of forty to fifty miles may certainly be depended upon, and I have no doubt that from twenty-five to thirty-five minutes may be saved in the journey.
Secondly, the cost of running a few additional trains so far as the power is concerned is so small, the plant of engines, the attendance of engine-men, &c., remaining the same, that it may almost be neglected in the calculations; so that short trains, or extra trains with more frequent departures, adapted in every respect to the varying demands of the public, can be worked at a very moderate cost. I have no doubt that a considerable augmentation of the general traffic will be thus effected, by means which with locomotive engines would be very expensive, and frequently unattainable, particularly as regards one class of short trains, whether for passenger or goods, which from the inconvenience of working them by locomotives are hardly known—I refer to trains between the intermediate stations.
By many means, which the easy command of a motive power at any time, at every part of a line, must afford of accommodating the public, I believe the traffic may be increased.
It appears to me also that the quality of the travelling will be much improved; that we shall attain greater speed, less noise and motion, and an absence of the coke dust, which is certainly still a great nuisance; and an inducement will thus be held out to those (the majority of travellers) who travel either solely for pleasure, or at least not from necessity, and who are mainly influenced by the degree of comfort with which they can go from place to place.