214 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[JVNK, 



The North Midland Railtcaij. 



The Xnrlh Midland Railwaii. w liich forms a commniiicafmn between Leeds 

 and Derby, was partially opened for traffie on Monday, lllh nit. On Satur- 

 day morning, preiiaratorv to tliat openinf(, tbe J)irectors took a trip .alnnf,' 

 the line, starting from Derby, and traversing; to alxiiit rtitliin eleven miles 

 from tbe terminus at Leeds.' l!iit, altliough tbe line is in a eimdition to lie 

 traverseil from Derby to tbe immediate neigbbourbood of Waketield. tbe 

 portion open to tbe public extends only from Derby to Rotberham, a distance 

 of about 40 miles, giving, by means of the Slielbeld and Kotherbam Railway, 

 an miinterrupted railw.ay 'eonunnnication from Sliertleld to Derby ; from 

 thence by tbe Midland Counties Railway to Notlingb.un and Leicester ; and 

 by tbe I^irniingbam and Derljy Railway, to Birmiugbam and London. 



Tbe railway station at Derby is a wonderfully extensive place, wbieb 

 .istonisbes every ()erson on arriving there for tbe first time. 'I'be length of 

 buildings and covered «av now erecting extend, we believe, lO'iO feet. .So 

 stupendous and magnitieent does every thing appear, that imagination 

 almost leads passengers to suppose tlu'y are arrived at a market-place for 

 steam engines. The buildings comprise a handsome ball, offices, refreshment 

 and waiting rooms, with recjuisite conveniences, 230 feet long, .3 stories high, 

 with a fajade wall e.Ktending each way 410 feet, with openings for the de- 

 parture of passengers on their arrival. The platform the whole length is 

 formed by large Yorkshire stone landings of a superior quality. Tbe oas- 

 sengers' shed extends the whole length of the walls and buildnigs, which is 

 covered by a light iron roof of 42 feet span. The centre part of the passen- 

 gers' shed' is 56 feet span, and one bay 42 feet, are also covered, in the whole 

 about 4.50 feet in length, and supported by handsome iron columns, 22 feet 

 high from the top of the rails. 



The arrangements for the lines of rails vith the requisite number of turn- 

 tables are on an extensive scale, and appear to be well adapted for the traffic 

 and depot for the Company's carriages. 



In addition to these buildings there is an engine-house with 16 sides, 134 

 feet across, with a conical roof and lanthern rising to 54 feet above the floor 

 from the top of the cidumns, which are 18 feet high; this building is ap- 

 proached by t«o wings 48 feet long, over which will be a reservoir of water 

 for the supply of the engines. &c. 



The preparations for the repairs of the Company's engines and carriages 

 bear the same proportion, the shops averaging 160 feet long each, by 70 feet 

 wide, three stories high, and smith's furnaces to each in connexion with 

 other buildings. 



When the extensive nature of these works is considered, and that they 

 have onlv been i) months in hand, tbe greatest praise is due to Mr. Jackson, 

 tlie contractor, for the despatcli employed, and the stability and beauty of 

 these structures, which, in connexion with the other stations on the line. 

 reflect the prreatest credit on the taste and skill of Mr. Thompson, the Com- 

 pany's architecf. — Abridged from the Derby Reporter. . 



Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railu'aij. Engineer's Report, read at the 

 last Half- Yearly Meeting on the 'iOth April. 



Gentleken— Notwithstanding the many causes of delay whiidi have arisen 

 all the principal works between the Lans'downe Rridge, at Cheltenham, an'' 

 the proposed station at Gloucester, have been completed. Two bridges, w hie" 

 are three-quarters finished, and about 20,000 yards of earthwork for the ap- 

 proaches to one of these, namely, the Badgeworlh Road Bridge, together' 

 with the trimming and soiling of slopes at several places, are all that now 

 remains to be done to cmple'te the whole of this portion of the line, pre- 

 paratory to the laving the ballast and the permanent way. 



The excavation lor the iunction between the Birmingham and Gloucester 

 <:ompany's .station at Cbelteuham and the main line at Lansdowne Bridge, 

 has been commenced, and upwards of 40,000 yards of ballast are prepared 

 and set asidi*. 



The cuttings and embankments upon this district, although consisting 

 principally of clay, have not suiiered imich during the late wet season, and 

 there is now every appearance of the works standing well. 



The five permanent shafts of tbe .Saperton Tunnel, referred to in the last 

 Report, have been completed ; the sixth, which will be the least in depth, 

 ami in other respects the easiest in construction, has not been commenced, in 

 consequence of the taking possession of any land, at that part, invcdving. by 

 the arrangements with the proprietor, tbe previous purchase of the whole of 

 the land required for the wcjrks generally in the same parish, and which ex- 

 pense you <leemed it unnecessary at present to incur. 



Between Cirencester and the junction » ith the Great Western Railway at 

 .Swindon, the v.orks have, generally speaking, been actively proceeded with 

 during the last half-year. , . , . r ■ ■ „ 



Of the masonry of bridges and culverts, which is oi course principally 

 summer work, upwards of 3000 yards have been executed, and 7.500 remain 

 unfinished, independently of the covered way, winch contains about 5.300 

 yards, and which is just commenced. 



Of tbe 000.000 yards of earthwork, which, as was stated at the last meet- 

 ing, then remained to be moved, 400,000 have been excavated, and formed 

 into embankment; and there remain, consequently, .500,000 only, to com- 

 plete the work. 



Upon the whole extent of the works in this district, both the cuttings and 

 embankments have stood remarkably well ; the leu and slight symptoms of 

 slipping, which occurred on one single part only, have been entirely remc- 

 dietl, and tbe slopes are now in excellent condition. 



Although the average performance, however, has thus, upon a total dis- 

 tance of 17 miles, been such as would, calculating at (he same rate, and 

 allowing but moderately for tbe great advantages of the summer season, 

 ensure the completion of the whole during the next five or six months, this 

 average rate has not been equally maintained upon all tbe contracts. 



The works of the Cirencester branch to Kemble are in a forward state, and 

 nniglit easily be finished during the next August; and the contractor for that 

 \>aa of the 'line extending from the Great Western Railway to the Red Uon 



at Minety, a dist.ance of upwards of nine miles, would be able to complete 

 the work, including the laying of the permanent way, by the month ol Sep- 

 tember. An embankment of about 160.000 yards, contract. No. 2, is the 

 principal work to be c.-cecuted on the remairaler of the line ; and if very great 

 exertions Mere useil, there can be little doubt tb.at the whole might be 

 brought into profitable work with the commencemeut of the year 1841. or 

 even by the end of the present year ; w bile, in the mean tirne, the nine miles 

 Iiefore referred to, forming part of a continuous line in conjunction with the 

 Great M'esteni Railway, might be brought into operation at a still earlier 

 period. 



The prospect of the early opening of the Great Western Railway, up to 

 Swindon, which may be expected during the latter end of the present year, 

 and the great state of forwardness of several miles at that extremity of your 

 line, would render a successful efiort highly valuable. These exertions would, 

 of course, necessarily dem.and a proportionably rapid expenditure of the capi- 

 tal of the Company— an expenditure, however, wdiich would be unquestion- 

 ably economical in the end. I am. Gentlemen, yonr's obediently, 



I. K. Beunel, Engineer. 

 Great Western Railway.— The works in the neighbourhood of Bath are 

 proceeding with very great activity. The foundation of the pier in the centre 

 of the Avon, near the Old Bridge, 'having been properly laid, operations liave 

 been commenced on the Widcomb? side of the water. In the Ham gardens 

 the erection of the arches on which the Bath depot will be situated, is being 

 rapidly proceeded with ; w hilst some steps have been taken towards erecting 

 the viaduct across the Dolemead and Pultency road. The tunnel at tbe top 

 of Raby-place is likewise being finished in a very rapid manner. Towards 

 Hampton the works are of a heavy character, and the utmost despatch is. 

 therefore, observable in that quarter. The workmen have made great pro- 

 gress in the necessary excavations for turning the course of the canal imme- 

 diately opposite the Cleveland Baths. The embankments for the permanent 

 way are here in a forward state ; while, near Hampton church, and in the 

 meadows beyond, the contractors have been very active, and operations have 

 l>een commenced throughout tbe e.-.tcnt of the line to Bathford. A together, 

 tliere seems no reason why the line between Bath and Bristol should not be 

 opened towards the close of this summer ; and we hear that the Bristol di- 

 rectors have been taking measures which, it is hoped, will secure the opening 

 of their division, and consequently of tbe entire line, in the middle ol next 

 yew.— Wilts Independent. The opening of the extended line to Steventon, a 

 'distance of 52 miles from London, is announced to take place on the 1st ot 

 next month. We are happy to find that there is every probability ot this 

 grand undertaking being opened between Bristol and Bath early m Septem- 

 ber. The permanent way has Lecn laid down in the neighbourhood ot 

 Keynsham to a considerable extent, and the locomotive engine is ,at work. 

 Between Keynsham and Bristol the road is all formed, and except finishing 

 nil the head of No. 3 tunnel, is in a perfect state. The beautiful elliptic 

 Gothic-arched bridge across the Avon, near the station, is completed, ami 

 presents a most splendid appearance. Tbe work does infinite credit to the 

 contractors, Messrs. Wilcox and Son. — Bristol Mirror. 



Pre.fton and Wijre Railmiy.— This line of railway, it is expected, will he 

 opened to the public on the'lst or 2nd of July next— the North Union Com- 

 pany finding locomotive power and caiTiages. Above 1. 000 men are en- 

 gaged in the various works in progress at Fleetwood, among which may be 

 mentioned an liotel, intended to be one of the finest buildings of the kind in 

 the kingdom. A quay of considerable length, the foundation of which rests 

 on iron piles, is also in progress. A light-house, on Mitchell s patent screw 

 principle, has been erected on the end of a sand bank, about two miles out to 

 sea, and will be lighted in the course of next month. The house and lantern 

 stand from CO to 70 feet high. CUiptain Denham. R.N., has been for some 

 time busily engaged taking bearings for two o!bcr light-houses, wdnch are 

 intended shortly to be commenced. It is intended so to lower the bar, by 

 dredging, that t'here shall never be less than 12 feet water at low water high 

 spring tides, from the sea direct into the liarbour, which can readily be 

 elli?cted. The town of Fleetwood h:is been tastefully laid out by Decimus 

 Burton, I'^sq., of London, and a considerable number of houses are in pro- 

 gress. — Lancaster Guardian. 



Birmingham and Gloucester Railwaii.—\yc can now confidently state that 

 the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway will be opened on or before the Isl 

 of July next, from Barnt Green, eleven miles from this town, to Cheltenham. 

 Conveyances will be furnished by the company to perform the intermediate 

 distance, and by the end of the year it is fully calculated that the whole line 

 will be completed, and opened to the public from Birmingham to Cheltenham. 

 — Midland Counties Jferald. 



Sorthern and Ea.itern Railway.— A correspondent informs us that the open- 

 ing of the first portion of the Northern and Kastern Railway will take place 

 at least two months sooner than was anticipated— namely, in August next. 

 We learn from other onartcrs. that the greatest energy is displayed in the 

 prosecution of the works. — Ibid. 



Manchester and Birmingham Railway— The exertions of the various con- 

 tractors, on this line of railway, at the temporary Manchester terminus, in 

 Travis-street, Londim-road. hav'e, for the last four or five weeks, been cpiite 

 astonishing. Since the 1st of April, no fewer than six more arches, ot thii-ty- 

 threc feet span, have been completed, besides another skew bridge. The 

 magnitude, or rather tlie extent of the work, may in some measure be esti- 

 mated, when it is .stated that the arches and bridge have consumed nearly 

 seven millions of bricks. The immense scafiblding or centering, rendered ne- 

 cessarr lor the erection of the iron skew bridge, which has so pistly attracted 

 public notice, has this week been removed, and this noble mechanical struc- 

 ture, which has certainly not its cijual in the kingdom— perhaps not in the 

 world, may now be seen to the best possible adv.intage. Mr. Buck, tbe com- 

 pany's engineer, has, it is said, the rare merit of designing this extraordinary 

 work of art. The permanent rails are now in the course of being laid ; the 

 mode of doing which presents to the eye of the scientific man a degree ot 

 firmness and probable dumbility not perhaps equilled, or even nearly ap- 



