The Express.
London, England, 1856-01-12 00:00:00

BOARD OF TRADE.

TO THE lIDITOR 01' Tal WHIM

Eastern Counties Railway, Secretary's Office,
Bishougate Station, Loudon, Jan. 11.
Sfit,—l am instructed by the directors to forward
you a copy of my letter, which hu been addressed to tls
Board of Trade, together with a copy of the enclosure
therein alladed to.—l am, !Lc.,
J. B. OWEN, Secretary.
Eastern Counties It railway, Secretary's Office,
Bishopogate Station, London, Jan. 10.

Bir,—The board of directors of the Esatern Comities
Railway Company have had under their anxious caesium.
ties your letter of the s:h inst., enclosing, by order of the
Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade,
copy of the report of Colonel Wynne on the state of cu.
tan parts of the Eastern Counties Railway.

I am desired to stets, for the information of their lord.
ships, that in October last a speciel committee of Ws
board was appointed to deliberate on the condition of the
permanent way and works of the Eutern Counties foes,
and to take such action thereon as, under the advice of theo
engineer, Mr. Bruff, might be thought necessary.
The board have called the attention of their engineer to
the communication received frem their lordships, sad the

monspanying report from that ofli ter will ehow generally
the mane which has ken taken by him, both before and
after the appointment of the sp, Mal committee, and the
plans propcaed for the future, together with bit views at to
the safety of the line between London, Cambridge, sad
Norwich

The beard feel that by the additional precautions sog•
gamed therein, and which the, have ordered forthwith to
be adopted, the public safety will be satisfactorily provided
for.

The bo►rd are gratified to find that Colonel Wynne
agrees with their engineer, that weak or decayed timber
structures may be tempurardy made safe by additional
struts mod other appliances of new timber.

This strengthening of thc timber etnictores, together
with the introduction of new sleepers, and the genertl
notification of every deficiency, has been, nod is being,
carried on with unceasing easily, and acquiring espial-
lure, by a force of upwards of 1,000 men, foremen, sad
asperintendents, in addition to the ordinory establishment

The board concur fully in Colonel Wyntit's opinion, that
to make the larger timber structures permanently safe, my
mast be all carefully stripped and overhauled, which, of
course, will require its removal of one of the ham of rails
during the process.

Thia thorough restoration has bean in progreu for tents
menthe past, and will be v.:lain:Led with as much expeditioa
as is praoticable, and ti erehre the hoard are premed to
meet the exigency of the circamatancto to the fail extent

indicated by Colonel Wynne.
The board trust that by thee* precautions, and by the
skill and vigilance of their engineer and bis staff, all danger
will be averted and the public confidence be fully re-
aWred.—l am Sir, your ob:dient servant,

J. B. OWIiN, Secretary.
To Captain Gallon. R.E , Railway Department,

Board of Trade.

B abopagste Station, Jan. D.

To the Chairman of the Rey and Works CJaamittee.

Sir,—l have carefully read and considered the report If
Colonel Wynne upon the condition of the permanent way
and wood bridges upon this company's tine between 1.2 e.
non, Cambridge, and Itioruis`.; end however applicable hi
observations would have bon some low months sine, I art
oonstrained to differ in opinion with him to a considerable
extent as to their prertnt conil.ticn, or the danger to be sp•
pretended by the public in travelling thereon, and for the
following 'moos:
1. The wood bridges were carefully examined, tasted, end
classified man after I become engineer of the company; and
those structures which exhibited the m serious decay 514
weakness were at once place under reconstruction, sad
others less urgent were made temporarily secure until time
permitted their renewal.

•
2. A. lugs force of (neaten and workmen distributed
I throughout the line have been swiftly engaged under my
direction for many mouths past in the recoostruction and
reparation of the es•od bridges, whose efforts most 01
I necessity result in the daily improvement of their stability,
and whose duty it is to guard the public safety to the utmost
silent, bye daily ezansinvtion of every wools structure.

3. Toe reduced weight and creed of rawer:ger trains no•
adopted maths section of the lice in Tar ati..n, and more parti-
cularly the greatly reduced speed at which they pass over
those wooden structures at present under repair, or which
have not been permanently renewed.
4. The greater w, ight of tie ;pods and mineral trait+,
which past in rapid succer-ion both day and night over the
whole line, which act as c,ctiuuous tests of the stability
both of the permanent way and of the wood bridges, sed
may consequently bo considered as affording • fair ow
lii rantee for the safe pewee of the lighter passenger trains.

4. The fast that no accident occurred when the way and
works of the company were in a far less sst:sfectory condi.
Con than at peetent, and in the absence LI these precis.
timery measures and limits of eyeed which now exist.
Absolute safety M railway travelling, I need hardly
observe, can be secured upon nob's., however new or rarfect
it may be in all its parts; and upon the Em men Comities'
London, Cambridge, and Norwich line, I see no namable
ground's to doubt, with a continuance of the present atom
to maintain and improve its condition, and of those hada
precautionary measures herein referred to, that the rublie
may travel u safely as upon the generality of lines untie
()Misery circumstances. And I w.iuld beg to observe, is
reference to this opinion, that I esn hove no object other
than giving you correct information, teeing that it fell tray
duty first to call the attention of the of directors to
the dilapidated condition of your way en 4 works altami
immediately after my appointment, since which time, with
the eirgni f yourself, collebgues, and shareb.ildert, I
have been actively employed in effecting their restorstion.
In conclusion, I Dave to recommend tam, in deference •
the expressed opinion of Colonel Wynne to the Board of
Trade, and to allay apprehension in the public mind, the
rate of speed of all passenger trains between London, Cal'
bridge, arid Norwich, be fsr a time still further reduced;
that a safety•travelling inspector be appointed to travel
upon the engine with every passenger train nemeen them
' points to enforce strictly the empany's regulati ois ; sea
notwithstandiag the unfsvoue ible period of the year lot ex.
I tended operations,that • coasiderable increase should bereft
r to nor present means, wit', t'te view of espediting repair.
and facilitation the progress of reeoostrastioo.-1 remain,
'I Sir, your obedient eervan,,
(Sidaied) Prom BRICFII, Engineer.