50 Mr Martin's Remarks on the 



that great sacrifices ought to be made, rather than resign that 

 hne which is to admit of the greatest facility of conveyance ; 

 the construction of this hne of railway became a serious under- 

 taking. 



The work was begun in 1827, was finished and opened to the 

 public in September 3831. 



The length is 8^ miles, and the fall is 95 feet. For the first 

 5 miles or thereby, from the east end of the line, it is on a le- 

 vel; but then falls at the rate of one foot perpendicular to 144 

 horizontal. 



The average radius of the different curves on the line is 

 about 6000 feet. Plate I. 



In the execution of the work, great labour was required, ow- 

 ing to the many heavy embankments and cuttings. 



The largest embankment is through the lands of Germeston 

 and Rosebank. Its length is about 4000 feet, and its height 

 for a considerable distance between 40 and 50 feet. Its breadth 

 at the base is 200, at the top 30 feet. It contains about 500,000 

 cubic yards of stuff. 



Another embankment through the lands of Gartcloss is about 

 4000 feet in length, and in some places 30 feet in height. It 

 contains about 140,000 cubic yards. 



One through the lands of Gartclosh, containing about 60,000 

 cubic yards, is about 2500 feet in length, and in some places 

 15 feet in height. 



These two last embankments were very difficult to form, as, 

 from the ground being soft and mossy, the stuff did not acquire 

 firmness until it had sunk far below, and displaced a consider- 

 able portion of the original surface. 



The cuttings are also very considerable, varying from a few 

 hundred feet to 4000 in length. In some of the cuttings, the 

 quantity of earth removed was upwards of 300,000 cubic yards. 

 The natural materials of the ground in which the greater por- 

 tion of the heavy cuttings were made, being very hard and 

 tough, and the distance they had to be conveyed being consi- 

 derable, it required great perseverance to get through with this 

 part of the undertaking. 



The cuttings through Robroyston Moss is about 2700 feet in 

 length, and 30 feet in depth ; so soft and spongy was the 



