1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



197 



Great If'estern Railway The greatest activity continues to prevail upon that 



portion of the line between Reading and Didcot; and the railway is progressing 

 so rapidly towards completion, that we should not be surpriired if that part of 

 the road is ready for traffic before the opening of the line from Maidenhead to 

 this town, Reading. We think that the public have great reason to complain of 

 the narrowness of the bridges which the company have built in those places 

 where the railway crosses the turnpike road ; and if this principle is generally 

 adopted, many accidents may be expected to occur. Messrs. Grissell and Peto 

 are the contractors for that portion of the work between *' Litttlejohns," near 

 Reading and Streatley ; from which jilace a bridge is erecting ; and the railroad 

 then traverses to the Oxfordshire side of the river to Sonthstoke ; this part is 

 contracted for by Mr. Cuhtans. From thence to Didcot, Messrs. Bedborough, 

 of Wiudsor, have the formation of the, road, nearly the whole of which, is, we 

 understand, in a very forward state, and will in all probability be completed 

 before the expiration of the time originally agreed on. The extensile nature of 

 the cuttings at Shooter's-hill, and the embankments at Pangbourn have been 

 executed by Messrs. GrisselUV Peto with s;iich extraordinary rapidity, as to excite 

 universal surprise, strongly contrasting with the numberless hindrances and 

 impediments existing elsewhere. The catlings at Simning-hill, un4er thw di- 

 rection of Mr. Brotherhood, the contractor, are proceeding as vigorously as the 

 nature of that great undertaking will admit, and the most energetic eftbrts ore 

 put forth to speedily complete it, and thus open a direct line of communication 

 between this town and the metropolis. — lievhshire Ckrimicle. — Nothwithstanding 

 the temporary obstruction to the traffic, caused by the accident at the Hanwell- 

 rortd bridjfe(not the Viaduct, as reported in the papers), the number of pas- 

 sengers on tins line during the last week, amounted to nearly S,000, and the 

 receipts were larger than in any week since October. No impediment to the 

 regular passing of the trains will take place from the removal of the defi'ctive iron 

 girder, the cost of replacing which falls wholly upon the contractor. The laying 

 of the permanent way to Twyford is now proceeding steadily, the rails being 

 already laid from the Maidenhead station to the bridge over the Thames. The 

 eastern arch of this bridge has been reconstructed with improved materials, and 

 now stands perfectly sound, the centerings having been completely eased for 

 some weeks. The Directors have just taken contracts for the construction of 

 about 14 miles of the line extending from Didcot, near Oxford, to Ilftington, the 

 boundary of the London division of the line, on which the contract works are 

 so light as not to average more than O.ono^ per mile. The Bristol Directors 

 have also advertised for tenders for four miles of the line between Bath and the 

 Box-tunnel, and it is expected that contracts for the wliole of the remainder of 

 this division of the line beyond Chippenham, will soon be entered inco. We are 

 glad to hear that the bill for which tlie company are applying, for the purpose of 

 completing the required capital, has passed the committee of the House of 

 Commons without any opposition, and will be read a third time immediately 

 after the Easter recess Bristol O'azetfe, 



Eastern ('oiudies Raihvui/ The deepest part of the cutting for our railway 



in the vicinity of this town, we understand, will be near Widford-mill, where 

 the rails will be laid at a depth of about sixty feet below the present surface. 

 The London coach road at the crossing will pass over the cutting by a bridge, 

 and there will also be bridges across Crozier's and Cherry Garden lanes. At 

 the termination of the cutting the low land and river will be crossed by a via- 

 duct about five hundred feet in length, and the rnilway will be continued upon 

 an embankment until within a short distance of King-street, Chelmsford, where 

 there will bo another viaduct, upon which it will again cross the high road to 

 the town or Fair Field, where the station will be formed. Soil for the embank- 

 ments will be brought from a cutting through the village of Springfield, upon 

 temporary rails, which, we understand, will be laid early in the summer. — 

 Essex Herald, 



Newcastle and North Shields Railway. — This undertaking is now advancing 

 rapidly towards completion, and the line to North Shields will, it is fully ex- 

 pected, be opened to the public in the early part of the month of June. The 

 company contemplate extending the line to Tyneuiouth ; and a bill for that 

 purpose is now before Parliament. Extensive preparations are being made by 

 the company in order to afford the public every accommodation; and for that 

 purpose they have entered into contracts for the supply of several first-rate 

 engines, embracing all the latest improvements and discoveries in mechanical 

 science. A splendid engine, called the " Hotspur," from the manufactory of 

 Messrs, R. and W. Hawthorne, civil engineers, of this town, was placed on the 

 line near Heaton on Monday; and a similar engine will shortly be delivered 

 from the manuf;ictory of Messrs. Stci>henson and Co. Several other powerful 

 engines are in the course of erection. The carriages for the conveyance of 

 passengers are being manufactured in first-rate style, and will combine every 

 improvement which can add security, or contribute to the convenience and com- 

 fort of those who may travel in ihiim. — Nvwcastle Journal. 



London and Brifjhtuu Railway fShortham Branch).— It is expected that the 

 Shoreham Branch of the London and Brighton Railroad will be completed by 

 August. The engine performs from fifteen to eighteen journeys in the day, 

 taking on each occasion about twenty waggons laden with earth. The con- 

 tractors are making rapid progress with the work, and the operations attract 

 crowds of people to the spot.— A' «ssc.f .-Wi-cr/isfr.— The works on the railway 

 are proceeding with increased activity. Now England farm has been so altered 

 in appearance, by the progress of the catting commenced on Easter Monday to 

 connect the Shoreham branch with the terminus, as to be scarcely recognised. 

 The tunnel is rapidly lengthening, and the cutting in Mr. Chatfield's firm is 

 fast approaching Lashraar's mill. A si'cond engine, called the " Shoreham," 

 arrived in Brighton the 17th ultimo, and will commence running in a few days. 



Sheffidd and Rotherham Jiuilw'fi/. — We hear that the directors of the Sheffield 

 and Rotherham Railway, ever wishful to give satisfaction and safe accommoda- 

 tion to the public as far as possible, are about to place three or four additional 

 engines on their line ; and, in order to ensure the greatest possible degree of 

 safety to the passengers, have ordered them to have thinges on all the six wheels, 

 the driup.g wheels as well as the others, thereby diminishing the risk of an 

 engine getting off the rails in the proportion of cent, per cent. Even if any of 

 the end wheels or axles should break, the remaining wheels will keep it upon 

 the raits— an excellent arrangement as compared with the old plan of onlv four 

 flanged wheels out of the six,— Slu-Jield Mercury, 



Birkenhead and Chester Railway Company — The Bebbington contract em- 

 braces a distance of two miles and 32 chains; the earth work amounted to 

 253,000 cubic yards, of which 82,000 cubic yards have been already executed, 

 leaving 171,000 yet to be done. The Brombrough and Eastham contract ex- 

 tended to Plumyard Brook, a distance of 3 miles and 37 chains. The earth- 

 work comprised in this contract amounts to 288,000 cubic yards, of which 

 ,ll(J,000 cubic yards have been executed, leaving 172,000 yet to finish. Post and 

 rail fences are erected throughout nearly the whole of this contract; 220 men 

 and 41 horses are employed on this portion of the line. The Sutton contract, a 

 distance of 3 miles and 17 chains, is also proceeding satisfactorily, although 

 some delay has arisen in opening new quarries, and waiting for bricks; but 

 with due diligence on the part of the contractors, the whole may bo finished 

 during the summer; 150 men and 1$ horses are employed in this district. The 

 Mo.styn and Chester contract extentts 5 miles and 39 chains, and contains the 

 greatest quantity of unexecuted work. It was let in August last to contractors 

 who did not prosecute the work in a satisfactory manner, and, after remaining 

 in their hands for upwards of six months, the company commenced working it 

 themselves, i>roviding waggons, rails, and suitable materials. In the event of 

 the summer proving favouralde, little doubt existed that this part of the line 

 would be ready by May, 1840. There are 447 men and 22 horses employed on 

 this division. The total number of men employed throughout are 1,117; 

 horses 93. — Extract from the Eiiyincer's Rritoii. 



London and Southamptou Railway. — We feel great pleasure in being able to 

 announce, on competent authority, that it has been positively determined to 

 open that portion of the railway extending from this place (Southampton) as 

 far as Winchester during the coming summer. We may therefore expect to be 

 shortly in full possession of the advantages of railway communication. The 

 erection of the terminus on the Marsh is proceeding with extraordinary 

 rapidity. — Hampshire Indfpcndent, — The buildings and works for the railway 

 station here (at Basingstoke) are proceeding with great rnpidiiy ; a number of 

 hands are employed, and the scene at present is one of the utmost bustle and 

 activity. The site selected is on a gentle eminence, within a stone's throw of 

 the old chapel ruins and of Brook-street, commanding a fine view of the town 

 and the highly picturesque scenr-ry adjacent. It is already a conspicuous object 

 from a distance, and will speedily form an important feature of the landscape 

 from the neighbouring hills. A spacious carriage-way is forming to connect 

 the station in a direct line from Oak-street, which will be the leading thorough- 

 fare ; other roads and footwaj s are in progress, to render it of convenient accesa 

 from various parts of the town. — .Salisbury Joiirnat. 



FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. 



Paris. — A preliminary inquiry has been commenced by order of the Municipal 

 Council of Paris on proposals for establishing two railroads from the capita), 

 one to St. Maur, and the other to Sceaux. The first is intended to commence 

 at the Rue Traversiere St. Antoine, passing through Bercy, St. Maude, Choren- 

 ton, and Vincennes; and the second at the Place de I'Observatoire, running 

 through Gentilly, Arcueil, Bagnieux, and Bourg la Reine. 



Most of the great Morks commenced in Paris are at present suspended. — 

 f'omvierce, 



Havre Radrond Cornpanij At a late meeting it was decided, at the pressiug 



instance of M. Aguaudo, that, iu case it became impossible to give entire execu- 

 tion to the undertaking, it should be carried into effect as far as Rouen, and 

 that the road should terminate, not at St. Sevres, as originally intended, but on 

 the heights of Beauvoiein. passing by Blainville. and the branch lines on Lou- 

 viers and Elbeuf being suppressed. This decision was definitely adopted, and 

 no consideration, it is said, will induce the company to modify it. 



Railiraii bctivvmi. Ihe iMinuhe ami Uic Black 5(a.— The establishment of a railroad 

 between Tschernowoda and Kostendsche, which was to open a direct and 

 speedy communication between the Danube and the Black Sea, will not be con- 

 tinued this year, or even for some time, and in fact will not be completed till 

 the Porte gives its assent to the project. The marshy ground unfavourable to 

 canalisation has been inspected, and the operation compared with the measure- 

 ment already made by some Prussian officers in the Sultan's strvice, but the 

 project of opening a canal appears to be abandoned. The railroad in question 

 is not to go from Tschernowoda, but from Hirsowa, which is at no great distance, 

 to Kostensche, where the rampart or wall of Trajan formerly commenced, a 

 spot famous in ancient history as the place of Ovid's exile. Meantime the rail- 

 road in its present state is to be made use of for the transport of goods and pro- 

 visions. Were the railroad once executed, a distance off more than two days 

 would be gained, and the undertaking would also be of great importance for the 

 trade and navigation of the Lower Danube. 



7'he Young Egyptians. — Of the twenty Egyptians sent to this country by their 

 government about nine years ago, to learn our arts and sciences, tlie last 

 of them, Seid Achmet, left this on Monday, 1st ultimo, for Liverpool* 

 to return to his native country. He had been five years learning millwright 

 work tinder Mr. Graham at l*artick, and civil engineering for about three years, 

 under Mr. Macquisten. The climate disagreed with some of them, and they 

 remained but a short time in this country. We understand two of them died ; 

 four paid their attention principally to plumber-work, two to ship-building, and 

 the others chiefly to machinery-making and cotton-spinning. The Pacha 

 wisely left them to choose trades or professions to suit their own tastes, and he 

 paid for their education liberally. It is rather surprising that only one of them 

 had the idea of studying civil engineering, being a profession so much required 

 in that country, and where it is generally believed to have had its origin, but 

 has long since been extinct; and it is rather an odd circumstance that this 

 young gentleman should have been taught in Glasgow, and that when he 

 returns to Egypt he will be the first native civil engineer who has appeared 

 thi-re for many generations. He is a very interesting young man, and was 

 much esteemed here by people of all ranks. A number of respectable and 

 scientific persons took leave of him at the steamer, and his former fellow-work- 

 men fired a farewell salute from a number of guns as the steamer passed the 

 Kelvin,— .(j/as^ow Herald, 



