The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER.
Yesterday this company opened the portion of their
Metropolitan Extension from Herne-hill to Beckenham.
The importance of the completion of this link of the com-
pany's extension will be understood from the following
facts :—Until yesterday persons going from the Victoria
station to the continent had to proceed by way of Balham,
Streatham, Norwood, and Crystal Palace—a very cir-
cuitous route, over bad gradients and not very desirable
curves; whereas, by the opening of yesterday, passengers
proceed direct from the Victoria terminus via Herne-hill
to Beckenham, not only saving three miles in distance,
but having the advantage of excellent gradient and an almost
direct line. The length of railway opened yesterday is about
4.1 miles. Leaving Herne• hill station we proceed over a
viaduct of 30 arches, 1,000 feet in extent, which has been
most substantially completed, and from a distance has a
very picturesque appearance. Beyond this is an embank-
ment of a mile and a quarter, with an average height of 20
feet with a slope of 3to 1. Midway in this embankment
is the Dulwich station. This portion of the works has
been of an expensive character, but the outlay has been
a wise one, inasmuch as almost perfect security has been
obtained for the traffic, and all practical railway men
know that in works of this character the first expense is
the cheapest mode of execution. This policy of structure
has (much to the credit of the company, and no doubt also
to the judgment of the contractors) been carried out over
the whole of the works. Following the embankment is a
cutting of one-third of a mile in extent, with slopes of 4 to
1. This brings us, when at the depth of 60 feet, to the
tunnel under Sydenham-hill, and at the face of which
there is now being erected a station for the accommoda-
tion of the neighbourhood. In the construction of ibis
tunnel no fewer than 32,000,000 bricks have been vaed:
The work consists of eight layers of brick, and af,ra_e
parts of twelve, of which 4,000,000 are Staffordshir.a
_ualua°
bricks. This work is of the most substantial
no railw.ay-
racter, and it may be truly said that there is
surpassing
structure of a similar character in the country
Lmems e di ately
it in solidity and excellence of execution.
of rail-
beyond the tunnel the line passes under n
way belonging to the South-Eastern andi"Brighton Co
m-
panies. The difficulties of the contractors in contending
with this portion of the works have been great, but they
have been more than satisfactorily surmounted, and that,
as we understand, without any complaint from the
South-Eastern or the London and Bercigohniteonto oaffisemiaalsll.
pliennegs ewstation and an Passing the the bridge over
oth:us:
bringianucahsracter to the one already men-
cutting which
bankment—similar
tinned—brings us to Beckenham. Theti tLe otnhdeomns,elCvheasthuampen
through ,
con
and Dover Company may gra
having got rid--for the traffic—of the recent cir-
cuitous route. The portion
of the line opened yesterday
will be of a great service to them for the continental traffic,
and when the works shall have been completed to the Far •
ringdon-sreet station they may fairly look for a very con-
siderable increase of their through passengers. We per-
ceive from the time-bill of the company's Victoria station
and Elephant and Castle traffic that they run 38 trains daily
between those points at
very moderate rates.

LICEN SED VICTUALLERS' FETE..—The annual din-
ner of the licensed victuallers' schools was held yes-
terday in the Ashburnham Pavilion at Cremorne-gardens,
and was attended by nearly 2,000 persons. Captain Towns-
hend, of the firm of Samuel AlLsopp and Co., was in the
chair, Alter the usual toasts were drunk, the toast of the
evening, " Success to the Schools," was proposed, and Mr.
Smalley, the secretary, read the list of subscriptions,
Messrs. Allsopp beading it with a donation of £l,OOO. In
proposing the healths of the officers of the institution, the
chairman announced that the secretary, Mr. Smalley, had
just handed in a cheque for the munificent sum of 1,000
guineas. The announcement was received with prolonged
cheering. Nearly £4,000 was subscribed during the even-
ing towards the funds of this excellent charity. After the
dinner a ball took place in the gardens, which was kept up
to a very late hour.
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tie
t
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