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Rope–rail′way.

A railway on which the cars are drawn by ropes wound upon drums rotated by stationary engines. This is frequently done on inclined planes in mining districts, and is sometimes adopted as a temporary expedient pending the construction of grades of lesser slope. See inclined plane.

The London and Blackwall Railway, for passengers and freight, was formerly operated in this manner by an engine at each end of the line. Arrangements were provided for detaching each car just previous to arriving at its desired station, so that its momentum would carry it to the proper point. The length of rope required was 6 1/2 miles, double the length of the road. Wire rope was found best; but the system was finally abandoned for locomotive power.

The ropes were connected to the drums by friction-clutches. The drums were of cast-iron, 23 feet in diameter, and their circumference revolved at the rate of about 26 miles an hour.

The rope was 5 3/4 inches in circumference, weighing about 40 tons; and to obviate the power required to drag this heavy weight at high speed, Mr. Elijah Galloway suggested the employment of two sets of wheels of different diameters, around each of which ropes, extending the length of the track, were to be wound; that passing around the larger outer wheel to be kept stationary at each end, while the other traveled as usual; it would thus cause the wheel to move at a much faster rate than itself, the ratio being as the diameter of the larger to the difference between it and the smaller.

One of the stationary engines of the Blackwall Railway was afterward set up in the City Flour Mills, Upper Thames Street, London, where it drove 32 pairs of stones, grinding 20,000 bushels of wheat per week. It is on the marine principle, and has 7 smoke-consuming furnaces. When one fire has just been fired up, the smoke is discharged into the adjoining fire.

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Elijah Galloway (1)
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