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CHAPTER VIII.

Edward Pease Projects the Stockton and Darlington Railway The
"Quakers' Line” -The Act obtained - Mr. Stephenson's introduction to
Mr. Pease The interview- Makes a new survey. - Suggests improve-
ments Proposes the use of locomotives - Mr. Pease visits Killingworth
- Mr. Stephenson appointed engineer to the Stockton and Darlington
Railway-The working survey of the line- Mr. Stephenson's conversa-
- Commencement of a locomotive factory at Newcastle- Rails

Gauge - Tractive power

Completion of the line - Mr. Stephenson's

anticipations respecting railways-Opening of the line -- The coal traffic

- First railway coach, the "Experiment" Rival coach companies — The

beginnings of passenger traffic — Middlesborough-on-Tees ..

tion

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CHAPTER IX.

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118-145

Tramroad projected from Liverpool to Manchester - Immense increase of the

trade between these towns Mr. Sandars - Mr. Wm. James surveys a

line · Difficulties of the survey - Mr. James visits Killingworth

Becomes partner in the locomotive - Public meetings at Liverpool, &c. -

A railway determined on―The first prospectus- Deputations to Killing-

worth-The railway re-surveyed by Mr. Stephenson - Opposition to the

Overtures of conciliation

survey

The opposition of the Canal Compa-

nies organized-Newspaper articles-Opinions as to railway speed

Article in the 'Quarterly'..

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..

146-160

CHAPTER X.

The parliamentary contest on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway - The

evidence taken - Mr. Rastrick - Mr. Stephenson in the witness-box

States his experience— Alarming speed of twelve miles an hour!

ward for the coo"- Is supposed to be mad - Mr. Harrison's speech - Mr.

Giles's evidence as to Chat-Moss Mr. Alderson's speech

against locomotives - Mr. Adam's reply · -Defeat of the bill-New survey

- Messrs. Rennie employed — The Act passed-Sir Isaac Coffin's speech

-- Mr. Stephenson appointed engineer of the railway

Description of Chat-Moss- The resident engineers - Mr. Dixon's journey
over the Moss-Mr. Stephenson's idea of forming a floating road upon it
- Commencement of the work - Drainage — Difficulty in forming an
embankment on the Moss - The directors contemplate the abandonment of

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the works -

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-

-

The road formed

Mr. Stephenson urges them to persevere -

- Parr Moss-Cost of the work - The organizing of the labour - The

tunnel at Liverpool - Olive Mount cutting-Bridges - Sankey viaduct―

Mr. Cropper-The works pressed forward to completion Mr. Stephen-

son's daily life and habits at Liverpool - Evenings at home 179-198

CHAPTER XII.

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Discussions as to the tractive power to be employed in working the line

Mr. Telford's report unfavourable Variety of schemes suggested - Walker

and Rastrick's report in favour of fixed engines

the locomotive

proposed - The Newcastle factory -

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-

Stephenson's defence of

- Prize offered for the best engine - The conditions

Robert Stephenson's return from

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- Improvements in the locomotive

Its steam-blast

ing of "The Rocket

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- The competition at Rainhill

The "Novelty" -The "Sanspareil The "Perseverance"

of "The Rocket," and congratulations of the engineer

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- Triumph

199-220

Completion of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway — Acknowledgment of

Mr. Stephenson's skill and energy

The opening ceremony ·

Fatal acci-

dent to Mr. Huskisson Commercial results of the railway- Details of

the working arranged - The road, carriage stock, and locomotive power

The railway workmen Alleged favouritism and monopoly

interest excited by Liverpool and Manchester Railway - Alarming stories

circulated in rural districts Increased speed of stage-coaches - Govern-

ment and the raflways- The locomotive on common roads Numerous

new lines projected - Canterbury and Whitstable - Leicester and Swanning-

ton Railways in Lancashire Grand Junction - London and Birmingham

project The Messrs. Stephenson appointed engineers

deputation with Sir Astley Cooper Opposition to the line- The Act

passed and the landlords "conciliated" - Formidable character of the works

Blisworth cutting- Kilsby tunnel English railway navvies 221-249

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CHAPTER XIV.

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Mr. Stephenson's residence at Alton Grange-Leases Snibston colliery-

Local improvements effected- Private life at Alton-Takes an office in

London Surveys of new lines of railway-The Manchester and Leeds

- Incident in Committee - The Littleborough Tunnel North Midland

-Heavy character of the works - Bull-bridge- His interest in Midland

coal-traffic- York and North Midland- Estimates

Surveys of lines

in Scotland and the North of England - Habits of accurate observation

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-

- Proposes a line across Morecambe Bay - Specimen of his railway journeys

Anecdote of the robins at Alton Grange- Journey into Belgium - Is

made Knight of the Order of Leopold Public celebration at Ghent-

The turnpike roads improved by the English Government, to compete with

the railways-Openings of through lines - Advantages of railway travel-

ling generally recognized
250-287

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CHAPTER XV.

Mr. Stephenson leases the Claycross colliery - Removes to Tapton House - The

British Association meeting at Newcastle in 1838 - Visits Killingworth —

Partial retirement from the profession of engineer-Leases Tapton colliery

- Proposed railway testimonial- Mr. Stephenson's interest in Mechanics'

Institutes - Examined before a railway committee in 1841- Views on

railway speed — Undulating railway theory — The railway mania-Words

of caution -Rage for direct lines-Want of foresight in Parliament —

Board of Trade Report-Letter to Sir Robert Peel - Completion of East

Coast route from London to Newcastle- The atmospheric railway—

Struggle in Parliament for the Newcastle and Berwick line-Hudson's

testimonial to Stephenson - High Level bridge — Visit to Belgium — Inter-

view with King Leopold - Visit to Spain-Illness and return 288-317

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CHAPTER XVI.

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Life at Tapton - Horticultural pursuits - Theory of vegetation and feeding

— Bees — In-doors habits - Conversible faces: Lord Denman - Friends at

Tapton The microscope- Crowdie night— Visits to London - Visit to

Sir Robert Peel- The Claycross Workmen's-Institute - Opening of the

Trent Valley Railway, and public celebration at Tamworth — Railway

celebration at Manchester- Meeting with Emerson-Illness and death —

Statues - His personal appearance-Character - Self-reliance - Improve-

ment of time Laborious diligence - His thoroughness - Energy - Debt

repaid by his son to the Newcastle Institute — Generosity - Patience —

Stephenson compared with Watt-Deportment — Fullness and accuracy of

his information — Hatred of humbug — Ornamental initials — Declines

entering Parliament · Offer of knighthood — Conclusion 318-350

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THE NEWCASTLE COAL DISTRICT-VILLAGE OF WYLAM- GEORGE STEPHENSON'S EARLY YEARS.

THE great northern coal-field of Durham and Northumberland extends in an almost unbroken direction from the Tees to the Tweed. It runs along, and indeed dips under, the coast-line of the German Ocean, extending irregularly inwards into both counties, in some parts to a considerable distance. This immense field underlies some eight hundred square miles of country; and the working of the coal from the various seams gives employment to a large number of workpeople.

B