434 THE COACHING AGE. 



was two millions and a half, which was considered 

 quite sufficient to cover all contingencies. An Act 

 of Parliament was subsequently obtained for pro- 

 viding an independent terminus at Paddington.' 

 Although onl}'- a line from London to Bristol, it 

 was called the Great Western in view of its being 

 the main channel for all the traffic of the west of 

 England and South Wales. It is almost the only 

 line out of London which has adhered to its original 

 name ; but Brunei, the engineer, was a man who 

 did things upon an enlarged scale, whether in ship- 

 building or railways — the broad gauge being his idea, 

 and the Great Western then the only line upon 

 which it was laid down, the Bristol and Exeter 

 being a continuation of it. 



The lines out of London which have changed their 

 original names are : 



London and North-Westem, originally London and Birmingham. 

 London, Brighton and South Coast, originally London and 



Brighton. 

 Great Eastern, originally Eastern Counties. 

 South- Western, originally London and Southampton. 



Seeing the ramifications that have taken place, and 

 the branch lines that have been thrown out right and 

 left to communicate with the main trunk lines, the 

 name designating the district encompassed by each 

 main line is more appropriate than that of the name 



