Minimum Gauge Railways

"Minimum Gauge Railways" by Arthur Percival Heywood is a study from the 1800's that explores the building and running of very small railways. The book tells about the author's work with a tiny 15-inch railway near Derby, explaining the science and hands-on work needed to build these lines. Heywood, who describes himself as a lifelong machine and railway enthusiast, wanted to investigate whether they could be a cheaper way to move light loads, opening the book with his own history and how he began developing these railways at places like Duffield and Eaton Hall. The author discusses the reasons for using such a small size for the track, noting the special challenges and needs that are different from the standard railways everyone was used to, while emphasizing the necessity for fresh ideas in railway design to accomplish this.