Disposal of Ashes.

Much attention now is being given in Britain to the subject of the economical disposal of ashes from locomotives. The plan originally followed was that of providing in the locomotive sheds flat-bottom ashpits with vertical walls. From these the ashes were removed when cool by manual labour, being shovelled on to brick paving at rail level and later thrown into ash cars for removal and subsequent unloading by hand. This practice was uneconomic, involving three distinct hand operations, and to-day mechanical ash-handling plants are being provided at the larger depots.