Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 14 August 1933, page 15


BREAK OF GAUGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER.

Sir,—I read Mr. John S. Deuce's letter, "Break of Gauge," in to-day's "Courier" with great interest. Some years ago the Commonwealth railway authorities were anxious to find a solution for overcoming the difficulty of transport consequent on the vari-ous States operating different railway gauges. To that end Commissions investigated some 140 patents and propositions for the purpose but none of them was considered to be practical and then it was determined to adopt as a uniform gauge the New South Wales 4ft. 8½in. gauge. When the 140 patents and devices were set aside determined to find a solution and eventually succeeded in a method for unifying the gauge on the cross-section at the break of gauges. A patent or patents were taken out one for movement of stock and one for continuous transport of goods without the need for unloading. A modest outfit for demonstration and explanation was shown with other inventions at the Royal National Show at Bowen Park. Contact also was made with Queensland's Commissioner for Railways (Mr. Davidson), in conjunction with the Commissioner for Commonwealth Railways (Mr. Bell) who was officially visiting this State. Arrangements were made by those two officials to inspect the outfit and receive my explanations of its practical working. For that purpose I took my outfit to the Railway Department George Street, as arranged. Nothing resulted yet Mr.

J. S. Deuce now states that the device is operating successfully in India where the difficulty of transport occurs through break of gauges- I am, sir, &c.,

THOS. O'CONNOR.

Alexandra Headland, August 10.