to carry out the work, the section of that line between westerleigh and the mangotsfield junction with the a&gr was temporarily closed from 5 june 1844, and re-opened as a mixed gauge line—the first in the country—on 29 july 1844. during the closure the coalpit heath collieries were unable to send coal to the a&gr. the b&gr's own track was broad gauge with longitudinal timbers under the rails; the narrow gauge track was formed with cross-sleepers and fishbelly rails; the narrow rails were higher than the broad gauge rails, and at the junctions the broad gauge rails were not interrupted, it being arranged that the narrow gauge vehicles would pass over the broad gauge rails.