Amongst laughable occurrences that enlivened the committee rooms during
the gauge contest, was a scene occasioned by a parliamentary counsel
putting in as evidence, before the committee on the Southampton and
Manchester line, a printed picture of troubles consequent on a break of
gauge. The picture was a forcible sketch that had appeared a few days
before in the pages of the _Illustrated London News_. Opposing counsel
of course argued against the production of the work of art as testimony
for the consideration of the committee. After much argument on both
sides the chairman decided in favour of receiving the illustration, which
was forthwith put, amidst much laughter, into the hands of a witness, who
was asked if it was a fair picture of the evils that arose from a break
of gauge. The witness replying in the affirmative, the engraving was
then laid before the committee for inspection.
—_Railway Chronicle_, June 13, 1846.