The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-21 00:00:00

GRAND TRUNK RAILIVAY.

( From th& Quebec Mercury of Nov. 30.)

The Quebec and Richmond branch of the Grand Trunk
Railroad is now opened to the public, and is in every
respect un fait, accompli, as briefly announced in our
last. Quebec is now placed in direct and speedy corn-
multeation during the whole course of the year with her
sister cities both in Canada and in the neighbouring
States. _ _ _

The first public train ever run on the line left
South Quebec station on Monday morning at nine
o'clock, and proceeded with passengers and mails
en route to Richmond, there to meet the trains
running north and south between Portland
and Montreal. We had been favoured with an invitation
to accompany Sir Cusack Roney and the officers of the
company on this initiatory trip, and right gladly availed
ourselves of the same. In spite of occasional thick snow
storms we dashed along in glorious style through cut-
ting, clearing, bush and forest till we reached Richmond.
There we arrived at one o'clock, having made the run in
four hours, including stoppages at the Cha,udiere, Kelly's,
Black River, Methot's, Becancour, Somerset, Stanfold,
Nieolet, Harvey's, and Danville stations, ten in number,
at which mail bags are exchanged every day trip, the mail
conductors accompanying the cars. Though the track isnot
ballasted for about ten miles, the drive was most agreeable
throughout. Among the party were Mr. Reekie, agent
of the contractors, Mr. Martin, superintendent of the
line, and Mr. M`Kenzie, superintendent of the motive
power on the Quebec and Richmond district, nephew to
the celebrated civil engineer of that name in Britain ;
to all these gentlemen we are indebted for information.
We were permitted on request to accompany the engi-
neers on the locomotive itself during a part of the
jsurney, a position that we would by no means recom-
mend to the timid excursionist, who could not
but participate in the thrills or horror which we every
now and then experienced at the dep:orable recklessness
of our still unenlightened country people as they walked
along the track in many places' and, notwithstanding
the timely warning notes of bell and whistle, obstinately
hold their ground till they were all but reached •by the
bounding train. However such carelessness may merit
punishment, God forbid that the people should perse-
vere in this practice till warned by the sad lessons else- •
where too often told of wherever the iron track is laid !
Besides being enlightened as to the power and peculiari-
ties of an English engine, we witnessed satisfactorily
from this proximate point of observation the
readiness with which all its movements can be con-
trolled. Having, however, previously determined
to extend our stroll southward " from -Richmond, the
diversion gave us an opportunity-of a most charming
moonlight drive, down the very banks of the St.
Francis, on the return the same evening, upon a loco-
motive of American . construction, one of great power,
which, to our eye, had many advantages over the Bir-
kenhead engine that conveyed the first Quebec train
westward. It possessed the improvements of its English
companion, and had others of native origin, we presume,
the chief of which is its being on eight wheels' the.
four front ones forming an independent carriage from
those in rear, so as to permit of the locomotives work-
ing with greater freedom, and causing it to jar less
than if too solidly connected front and rear, especially
in running round a curve. Space is not 'given mks to
extend as we would into the details of feeding and
working the iron horse.
At Sherbrooke the Grand Trunk Company have a
more extensive suite of buildirgs than at South Que-
bec. In approaching that station the very extensive
Brompton Mills, owned by Mr. Clarke, form a very
prominent object of attention to the stranger. Large
quantities of lumber are exported thence to the south.
The Portland route is exceedingly well built, and the
cars glide most smoothly over its, heavy and secure
rails. _ _

The company, unlike that of the Great Western line
in Upper Canada, have taken into their employ many
Canadians as well as Englishmen. The conductor, with
whom the first passengers went out, Mr. Vallee, being a
Franco-Canadian, and as we are informed an intelligent
and active officer. The uniform of the conductors merits
a passing notice ; it is but right that the party authorised
to:question and attend to the passengers shoull wear
some distinguishing mark. They are clad in a neat blue
surtout, with gilt buttons, and " G.T.R." in small
letters on the collar indicates the company in whose
service they act. They wear also a blue cloth forage-
cap with geld band. In the winter, though it may be
permitted to dispense with this light dress, we do not
admire the adoption of a complete multy, as if aroused
from his slumbers on a night train, any man asked to
show his ticket would feel justified in demanding the
credentials of the " gent" should he wear the garb of an
ordinary passenger.
Talking of the minor comforts of American cars, we
decidedly prefer them to those of England, or even the
more snug and cozy cars of la Belle France, where the
want of a stove is only in part compensated for by, the
feet warmers.

At Richmond the excursionists were met by a number
of familiar faces from Montreal, who had started from
the opposite end of the route at about the same hour
as ourselves of Stadacona, and the half-way meeting
formed an appropriate place and occasion to sa-
tiate the appetites of all the voyageurs, a mat-
ter of no minor consideration to either caterer or guests,
after the keen though agreeable weather experienced in
the morning. A. most grateful collation was generously
provided, including every luxury of meats and wines.
_Sir Cusack, and Lady Roney, Mr. Martin, Mr. and Mrs.
O'Brien, and others were at the head of the table ; ap-
propriate toasts were honoured, and it is needless to add
that ample justice was done by all concerned, when the
shrill whistle warned us that the hour of departure had
come.

Quite a number of ,passengers macho their entry and
exit as the train'halted at the various country posts on
the way, a most satisfactory indication of the extensive
business the line is certain to do when its details of its
managementand working, and the hours of starting, &c.,
become generally known to tho many small communities
throughout the district which it traverses. We under-
stand that as many as one hundred and fifty through
passengers came down by one of the first evening trains.

DECEMBER 2l, 1854