Concrete Floors For Railway Wagons.

Successful experiments have recently been conducted in Germany, in the use of a reinforced concrete composition in the construction of floors for railway goods wagons. The first wagon made of this substance (in 1919 at Heidelberg), withstood most exacting concussion tests, and still remains, after six years, in perfect service condition. In appearance the new type of wagon resembles the ordinary iron one, though slightly heavier, which disadvantage is offset by rust elimination. Moreover, the concrete floor wagon means a vast saving in repair expenditure as compared with those of wood or iron. Railway administrations in Germany have been so favourably impressed with the new type of wagon that a company has been formed at Darmstadt for their manufacture.