A Win for Steam.

In connection with main-line electrification, a curious position has arisen in the central European country of Austria. A most ambitious electrification plan was some years ago embarked upon by the Austrian State Railways, but it would seem that when this scheme was first given effect to the possibility was quite overlooked of a drop in the price of locomotive coal, while the estimates of the cost of conversion from steam to electricity were apparently on a far too low basis. Coal has now dropped considerably in price, and there has been vast improvement in the technique of generation of steam from coal dust and inferior fuel. As a consequence of the changed situation, the Austrian railway authorities have stopped all electrification works and come to the decision that in future steam working is to be adhered to on all tracks not completely converted to electricity.