NEWCASTLE, FROM THE HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE. [By R. P Leitch.] 



CHAPTEE XVIII. 



EGBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER THE STEPHENSONS AND BRUNEL 

 EAST COAST EOUTE TO SCOTLAND EOYAL BORDER BRIDGE, 

 BERWICK HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE. 



THE career of George Stephenson was drawing to a 

 close. He had for some time been gradually retiring 

 from the more active pursuit of railway engineering, 

 and confining himself to the promotion of only a 

 few undertakings in which he took a more than ordi- 

 nary personal interest. In 1840, when the extensive 

 main lines in the Midland districts had been finished 

 and opened for traffic, he publicly expressed his intention 

 of withdrawing from the profession. He had reached 

 sixty, and, having spent the greater part of his life in 

 very hard work, he naturally desired rest and retirement 

 in his old age. There was the less necessity for his con- 

 tinuing " in harness," as Robert Stephenson was now in 

 full career as a leading railway engineer, and his father 

 had pleasure in handing over to him, with the sanction 

 of the companies concerned, nearly all the railway 

 appointments which he held. 



