The Life of George Stephenson, Railway Engineer

Pp. 191-208

CHAP. XVIII.

Project of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway revived. · The Canal

Companies' Opposition. - Provisional Committee formed. Their

Visits to Killingworth. Mr. Stephenson appointed to Survey a Line.

- Difficulties encountered.-Articles in the "Scotsman" and "Quar-

terly" on Railways

209-225

CHAP. XIX.

The Liverpool and Manchester Bill in Committee of the House of Com-

mons. Mr. Stephenson in the Witness Box. - Mr. Giles proves the

Impossibility of forming a Railway over Chat Moss.

Ignorance denounced by the Counsel for the

Adam's Appeal. - Defeat of essential Clauses, and Withdrawal of the

Bill

Mr. Stephenson's

Opposition. — Mr.

226-243

CHAP. XX.

Renewed Application to Parliament for the Liverpool and Manchester
Bill. Messrs. Rennie selected as Parliamentary Engineers. - Passing
of the Act. Mr. Stephenson appointed chief Engineer. — Formation
of the Road over Chat Moss. The Directors contemplate the Aban-
donment of the Work. Mr. Stephenson's Perseverance. His Or-
ganisation of Labour. -The Railway Navvy. - Progress of the
Works. Private Life and Habits at Liverpool

General Opposition to the Locomotive. - Mr. Telford's Report. -Variety

chester Railway. — Messrs. Walker and Rastrick's Report in favour

of fixed Engines. - Mr. Stephenson's strenuous Advocacy of the

Locomotive. The Directors offer a Prize of 500l. for the best

Engine

CHAP. XXII.

The Newcastle Locomotive Foundry.

Robert Stephenson's Return

from America. Rencontre with Trevethick. The Building of the

"Rocket."- O Contrivance of the Multi-tubular Boiler. - Mr. R.

Stephenson's Account. - Mr. Booth's Account.- Modification of the

Blast-Pipe. The "Rocket" finished and sent to Liverpool

CHAP. XXIII.

Pp. 280-294.

The Locomotive Competition at Rainhill. - Entry of Engines for the
Prize. -The Judges appointed. - The "Rocket" stript for the Race.
The "Novelty." - The " Sans-pareil."— The Performances of the
"Rocket."-Wins the Prize. Congratulations of Mr. Stephenson.—
The End of the "Rocket"

295-302

CHAP. XXIV.

Completion of the Liverpool and Manchester Line.-The Public Opening.

-Fatal Accident to Mr. Huskisson.- Lord Brougham's Panegyric

of the Railway. - Commercial Results of the Undertaking. — Fur-

ther Improvements in the Locomotive. - Alleged Monopoly. The

Workmen employed. — Improvement of the Road and Rolling

Stock

303-317

CHAP. XXV.

Importance of Mr. Stephenson's Invention of the Passenger Engine. —

Government and Railways.-Joint Stock Companies. - New Railways

projected and made. The London and Birmingham Railway. - The

Kilsby Tunnel. - Excess in the Cost of Construction beyond the

Estimates. Magnitude of the Works. - Comparison with the Great

Pyramid-

318-339

CHAP. XXVI.

Advance of Public Opinion in favour of Railways. - Singular Instances

of Opposition to Railways and Predictions of Failure. — Locomotion

on Common Roads promoted by the Legislature. Results of the

Opening from London to Liverpool, &c. - Benefits to the Public.

-Travelling by Stage Coach and Private Carriage. - Mr. Stephen-

son in a Stage-Coach Accident. - The Railway at length adopted by

all Classes

340-355

CHAP. XXVII.

Leases the Snibston Estate. - Discovery of Beds of Coal. Private

Life at Alton Grange. - Busiest Period of Mr. Stephenson's Career.

Anecdote of the Starved Robins. - Lines in the Northern and

Midland Districts. The Manchester and Leeds. Lord Wharn-

cliffe's Opposition in Committee. The Littleborough Tunnel.-The

North Midland. Comparison of the Works with Napoleon's Road

across the Simplon. Mr. Stephenson's Anticipations as to the Coal

Traffic to London by Railway. The York and North Midland. -

Public Opening. - The Sheffield and Rotheram. - Mr. Stephenson's

Pupils and Assistants

Pp. 356-383

CHAP. XXVIII.

Surveys an East Coast Line to Scotland. — Line from Chester to Holy-

head. West Coast Line to Glasgow. -Leeds and Bradford.

Rapidity of Railway Development. Is checked by the Monetary

Pressure

384-394

CHAP. XXIX.

The Modern School of English Engineers. - Fast Men.-History of the

Narrow Gauge. Increased Width on the Great Western. — Mr.

Brunel.

Battle of the Gauges. The Atmospheric Railway. — The

Undulating System. - Notions of Fast Travelling. - Mr. Stephenson

invents a Railway Safety-brake. His moderate Views of Railway

Speed, &c., compared with those of the Fast Men. Commercial Con-

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Mr. Stephenson resigns the Chief Engineership of several Railways. -

Residence at Tapton, in Derbyshire. Leases Clay Cross and Tapton

Collieries.-Proposed Testimonial. Sir Robert Peel's Allusion to his

useful Career. His Interest in Mechanics' Institutes. — Chairman of

Yarmouth and Norwich Railway. - Completion of the East Coast

Route to Newcastle. - Public Celebration of the Event. — Auto-

biographic Sketch. - The Proposed Northumberland Atmospheric

Line.The Newcastle High-level Bridge

413-430

Railway Management. - Railway Success stimulates Speculation. -

Multitude of new Projects. Sale of Premiums of new Shares on

Change. The Railway Mania. - Mr. Stephenson holds aloof from
and discountenances it. - Speech at Ben Rydding.--Immense Number
of new Lines authorised by Parliament.-Sir Robert Peel's Encourage-
ment of direct and uneven Lines.—Mr. Stephenson's Letter of Expos-
tulation. Legislative Bungling. Waste of Capital.

Effects of the Mania

- Demoralising

Introduction to Mr. Hudson.

His Railway Career. - The Railway
King. Acknowledgment of Mr. Stephenson's Services. Public
Statue proposed. Mr. Hudson's Appropriation of Shares. - Results
of the Railway Saturnalia. - Mr. Hudson dethroned

446-454

CHAP. XXXIII.

The Railway System early adopted by Leopold King of the Belgians.—
Mr. Stephenson consulted in the laying out of the Belgian Railways.—
Is made Knight of the Order of Leopold. — Journeys of Railway
Inspection in Belgium. — Banquet at Ghent and Brussels. Inter-
view with the King. Visit to France and Spain. - Illness, and
Return to England

455-467

CHAP. XXXIV.

Horticultural Pursuits at Tapton. His Pines, Melons, and Grapes.
Makes Cucumbers grow straight. - Stock-feeding, Theory of Vege
tation. Fattening of Chickens. Bees. Indoor Habits. - Conver-
sible Faces; Lord Denman. - Visits of Friends. Reverence for

Nature. The Microscope. - Spirit of Frolic. A "Crowdie Night."
-Humble Visitors.-Rebukes Foppery.-Visits to London and New-
castle. Visit to Sir Robert Peel at Drayton. - The Clay Cross
Workmen's Institute
468-481

Correspondence with Inventors.-Invents a Three-cylinder Locomotive.
- Self-acting Carriage-brake. - Public Opening of the Trent Valley
Railway. Railway Celebration at Manchester.-Meeting with Emer-
son. - Last Words at Leeds. - Illness and Death.- Tribute of the
London and North Western Railway Company to his Memory. –
Statues. Portrait

482-495.

CHAP. XXXVI.

Character of George Stephenson.

Self-reliance. Improve-

ment of Time. Perseverance. - Encounter with Difficulties.
Thoroughness. - Determination. - Attention to Details. Care for
Admiration inspired by him.

his Son's Education.