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- 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........... 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............... 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 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....... ROBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER-EAST COAST ROUTE TO SCOTLAND-HIGHLEVEL BRIDGE, Newcastle. Robert Stephenson's Career. His extensive Employment as Parliamentary Engineer. His rival, Brunel.-The Great Western Railway.-Width of Gauge.-Robert Stephenson's caution as to Investments.-The Newcastle and Berwick Railway.-Contest in Parliament.-George Stephenson's Interview with Lord Howick. -The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick.-Progress of Iron Bridge-building.-Robert Stephenson constructs the High-Level Bridge, Newcastle.-Pile-driving by Steam.-Merits of the Structure.-The through Railway to Scotland com 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 consulted. His Experiments.-Professor Hodgkinson.-Chains proposed, and eventually 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 460 CHAPTER XX. ROBERT STEPHENSON'S VICTORIA BRIDGE, LOWER CANADA-ILLNESS AND DEATH -THE STEPHENSON CHARACTERISTICS. Robert Stephenson's gradual Retirement from the profession of Engineer.—His Tubular 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 Stephenson Characteristics.-Conclusion........ INDEX 474 497 |