Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 13 April 1915, page 10


BREAK OF GAUGE.

MELBOURNE, Monday.

One of the engineers of the Commonwealth Railway Department has, investigated the merits of the Brennan switch, which, it is claimed, does away with many of the diffi-

culties of the break of gauge problem. In a report which has been presented to

the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. Archibald, the engineer, stated that it was much too early to express any opinion as to the practical value of the switch in connection with the gauge problem. The important phases to keep in mind from a Commonwealth point of view were that any third-rail system could be regarded only as a means to an end that a third rail was practicable now for simple crossings without the aid of any patent switch, and that a third rail as far as the 4ft. 8½ in. and 5ft. gauges were concerned, was impracticable in big shunting yards, and that the Brennan switch was a proprietary apparatus, in respect to which it would be time enough to express opinions as to its value when its usefulness had been thoroughly proved.