596
HISTORY OF ENGINEERING.
Book L
length of the entire line is 3 miles and 1230 yards; its termini are in Fenchurch Street,London , and Blackwall. It crosses the Minories by trussed east-iron girders, which havea clear space of 63 feet in width, and 18 feet in height: each of these six girders weighs 15tons. Over Vine Street is a similar construction, 30 feet in span. The greater part ofthe line runs upon brick arches, about 18 feet above the level of the streets, one of which,crossing Crutched Friars, is oblique, and spans 53 feet 6 inches.
At the London terminus is a long platform, the first portion of which has an inclinationof 1 in 100, and the remainder to the Minories, 1 in 240. On this slope, notwithstandingthe curvature of the line,, the trains descend by gravity. Wire ropes are used, worked bypowerful steam-engines, stationed at each end of the line, and turning a barrel, to which arope of about 6£ miles long is attached. An electric telegraph gives the signal when theengines are to be put in motion, and the train is drawn forward, unwinding the rope at theother cylinder as it proceeds; carriages are stopped at any intermediate station, by means ofa brake, after being detached from the rope, while the rest of the train proceeds. Whenthe carriages are prepared for returning, they are again attached to the rope, andare drawn simultaneously by the engines. There are two lines of railway, one used fortravelling in each direction. The gauge of its way is 5 feet, ruling gradients 1 in 106, risein feet per mile 50, and was finally opened on the 2nd of August, 1841. The cost permile was 288,177/., and the total sum expended to June, 1845, was 1,083,951/., and thecost of working for the previous six months 24,494/.
Slamannan Railway was opened in August, 1840; it was a communication betweenBallochney and the adjoining railways and the Union Canal at Causeway End, near Lin lithgow .
Maryport and Carlisle Railway , open throughout in January, 1845, is in length 28 miles3 chains; the gauge of its way is 4 feet 8£ inches, ruling gradients 1 in 209, rise in feet permile 25, and cost per mile 11,500/. The total sum expended to June, 1845, was 345,720/.,and the cost of working for the previous six months 5,390/.
Birmingham and Gloucester -Captain W. S. Moorsom, engineer. The total length is 55
miles 73 chains, and was opened throughout on the 17th of December, 1840. Its terminiare at the Spa Road, Gloucester , and Camp I-Iili, Birmingham . The gauge of its wayis 4 feet 8£ inches, ruling gradients 1 in 37, rise in feet per mile 142, and its cost permile 26,934/. The total sum expended to December, 1844, was 1,527,267/. ; and the costof working for the previous six months 44,739/.
London und Brighton Railway. — Mr. Rastrick, engineer. The total length of the mainline is 41 £ miles ; the distance run over the Greenwich and Croydon lines 9^ miles, making50] miles. This railway, from its junction with the Croydon line, rises for 8 miles about20 feet-per mile, or 1 in*264. At Merstham is a tunnel 1780 yards long, after which theline fells, at the rate of 1 in 264, for the distance of 7 miles. From this point at theIlorley station, it rises for about 6$ miles, and passes through Balcombe tunnel, 1122 yardslong. It then falls for another 8.} miles, and rises for 5£ miles, where is the Claytontunnel, through chalk, 1} miles long, from whence there is another fall to the terminus atBrighton.
Across the valley of the Ouse is an aqueduct, 1437 feet in length, and the height variesfrom 40 to 96 feet; it is formed of thirty-seven brick arches, of 30 feet span. The othertunnels at Patcham and Hayward Heath are 480 and 230 yards long. The rails are laid
to a gauge of*4 feet 81 inches, and are supported by wooden sleepers.
The expenditure to
the 30th of June, 1841, was thus stated : —
£
8.
d.
Parliamentary expenses (which does not include the contest)
-
3,780
10
11
Land and compensation
-
-
-
386,725
7
9
Law, and surveying charges thereon
-
-
-
16,185
11
10
Engineering and surveying
-
-
-
31,030
15
0
Works -
-
_
_
1,159,328
9
2
Stations -
_
-
-
42,523
4
8
London joint station on account
-
_
_
25,754
2
1
Rails, chains, sleepers
.
.
-
176,872
3
4
Engines and carriages
-
-
-
45,438
13
9
Direction -
-
-
-
8,400
0
0
Law expenses -
-
-
-
15,969
3
11
Office expenses, salaries, &c. -
-
-
-
31,023
11
0
Interest, stamps, commission on mortgage bonds
-
-
7,975
3
11
£ 1,951,906
17
4
The assent was given to the bill for the formation of this railroad on the 15th of July,1837, and it was finally opened to the public on the 21st of September, 1841. The totalsum expended to June, 1845, was 2,653,672/., and the cost of working for the previous sixmonths, 66,933/.