90 MANCHESTER AND 



the blocks, and one foot distributed between them, serving to keep them 

 in their proper positions. They are placed at intervals of three feet; in 

 each block two holes six inches deep, and one inch in diameter, are 

 drilled, and into these are driven oak plugs. The rails are supported at 

 every three feet on cast iron chairs or pedestals, into which they are 

 immediately fitted and securely fastened ; the chairs are placed on the 

 blocks and firmly spiked down to the plugs, the whole forming a work 

 of great solidity and strength: the rails are about two inches in breadth, 

 and rise an inch above the surface; they are laid down with extreme 

 correctness, and consist of four parallel rails about four feet eight inches 

 apart, allowing two trains of carriages to pass in opposite directions with 

 perfect safety. Under the warehouses at Liverpool there are four 

 distinct railways, for the greater convenience and facility of loading and 

 unloading the waggons. The principles followed on this railroad, were 

 (after solidity) the making it as far as possible level and straight. With 

 the exception of the two inclined planes at Rainhill, where the inclination 

 is one in ninety-six, there is no greater inclination than in the ratio of 

 one in 880. Along the whole extent there are no abrupt curves ; the 

 curvature rarely exceeds a deviation from a straight line of more than 

 four inches in twenty yards. 



Locomotive power being resolved upon, a premium of 500 was 

 offered for the best engine ; this was furnished by Mr. Booth, and the 

 " .Rocket" made the trial of 70 miles in less than six hours and three 

 quarters, the engine weighing 4 tons 5 cwt., dragging a gross weight of 

 three tons for every one of its own weight. The speed at which the 

 Rocket travelled was frequently 18 miles an hour, and occasionally 

 sometimes twenty. At length, after a little more than three years, this 

 stupendous undertaking was completed, and it was opened on the 15th of 

 September, 1830. The total cost of it was 820,000. 



The railway was opened by the passage of eight locomotive engines, 

 all built by Messrs. Stephenson and Co. To these were attached 28 

 carriages of different forms and capacities, containing altogether a 

 company of six hundred persons. Preparations were made on a scale of 

 great magnificence, to render this ceremony of no ordinary kind, and 

 some of the most distinguished persons in the country were invited, and 

 attended, to go first over that ground which has since become the scene of 

 daily traffic. The Northumbrian, an engine of 14 horse power, took the 

 lead, having in its train three carriages. The performance of the engines 

 was extremely satisfactory, until they reached Parkfield, 17 miles from 

 Liverpool, when they were stopped to renew the feeders and to take in a 



