Dear List,
A recent find at Morwellham Quay in West Devon, is that the short inclined
plane which carried coal and limestone up to the loading deck of the
limekiln there, had a third rail (probably in the middle of the track),
which consisted of a series of interlocking T section cast iron sections,
with ratchet teeth in the upstanding section. It is considered that a pawl
on each of the wagons engaged with this as it was hauled up the incline,
making runaways impossible if the haulage rope or chain broke.
Its likely date range is from c.1816-1855, though the similarity of design
with T section cast iron edge/bar rails also found on the site, makes it
more probably from the 1820s-1840s.
Has anyone else ever come across anything like this?
Robert Waterhouse,
Morwellham Quay Archaeologist
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