'Military Report on Russian Turkistan or Central Asia' [‎22r] (48/168)

gradients, and crossing the Salar and Keles rivers,
Tashkend is reached.
The general type of permanent way and section is
much the same as that of the Central Asian Railway.
The permanent way, although recently laid, appears to
be very stable and well ballasted. The ruling grade
is about 9/1000, and the minimum curve about 2,100
feet radius.
Stations occur at an average interval of about
13 miles; the maximum being 18£, and the minimum
9 miles. The principal stations are intended ultimately
to have numerous sidings, and in addition there are said
to be crossing-places at intervals of tive or six miles.
On the southern section of the line, however, (from
Tashkend to Tnrkistan) very few of such crossing
places exist at present, the maximum interval bein"-
11^ miles.
Where seen, these crossing-places were about 500 yards
in length, as on the Central Asian Railway. Food depots,
and facilities for providing troops with a hot meal, are
said to have been already organised at convenient intervals
along the line.
The water supply is good, and affords a great contrast
to that of the Central Asian line.
Liquid fuel is obtained from Krasnovodsk, and until
the deposits of Ferghana are explored and developed this
will continue to be the case.
The traffic at present running between Tashkend and
Turkistan is four pairs of trains daily, at an average
speed of 12^ miles an hour. Taking into consideration
the temporary facilities and newness of the permanent
way, which until thoroughly consolidated limits the speed,
to say, 10 miles an hour continuous running, it is esti
mated that the present maximum carrying capacity of
the line could hardly exceed 8 to 10 trains a day, each
way ; and it is certain that any continuous use of the
line at high pressure would soon destroy the efficiency
of the permanent way, unless all defects were most
carefully and immediately attended to.
It is difficult to arrive at any very reliable estimate of
rolling stock at present available; and such estimate is
of comparatively small value owing to the fact that the
rolling stock is constantly being increased, and that on
Technical
details.