of the Locomotive Factory.-Discussion as to the Working Power of the Liver-

pool and Manchester Railway.-Walker and Rastrick's Report.-A Prize offered

for the best Locomotive. -Invention of the Multitubular Boiler.-Henry Booth.—

Construction of the "Rocket."-The Locomotive Competition at Rainhill.—Tri-

umph of the "Rocket".

CHAPTER XIII.

Page 301

OPENING OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY, AND EXTENSION OF

THE RAILWAY SYSTEM.

The Railway finished.-Organization of the Working.-The public Opening.-Fatal

Accident to Mr. Huskisson.-The Traffic begun.-Improvements in the Road,

Rolling Stock, and Locomotive.-Steam-carriages tried on common Roads.-New

Railway Projects.-Opposition to Railways in the South of England.-Robert

Stephenson appointed Engineer of Leicester and Swannington Railway.-George

removes to Snibston and sinks for Coal.-His character as a Master.........

CHAPTER XIV.

329

ROBERT STEPHENSON CONSTRUCTS THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.

The London and Birmingham Railway projected.—George and Robert Stephenson

appointed Engineers.—An Opposition organized.-Public Meetings against the

Scheme.-Robert Stephenson's Interview with Sir A. Cooper.-The Survey ob-

structed.—The Line resurveyed.-The Bill in Parliament.—Thrown out in the

Lords. The Project revived.-The Act obtained.-The Works let in Contracts.

-Difficulties of the Undertaking.-The Line described.-Blisworth Cutting.—

Primrose Hill Tunnel.-Kilsby Tunnel.-Its Construction described.-Failures

of Contractors.-Magnitude of the Works.-The Railway navvies.......

CHAPTER XV.

349

MANCHESTER AND LEEDS, MIDLAND, AND OTHER RAILWAYS-GENERAL EXTEN-

SION OF RAILWAYS AND THEIR RESULTS.

Projection of new Lines.-Dutton Viaduct on the Grand Junction.-The Manches-

ter and Leeds.-Incident in Committee.-Summit Tunnel, Littleborough.-The

Midland Railway.-The Works compared with the Simplon Road.-Slip near

Ambergate.-Bull Bridge.-The York and North Midland.-The Scarborough

Branch.-George Stephenson on Estimates.-Stephenson on his Surveys.-His

quick Observation.-His extensive Labors.-Traveling and Correspondence.—

Life at Alton Grange.-Stephenson's London Office.-Journeys to Belgium.-

Interviews with the King.-Public Openings of English Railways.-Stephenson's

Assistants. Results of Railroads .........

CHAPTER XVI.

365

GEORGE STEPHENSON'S COAL-MINES-OPINIONS ON RAILWAY Speeds-RAILWAY

MANIA.

George Stephenson on Railways and Coal Traffic.-Leases the Claycross Estate.—

His Residence at Tapton.-His Appearance at Mechanics' Institutes.-His Views

on Railway Speed.—Undulating Lines favored.—Stephenson on Railway Specula-

tion.—Atmospheric Railways projected.—Opposed by Stephenson.—The Railway

Mania.-Action of Parliament.-Rage for direct Lines.-Stephenson's Letter to

Peel.-George Hudson, the "Railway King."-His Fall.-Stephenson again visits

Belgium.—Interview with King Leopold.—Journey into Spain.................... ..... 392

ROBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER-EAST COAST ROUTE TO SCOTLAND-HIGH-

LEVEL BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE.

Robert Stephenson's Career.-His extensive Employment as Parliamentary Engi-

neer. His rival, Brunel.-The Great Western Railway.-Width of Gauge.-Rob-

ert Stephenson's caution as to Investments.-The Newcastle and Berwick Rail-

way.-Contest in Parliament.-George Stephenson's Interview with Lord Howick.

-The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick.-Progress of Iron Bridge-building.—Rob-

ert Stephenson constructs the High-Level Bridge, Newcastle.-Pile-driving by

Steam.-Merits of the Structure.-The through Railway to Scotland com-

pleted.............................

CHAPTER XVIII.

..Page 421

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY-MENAI AND CONWAY BRIDGES.

George Stephenson Surveys a line from Chester to Holyhead.-Robert Stephenson

afterward 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 con-

sulted.-His Experiments.-Professor Hodgkinson.-Chains proposed, and event-

ually discarded.-The Bridge Works.-The Conway Bridge.-Britannia Bridge

described.-Floating of the Tubes.-Robert Stephenson's great Anxiety.-Raising

of the Tubes.-The Hydraulic Press bursts.-The Works completed.-Merits of

the Britannia Bridge.
438

CHAPTER XIX.

CLOSING YEARS OF GEORGE STEPHENSON'S LIFE-ILLNESS And Death.

George Stephenson's Life at Tapton.-Experiments in Horticulture.-His Farming

Operations.-Affection for Animals.-Bee-keeping.-Reading and Conversation.

-Rencounter with Lord Denman.-Hospitality at Tapton.-His Microscope.—

A "Crowdie Night."-Visits to London.-Visits Sir Robert Peel at Drayton

Manor.-His Conversation.-Encounter with Dr. Buckland.-Coal formed by the

Sun's Light.-Opening of the Trent Valley Line and its Celebration. -Meeting

with Emerson.-Illness, Death, and Funeral.-Statues of George Stephenson.—

Personal Characteristics

CHAPTER XX.

460

ROBERT STEPHENSON'S VICTORIA BRIDGE, LOWER CANADA-ILLNESS AND Death

-THE STEPHENSON CHARACTERISTICS.

Robert Stephenson's gradual Retirement from the profession of Engineer.-His Tu-

bular Bridge over the Nile.-Railways in Canada.-Proposed Bridge at Montreal.

-A Tubular Bridge proposed.-Robert Stephenson appointed Engineer.-Design

of the Victoria Bridge.-The Piers.-Getting in of the Foundations.-Progress

of the Works.-Erection of the Tubes.-Scene at the breaking-up of the Ice in

1858.-The Night-work.-Erection of main central Tube.-Completion of the

Works.-Robert Stephenson in Parliament.-His Opinion of the Suez Canal.—

His Honors.-Launch of the Great Eastern.-Last Illness and Death.-The Ste-

phenson Characteristics.-Conclusion......................

INDEX

474

497

xliv

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Conway Bridge.
Menai Bridge

PAGE

457

PAGE

474

451 Victoria Bridge, Montreal.
Elevation of Pier, Victoria Bridge... 478
Works in Progress, Victoria Bridge 480
Erection of the Main Central Tube,
Victoria Bridge........

Floating First Tube, Conway Bridge 459
View in Tapton Gardens...
460
Footpath to Tapton House..
465
Trinity Church, Chesterfield. 471 Stephenson Memorial Schools, Wil-
Tablet in Trinity Church......
473 lington....

483

496