Rail

2013/015

275 mm length of a very light Vignoles rail (20 lb to the linear yard)

c.1850

SKU: 2013/015 Categories: , ,

Description

275 mm length of a very light Vignoles rail (20 lb to the linear yard). This was the lightest weight commonly rolled and was used only for the lightest traffic. The fishing angles do not seem quite equal, and that again suggests crude track. The source is probably a colliery railway as these were present in the area around Gatehead (OSGR NS392365) where it was found. Many of these colliery railways took coal to the Kilmarnock and Troon for onward transport.

A plan of the area in which the rail was found is found on the northern edge of the OS 6inch map XXII for Ayrshire (surveyed 1857 and published 1860) in the vicinity of Gatehead. See link: http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch/view/?sid=74425809.

Additional information

Acquisition Number

2013/015

Item Type

Short Description

Vignoles rail

Manufactured by

Date of Manufacture

c. 1850

Sub-items

None

Supporting Items

None

Makers Number

None

Marks

None

Dimensions (mm)

See Image 3

Donor

Date Donated

March 2013

Materials

Iron

Condition

Fair

Display Location