Chapel inclined plane: Difference between revisions

At this point the ground rises by {{convert|209|ft}} and the operating principle of the plane was that it was self-acting and loaded [[Railroad car#Freight cars|waggons]] descending under the action of [[gravity]] hauled empty waggons up it. A maximum of eight loaded waggons were permitted to descend the plane at any one time. The net (or tare) weight of a [[mineral]] waggon was between {{convert|16|and|20|Lcwt|abbr=on}}<ref name="rm" /> and it could carry a load of between {{convert|2|and|2+1/2|LT|tonne|abbr=off}}.<ref name="rm" /> Thus the gross weight of a gang of eight waggons descending the plane was between {{convert|22.4|and|28|LT|tonne|abbr=off}}. [[Chain]]s coupled the waggons to each other and the waggon at the rear was coupled to the incline chain/rope. In Derbyshire, the workman who made the coupling to the incline chain/rope was generally known as a ''"hanger-on"'' and he connected two special chains to the rear waggon, which he then [[braid|plaited]] around the incline chain/rope and fastened them off with leather thongs. It was found that plaiting these chains in place had the effect of tightening their grip once the waggons were in motion on the plane. It is known that these chains were sometimes made with progressively smaller links, which also had the effect of tightening the grip but it is not known whether chains of this type were used on this plane.