Double Gauge Railways

By Robert Stephenson, with fold-out plates, with his observations on Isambard Kingdom Brunel's gauge proposals and his opposition to uniformity.

Brunel wrote his report in 1838, this copy of Stephenson's reply is from 1847. Acting as the engineer for the Great Western Railway, Brunel had proposed a gauge of 7" (George Stephenson's projects used 4" 8.5'). This was rejected by Robert but Brunel persisted. The resulting controversies led to a Gauge Commission being constituted, both men gave evidence.