CONTENTS. xix 



CHAPTEE XVII. 



George Stephenson's views on railways and coal-traffic Leases the Claycross 

 estate, and sinks for coal Eemoves to Tapton House British Associa- 

 tion at Newcastle Appears at Mechanics' Institutes Speech at Leeds 

 His self-acting brake His views of railway speed Theory of " undu- 

 lating lines " Stephenson's conduct towards the Chester and Birkenhead 

 Company Atmospheric railways projected Stephenson opposes the prin- 

 ciple of working The railway mania Stephenson tries to check it in 

 vain Parliament and the mania Stephenson's letter to Sir Robert Peel 



George Hudson, the Railway King ; his fall Stephenson again visits 

 Belgium Interviews with King Leopold Journey into Spain 



Page 356-393 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Robert Stephenson's career His extensive employment as Parliamentary 

 engineer His rival, Brunei The Great Western Railway Width of 

 gauge Robert Stephenson's caution as to investments The Newcastle 

 and Berwick Railway Contest in Parliament George Stephenson's inter- 

 view with Lord Howick The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick Progress 

 of iron-bridge building Robert Stephenson constructs the High Level 

 Bridge, Newcastle Pile-driving by steam Merits of the structure 

 The through railway to Scotland completed 394-415 



CHAPTER XIX. 



George Stephenson surveys a line from Chester to Holyhead Robert Stephen- 

 son afterwards appointed engineer The railway works under Penmaen 

 Mawr The crossing of the Menai Strait Various plans proposed A 

 tubular beam determined on Strength of wrought-iron tubes Mr. 

 William Fairbairn consulted His experiments Professor Hodgkinson 

 Chains proposed, and eventually discarded The bridge works The Con- 

 way Bridge Britannia Bridge described Floating of the tubes Robert 

 Stephenson's great anxiety Raising the tubes The hydraulic press 

 bursts The works completed Merits of the Britannia Bridge 416-440 



CHAPTER XX. 



George Stephenson's life at Tapton Experiments in horticulture His 

 fanning operations Affection for animals Bee-keeping Reading and 

 conversation Rencontre with Lord Denman Hospitality at Tapton 

 His microscope A "crowdie night" Visits to London Visits Sir 

 Robert Peel at Dray ton Manor His conversation Encounter with Dr. 

 Buckland Coal formed by the sun's light Opening of the Trent Valley 

 line, and great railway celebration Eulogy of the railway system 

 Meeting with Emerson Illness, death, and funeral Statues of George 

 Stephenson Robert Stephenson's gradual retirement from the profession 



His tubular bridges in Egypt and Canada Acts as railway arbitrator 



Helps to launch the Great Eastern Enters the House of Commons as 

 member for Whitby His foreign honours Illness, death, and funeral 



441-464 



