Book Details
A Break-of-Gauge - A Social History book synopsis is now available
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Chapter 18 - the Curse - Part 3
Chapter 18 of THE BREAK-OF-GAUGE provides a commentary on the curse of the Great Transcontinental Railway .
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Chapter 12 is Here
Chapter 12 of THE BREAK-OF-GAUGE tells the story of the framing of the Australian Federal Constitution and how the Fathers of Federation failed the railways.
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The Break of Gauge - A Social History is the most ambitious project yet undertaken by Sarlines Railway Books. It is planned for release about November. We are confident that this book will be worth the wait.
Gauge Mission Statement
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Chapter Overview Download
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This tells the story of the framing of the Australian Federal Constitution and how the Fathers of Federation failed the railways.
It was the one real chance that Australia had to fix the Break-of-Gauge. There were some seedy characters scheming in this and there were some dirty tricks. NSW Premier (who would later become Prime Minister) George Reid, was top of the list of tricksters
Tim Fischer Pages
Tim was, for many years, the Patron of the National Railway Museum at Port Adelaide. I felt that this book should be dedicated to Tim’s memory. Bob Sampson, the Executive Officer of the Museum had a lot to do with Tim’s family over the years. A request was put to Judy Fischer. The family was delighted and Judy has penned some paragraphs that will appear near the front of the book.
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The Clapp Report
Sir Harold Clapp had been the Chairman of the Commissioners of the Victorian Railways from 1920 to 1939. In 1944 the Chifley Government appointed him to provide a comprehensive plan for rail standardisation in Australia. His report was released in March 1945 and was the most comprehensive detailed report on standardisation to that time but it did not result in one inch of standardised track. This chapter doesn't look so much at the plan itself but the reasons that it failed.
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There will be more chapters released here in a few weeks, although we encourage you to purchase this book to enjoy the story in its entirety.