Royal Order of August 9, 1876

HONORABLE SIR: In view of the letter of Your Excellency, No. 446, of March 15, last, with which you forwarded a copy of the report on the technical conditions of the railways of the Island of Luzon, His Majesty the King (whom God preserve) in accordance with the full and unanimous resolution of the consulting board of roads, canals, and ports, has deemed proper to approve the following technical conditions for the railways that may be constructed in said Islands:

1.The road gauge shall be the same for all railways, and shall measure 1 meter 7 centimeters (31- English feet) between the inside edges of the rails.

2.The width of the space between the lines shall, as a general rule, be 1 meter 70 centimeters between the inside borders of the central rails, and 2 meters 30 centimeters at least, in the stations.

3.The minimum radius of the curves shall be 200 meters, which can not be reduced except in exceptional cases, presenting comparative studies, and demonstrating the necessity of adopting a smaller radius for the curves.

4.The maximum gradient shall be 20 "mildsimas," which can not be increased except in exceptional cases presenting comparative studies and demonstrating the necessity of adopting greater gradients.

5.The width of the grade for a road, without counting the side ditches, shall be as follows: In cuts, 3 meters 67 centimeters; on fills, 4 meters; in cuts and fills, 3 meters 835 millimeters. In the structural works the width shall be 4 meters and 20 centimeters between the side railings. In overhead ways the width shall also be 4 meters 20 centimeters, with a free height over the surface of the rails of 4 meters 50 centimeters, when the structure is straight, and of 5 meters 20 centimeters from the center of each way when it is arched. In the viaducts over cart roads the width between the side walls shall correspond to the road itself, with a free height of 4 meters 30 centimeters over the road if the bridge is of straight timbers, and of 5 meters in the center if it is arched. In the bridges over roads the width between the abutments shall be 3 meters, with a free height of 3 meters more if constructed of straight timbers, and with a height of 3 meters 50 centimeters in the center if it is arched. In the tunnels the width shall be 4 meters 40 centimeters, and the free height in the center of each way over the surface of the rails of 5 meters 50 centimeters.