An Extract on the subject of Light Railways

About twenty-five years ago I made a light railway in Buckinghamshire, about eight miles in length - gauge 4ft 8½ in - the line followed the surface of the land where practicable, the highest embankment and deepest cutting nowhere exceeding 11 ft or 12ft. There are no road bridges, but three public roads are crossed on the level; there are two brook bridges, or large culverts, each 10ft span, the curves are easy, with one short one of 12 chains radius. The gradients are good, with one short length of 1 in 50. This line has junctions with the Great Western and London and North Western Railways, and can consequently use the rolling stock of these lines, excepting the locomotives. The maximum speed is limited to twenty-five miles an hour, but, as a rule, the speed seldom exceeds twenty miles per hour. The rails, 32 lb per yard, are flat-bottomed bridge rails - steel topped - and laid on longitudinal sleepers, with cross ties at every 10 ft or 12 ft. The entire cost of this line, exclusive of land, was £1,400 per mile.

William Lawford, M Inst C E , 31 St. Julian's Farm Road, West Norwood, SE - 15th June, 1896

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1981 and so does not reflect events in the 33+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
Letter to The Engineer - Quainton News No. 42 - Autumn / Winter 1980 / 81