EARLY DAYS OF RAILWAYS. 441 



atmospheric plan was tried, but not with much suc- 

 cess, as it did not continue long in use. 



On the Blackwall line there was not any engine 

 attached to the carriages ; but a metal rope running 

 the whole length of the line, passing over small wheels 

 and round large cylinders at each end, was kept in 

 motion by steam-engines. Attached to each carriage 

 was a pair of nippers by which a grip was taken of 

 the rope until, the carriage arriving at the station for 

 which it was destined, the guard in charge loosed 

 the hold on the rope and stopped the carriage ; the 

 same process being adopted on the return journey. 

 Many inconveniences no doubt attended the plan, 

 which, together probably with greatly increased traffic, 

 rendered its continuance impracticable, so that the 

 ordinary method was resorted to. 



I have mentioned these two instances, as they were 

 experiments in the early days of railways, which, after 

 the test of practical experience, were proved to be un- 

 available. 



On another line very considerable alteration in 

 its original construction was found necessary. The 

 London and Birmingham rails were, when the line 

 was first made, laid on square blocks of stone — 

 about two or three feet square, I should say — and at 

 short distances from each other. The rattle was some- 

 thing tremendous, but I suppose this was not why 



