The Battle of the Gauges.

In a dispatch, dated 30th June, 1848, Earl Grey urged upon the Governor of New South Wales the adoption of one uniform gauge, with a view to the joining up at some future time (though probably distant period) of the lines not only in the same Colony, but with those constructed in adjacent Colonies, and he regarded the 4ft. 8 ½in. gauge prescribed in England, as the most desirable.

In 1850 the Company's engineer strongly advocated the adoption of the 5ft. 3in. gauge in preference to that recommended by Earl Grey, and the Company's manager urged that, as their railway would be the first constructed in Australia, a timely notification to the other Australian Colonies would prevent the occurrence of any inconvenience from the break of gauge. The application was forwarded to Earl Grey, who advised that Her Majesty's Government page 11 would not object to the 5ft. 3in. gauge for which such a decided preference had been expressed in the Colony. Thereupon the New South Wales Legislature enacted in 1852 that all railways in New South Wales should be built to the 5ft. 3in. gauge, and this decision was communicated to the Colonies of Victoria and South Australia.

The Company's engineer resigned, and his successor urged the Company to obtain a revision of the 5ft. 3in. gauge Act. The Company's manager, in addressing the Colonial

Gladstone Junction, South Australian Railways.
Gladstone is the Junction of the Port Pirie line with the line from Balaclava. The view shews the construction work in progress for the change-over from 3ft. 6in. to the 5ft. 3in. gauge. (Note third rail and Dort Inspection Car in foreground.)

Secretary upon the subject, pointed out that it now appeared in actual practice that the advantages anticipated from the wider gauge had not been realised and therefore asked that the 4ft. 8 ½in. gauge be approved.

The application was referred to the Legislative Council which passed an Act in 1853 repealing the former Act and making the 4ft. 8 ½in. gauge imperative in New South Wales. In terms of this Act, which had been referred to the Home Government for Royal assent, the Company ordered considerable quantities of materials suitable for this gauge.