322 Mr David Stevenson's Observations on the 



affair, any more than the moon or the pieiades ? But when I 

 wrote the note, page 107, vol. xvii. of this Journal, I did so 

 from memory, not having the Treatise on Heat by me at the 

 time. It will, however, be seen that I have not misrepresented 

 the matter, though it is not stated precisely in Dr Lardner's 

 own words. 



Observations on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway* By 

 Mr David Stevenson, Edinburgh. With two Plates. Com- 

 municated by the Author. 



The improvement of Railway communication is now a sub- 

 ject of so much importance, that any observations relative to the 

 construction of railways, or the best mode of conducting traffic 

 on them, especially such as are elicited in the course of practi- 

 cal trials, will generally meet with some share of public atten- 

 tion. I, therefore, venture lo address to this Society a few ob- 

 servations upon the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the 

 most remarkable work of the kind hitherto executed, both as re- 

 gards the railway itself, and the means of traffic employed on it. 

 These observations occurred to me during a late professional 

 engagement on that work under Mr Mackenzie of Liverpool ; 

 and though I do not think it necessary to give a lengthened 

 account of the railway, I trust some of the facts which I have 

 collected will be found sufficiently interesting to excuse me for 

 having brought them under the notice of the Society. 



The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was opened on the 

 15th of September 1830. Its formation and construction, includ- 

 ing the erection of lodges, depots, and offices, is said to have cost 

 about one million Sterling, or at the rate of L. 33,300 per mile ; 

 but as much of the work was not done by contract, this railway 

 cannot be taken as a criterion of the expense of operations of 

 this nature, which now are executed at a much lower rate. 



The whole length of the main line is thirty miles. It forms a 

 double way composed of four single tracks of rails, having several 

 branches to towns and collieries on either side. These branches, 

 in most instances, consist of only a single way, with passing 

 places. Connected with the main line, there are many works of 

 importance and interest, including three tunnels, sixty-three 

 • Read before the Society of Arts for Scotland, 2oth February 1835. 



