scope:

This handbook covers the design of marine railways for drydocking vessels to permit inspection, overhaul, and repair of all underwater portions of the vessels. Section 2 compares marine railways and drydocks to show the distinctive features of marine railways and to emphasize both their value and the limitations of the various types of docking facilities. A description of a sidehaul marine railway built for temporary use of the Navy in World War II is given in Section 11. With that exception, all further statements regarding marine railways in this handbook have reference only to the endhaul type.