Development of Goods Wagons.

One of the most interesting features associated with the working of freight traffic in recent years is the steady growth which has been witnessed in the carrying capacity of goods wagons of all types. Of all the world's railways, those of America stand out as leaders in the employment of the high-capacity freight wagon, but in Britain and on the Continent of Europe generally a great deal has been accomplished in this direction. The London and North Eastern and Great Western Railways now utilise high-capacity wagons on a big scale for the conveyance of general merchandise and coal, and vast economies are thereby secured in operation. Across the Channel it is on the German railways that the greatest progress has been made in this field.

High-capacity wagons of a new type have recently been acquired by the German railways for the carriage of coal from Upper and Lower Silesia and the Ruhr to Berlin and other centres. These wagons are constructed of silicon-steel and have a tare weight of 19 tons and a carrying capacity of nearly 60 tons. The wagons are fitted with roller bearings and automatic brake equipment, and the base of the truck is of saddle-shape, and gives immediate total discharge of contents upon release of either side chutes. Seventeen loaded 60-ton wagons normally form a complete train, which has a total length of 190 yards, as compared with the 630 yards covered by 68 trucks of 15 tons capacity. Specially reduced conveyance rates are applicable to coal traffic carried in full train loads in this way, in a similar fashion to the rating privileges granted high-capacity wagon users at Home by the Great Western line.