363 
ON SOME SECTIONS EXPOSED IN MAKING THE SKIPTON AND ILKLEY 
EAILWAY. BY S. A. ADAMSON, F.G.S. 
It is obviously necessary that when a new railway is in process 
of construction in any locality, that the geologists of the district 
should be on the alert to increase their practical knowledge by 
visiting, and carefully examining the various sections revealed in the 
progress of the work. Such an opportunity was presented by the 
new line intended to traverse the district between Skipton and 
Ilkley. Permission was readily gTanted by Mr. C. S. Wilson, C.E., 
engineer to the line, to inspect it ; this was done, and, in addition 
to this privilege, the route was expanded, so that the geology of 
South Craven, with the complex disturbances of the strata, was 
studied. Commencing at the Skipton end of the line, it may be 
well to give a few details of the railway itself. The new line from 
Skipton to Ilkley joins the Midland line a little west of Skipton 
Station, and on the Carlton side, thence passing over the Eller 
Beck by an arch, it skirts the base of Skipton Moor. This is to 
save going through the town, and to obtain increased length, the 
gradients being 1 in 85, and 1 in 90, up to the tunnel. The work 
is very heavy for 2| miles, there being eighteen bridges besides 
the tunnel ; in addition the cuttings, as will be shown shortly, being 
cut through stiff boulder clay or till, have been most difficult work. 
This deposit of till is not only stiff, dense, and tough in a remarkable 
degree, but contains countless blocks of stone, scattered up and 
down without regard to size or weight. Some of these blocks are 
rounded, others have their angles just blunted, and many are ice 
scratched or polished. The first cutting, about 120 yards long, has 
a maximum depth of 6 feet; in the second about 750 yards long, the 
greatest depth is 41 feet, both are cut through very stiff boulder 
clay. Then succeed Cuttings Nos. 3 and 4, with embankments 
between; No. 3, about 90 yards in length, and about 2 feet deep; 
No. 4, about 200 yards in length, with a greatest depth of 16 feet 
also through boulder clay. After passing along a lofty embankment, 
