XXXI 



the sharp curves of the American railways ; and in the majority of 

 the American engines that mode of construction has since been fol- 

 lowed. Thus it is to Robert Stephenson that are due the types of 

 the locomotive engines used in both hemispheres. 



The successful result of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway 

 led to the project of a line between London and Birmingham. The 

 survey for this line had been entrusted to Robert Stephenson, who 

 removed to London for the purpose of devoting himself to the execu- 

 tion of the works, which had also been committed to him. They 

 were very heavy, and demanded the exercise of the greatest skill and 

 constant personal attention, especially in such works as the Kilsby 

 Tunnel, where the quantity of water met with threatened to stop the 

 proceedings. The railway, which was commenced in 1834, was com- 

 pleted in 1838 ; and such was the reputation acquired by the engineer, 

 that his advice and assistance were henceforth sought in all the im- 

 portant undertakings of the period, either for the construction of the 

 works or in prosecution of the bills before Parliament. Foreign 

 governments also sought his assistance ; and for the attention devoted 

 to the scheme for the Belgian railways, both George and Robert Ste- 

 phenson received from the King of the Belgians, in 1844, the deco- 

 ration of the Order of Leopold. Robert Stephenson received also, in 

 1848, the Grand Cross of St. Olaf of Norway for similar services. 

 He was thus consulted on the construction of railways in Belgium, 

 Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Tuscany, Canada, Egypt, 

 the East Indies, and other countries. During the progress of these 

 large systems of lines, he was called upon to design and to execute 

 many very important and some very novel works, of which we can 

 here only mention the Kilsby and numerous other tunnels, large 

 viaducts, such as the High Level Bridge at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 

 the Victoria Bridge at Berwick, and the Conway and Britannia 

 tubular iron Bridges. The latter great innovation in constructive 

 art, which has since been extended to architectural construction with 

 the greatest success, was at first viewed with great distrust ; and it 

 required some considerable time to convince the public of the security 

 of such works : subsequently it was as difficult to settle the question 

 as to the real originator of the system. We have here only to record 

 that in 1855 the Council of Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the 

 French Exposition, awarded to Mr. Robert Stephenson the Great 



