A BOOK IFOR. BOYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3406, 23 December 1911, Page 3

A BOOK IFOR. BOYS.

THE STORY %{ RAILWAYS.

Among tile many excellent 1) oks for boys issued, this year is “The Yv'onder Book of Railways,” published by Ward Lock and 00., Ltd., of London, and edited by Mr Harry Golding, whoso experience in this class of literature renders Idimi eminently suited to compile such matter as is here unified, and piade whole.. The opening chapter deals with what makes the engine go, and presents the facts in a most allurtifig manner. Considerable space both of letterpress and illustration is devoted) to the evolution of the express passenger engines and title coming of the electro-turbo locomotive, and in connection with the latter some very interesting information is vouchsafed. In a passage on the first locomotives the author tells that it was known 2300 'years ago that steam possessed the power to set things in motion, a manuscript being -written in the year 384 b.c. in which it wap stated that earthquakes were caused) by the sudden turning of water into steam. It them tells of the patent study of James Watt, and the type of engine he evolved from his study. This portion of the book'is extremely, interesting to everyone, and the illustrations arc especially fine. The portion of the book set aside for the finst railway tells [how George Stephenson triumphed in his great venture in connection with tlie Liverpool to Manchester railway, and how the success of the undertaking made other towns anxious for the blessing of a railway. Passing on to types of modern locomotives a chapter is devoted to explaining why certain engines are built in such and such a way ■ why they have such a number of wheels coupled together on a driving rod, and a hundred and one other.peculiar things. Signals and* signalling’ are not forgotten and the whole story of the signallers life is told! in cogent language. This is also a very important story, and the wonderful system by which is regulated the succession of trains which hurl themselves along the metals is made wonderfully plain. Many other aspects of railway life are also treated on, and on the whole the book- is one of the best that could be placed in the hands of young boys. Copies are obtainable from Mr A. T. Adams, Gladstone Rood.