In few branches of railway activity has greater progress been recorded than in the permanentway department. It is a very big jump from the primitive wooden rails employed for the old horse-drawn tramways of Britain, or even from the rough iron track of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, to the modern permanent-way such as is found in Britain and New Zealand. Rightly enough, soundly constructed and adequately maintained tracks are regarded as a prime essential by railways all the world over. In recent times there have been interesting developments both as regards track construction and maintenance

The improvements effected during the present century in track construction are pretty generally known. Not so widely appreciated, however, are the many mechanical and other aids to efficient maintenance introduced in recent times. In Britain it was usual, until a few years ago, to carry out track maintenance by small gangs of men, each gang being responsible, on an average, for from three to four miles of line. This involved a great deal of unproductive time in walking to and from work, and the system now has generally been replaced by one involving a combination of permanent-way gangs and the utilisation of petrol-driven maintenance trolley cars.

Next to savings effected in this manner, probably the biggest economies in permanent-way operations are those which are being made through the use of portable welding sets in crossing renovations, and the like. Economy is also being secured by the employment of special drilling, boring, screwing and sawing machines of various types. Ballast screens are another recent worth-while innovation in Britain, while mention must be made of the patent rail oiler which enormously lengthens rail life on sharp curves where side cutting of the rail is severe. For the majority of the Home railways, it may be noted, 95 lb. rail is employed, with 85 lb. steel for secondary routes. As a general rule, a length of 45 feet is favoured, although there is now a tendency to utilise 60 ft. rails for main-line work.