Chap. VIII.
593
There are iron bridges over the Derwent, at Wreple, and the Ouse, at Selby. Thegreater part of the line is laid with longitudinal timbers and cross sleepers. Messrs.Walker and Burgess were the engineers. The gauge of its way is 4 feet 8J inches, rulinggradients 1 in 240, rise in feet per mile 22, and cost per mile 22,290/. The total sumexpended to June, 1845, was 702,173/.. and the cost of working for the prpvious six months20,587/.
Bristol and Exeter Railway is 76] miles in length, and chiefly through a level country ;its termini are at the stations of the Great Western at Bristol and at the depot Exeter;it was opened throughout on the 1st of May, 1844: the gauge of its way was 7 feet, rulinggradients 1 in 227, rise in feet per mile 41, and the cost per mile 23,676/. The sum ex-pended to June, 1845, was 2,136,546/.
Midland Counties Railway is in length 57 miles, including the branch to Derby, of 9miles. The amount of the earth-work on this line averaged 110,000 cubic yards per mile.There are two short tunnels near Leicester and Redhill; beyond the latter, over the Trent ,is an iron bridge of three arches, each spanning 100 feet. Where this railway uniteswith the Birmingham, at Rugby , is an extensive viaduct. The cost of work to the open-ing of the line was 1,287,087/. 5s. 11 d. ; and the total sum expended up to June, 1844,1,742,729/.; and the cost of working for the previous six months, 40,830/. The actingengineer was Mr. Woodhouse, the consulting engineer Mr. Vignoles. The gauge of itsrail is 4 feet 8£ inches, ruling gradients 1 in 330, rise in feet per mile 16.
Birmingham and Derby Junction Line is 38^ miles in length; it was opened throughoutits whole length on the 12th of August, 1839. After leaving the Hampton station, thereis a mile of deep cutting, and then a lofty embankment; the river Blythe is then crossedseveral times. Between Kingsbury and Tamworth, over the Anker, is a viaduct ofeighteen arches, each of SO feet span, and one oblique arch, of 60 feet span ; its elevationabove the river is 23 feet, and the cost was 18,000/. Before entering Tamworth is a loftyembankment, rising 30 feet, and midway between Tamworth and Burton-on-Trent is aviaduct, ] mile in length, built upon a thousand piles, driven 15 feet below the bed ofthe river. The gauge of its way is 4 feet 9 inches, ruling gradients 1 in 339, rise in feetper mile 15, and cost per mile 24,633/. The total sum expended to June, 1844, was1,212,645/., and the cost of working for the previous six months, 23,563/.
An act was passed in 1844 for consolidating the Midland Counties, North Midland, andBirmingham and Derby railwaysthe total sums expended upon which amounted to the30th of June, 1845, to 6,327,690/. 16s. 8 d.
Manchester and Leeds Railway is in length 56 miles 40 chains, whilst the distancebetween the termini in a straight line is only 35 miles; Mr. George Stephenson was theengineer. At Littleborough, near Rochdale , is a tunnel nearly 1| miles in length, linedwith brick. The summit tunnel at Littleborough, 2869 yards in length, 21 feet 6 inchesin height from the level of the rails, besides a depth of about 6 feet from the rails to thecentre of the invert; the width at the level of the rails is 22 feet, and the widest part 24feet. There are fourteen air-shafts, averaging in depth 177 feet; and in order to completethis portion of the work, besides the 1000 men usually employed, there were thirteensteam-engines, in united power equal to 100 horses. The average rate of progress wasabout 127 yards of length each month; 23,000,000 bricks were used in lining thetunnel, and 8000 tons of Roman cement; its inclination is towards Manchester, and at onepoint it is 400 feet below the surface. In the centre is a large culvert or drain to carryoft' the water, covered with flag-stones. The rails are supported at short intervals, thesleepers being placed only 2 feet 6 inches apart. The total cost was 251,000/. At Charles-town is another tunnel 250 yards in length. At Horbury is a deep rock cutting of nearly70 feet, and at Sowerby Bridge another of 80 feet.
In September, 1841, the items of expenses were thus stated : —
Parliamentary expenses
£
48,500
s.
5
d.
9
Engineering ditto -
-
-
40,359
3
7
Land and compensation, &c.
-
.
- 295,935
14
9
Works, including permanent way
.
-
- 1,821,015
3
5
Stations -
_
_
- 168,562
15
2
Directions and travelling expenses
.
.
12,602
18
2
Office expenses, salaries, advertising, &c.
-
.
6,827
19
1
Stamps and interest on loans
_
- 88,841
16
10
Law charges - - -
-
10,266
18
3
Locomotive-engines, carriages
.
-
- 152,586
0
6
On account of branches
-
-
83,771
6
4
£ 2,728,270
1
10
This railway was opened throughout on the 1st of March, 1841. The gauge of its rail
Q q