THE PORTRUSH ELECTRIC RAILWAY, IRELAND.[1]

[Footnote 1: A paper recently read before the Society of Arts,
London.]

By DR. EDWARD HOPKINSON.


In the summer of 1881, Mr. W.A. Traill, late of H.M. Geological
Survey, suggested to Dr. Siemens that the line between Portrush and
Bushmills, for which Parliamentary powers had been obtained, would be
suitable in many respects for electrical working, especially as there
was abundant water power available in the neighborhood. Dr. Siemens at
once joined in the undertaking, which has been carried out under his
direction. The line extends from Portrush, the terminus of the Belfast
and Northern Counties Railway, to Bushmills in the Bush valley, a
distance of six miles. For about half a mile the line passes down the
principal street of Portrush, and has an extension along the Northern
Counties Railway to the harbor. For the rest of the distance, the
rails are laid on the sea side of the county road, and the head of the
rails being level with the ground, a footpath is formed the whole
distance, separated from the road by a curbstone. The line is single,
and has a gauge of three feet, the standard of the existing narrow
gauge lines in Ulster. The gradients are exceedingly heavy, as will be
seen from the diagram, being in parts as steep as 1 in 35. The curves
are also in many cases very sharp, having necessarily to follow the
existing road. There are five passing places, in addition to the
sidings at the termini and at the carriage depot. At the Bushmills
end, the line is laid for about 200 yards along the street, and ends
in the marketplace of the town. It is intended to connect it with an