It ITanttslip, 



By CHARLES RICHARDSON, C.E 



M 



|. /| 'Y first practical knowledge of landslips was obtained' 

 ^^-L from those of the "Swindon bank" of the Cheltenham 

 and Great Western E-ailway. The portion of this railway 

 from Swindon to Cirencester, 18 miles in length, was first 

 proceeded with, Mr. Brunei having placed me in charge, as 

 Resident Engineer, in January, 1838. 



In this portion of the line there was a big embankment, at 

 the Swindon end, the best part of two miles in length, and 

 passing over some flat meadow lands at a height of full' 

 thirty feet. As there was no big cutting adjacent to it from 

 which the stuff would naturally be obtained, it was farmed 

 from side-cuttings on both sides. 



The top width of the bank, under ballast level, was 40 feet, 

 the slopes 1| to 1, and the bottom width, on the turf, there- 

 fore, 130 feet ; then an additional width or recess of 12 feet 

 of turf was left, on each side, before the slope of the side- 

 cuttings began, the side-cuttings being each 10 feet deep- 

 and 150 feet wide. 



The lower part or base of this bank was formed, by- 

 barrow-work from the side-cuttings, during the wet summer 

 of 1839 — the most continuously wet summer I recollect. It 

 was made rapidly, for any number of men could be put to 

 work upon it. The geological formation is Kimmeridge clay 



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