a little excess of the ordinary working load, and the data which could, and ought to have been obtained whilst applying these tests (if obtained) does not appear to have been recorded, consequently in applying these tests, the cable was strained and weakened, for no practicable purpose.
The working length of the cable is 4940 feet, and a little over 4 hours.
1. The estimated weight of the passenger car is 4½ tons,
2. The weight of 40 passengers is 2½ tons.
3. The estimated weight of coal truck is 2 tons 14 cwt.
The weight of ballast placed on the testing car and truck was 5 tons.
The upper end appears to have been subjected to the following strains, viz:- cable 4 tons, car 4½ tons, truck 2 tons 14 cwt, ballast 5 tons, total 16 tons 4 cwt.
whilst the strain applied to the lower end was only 12 tons 4 cwt. The ordinary working strain on the cable with a full complement of passengers, is cable 4 tons, car 4½ tons, 40 passengers 2½ tons, total 11 tons, therefore the strain applied to the lower end of the cable was only 1 ton 4 cwt more than the ordinary working load, whilst the strain applied to the upper end was 5 tons 4 cwt more than the working load, and the cable was subjected to the greater strains, and it should be borne in mind that "the strength of the cable is its weakest part".
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