The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-24 00:00:00

EVENING SUN

LONDON AND BRIGHTON

RAILWAY.
The following additional and interesting, par._
the opening of this line, with the account of the (4._
wi;en to the Directors, are copied fruai the Briyhtoa
Gazette of the 23d inst. :

cula'

On Monday last the entire length of the London and
Brighton Railway was opened by the Directors, who made
their first trip with a train of three first-class carriages, in
which they arrived at Brighton about half-past two
o'clock, and, after inspecting the works at the Brighton
term inus, returned at five o'clock to London.

Th e following morning witnessed the departure from
Brighton of the first passenger train to the metropolis.
It started at a quarter before seven ; but, owing to the
unpleasantness of the weather (a dense sea-fog, which
approached almost to rain, prevailing), only a few pas-
sengers availed themselves of the opportunity of making
the first trip to town by railway. The new or last finished
portion of the line is in excellent order ; and notwith-
standing that we, from a conviction of the great benefits
which the railway will bring to Brighton, have always
been ready to believe in the most favourable reports of
the progress of the works, which our own observation,
moreover, has enabled us frequently to verify, we were
not prepared to find the work in the highly finished
state in which we discovered it to be on our
Tuesday morning's visit. In fact, with only one or two ex-
ceptions, the lastportion of the line is finished and cleared
up in a manner superior to what is observed on some lines
after they have been in operation for several years. These
exceptions are the ornamental facings of Clayton tunnel,
'which are not yet quite completed, the mouths of the
Hayward's Heath tunnel, and a little trimming in the ex-
tensive and difficult cuttings on either side of the last named
tunnel. These trimmings are carried on in such a
manner as to offer no impediment at any time to the free
passage of the trains ; and a few weeks will see their
completion. At Clayton tunnel the north face is nearly
finished. It is built of stone, formed at top into battle-
ments, and has a beautiful effect from the turnpike-road,
as well as from the railway.
The finished condition of the line admits of few ob-
servations, no salient points presenting themselves for
remark. We cannot, however, pass over the exten •
sive embankment on the contract of Mr. Thornton,
where (alleged) "insuperable difficulties" presented
themselves twelve months since, owing to the re-
peated slips of the only materials at hand for form-
ing the embankment. These difficulties have been
overcome by the use of a different earth, which the
contractor was subsequently enabled to obtain ; and the
road is now perfectly solid. The slips, which were lateral
and not, as erroneously imagined by some, sinkings into
a marsh, have now become perfectly dry, and are nearly
as hard as stone ; and the greatly extended base consequent
upon the slips has, both in appearance and reality, added
to the security of this embankment, which, it wouldperhaps
not be out of place to mention, is one of the largest on any
railroad yet constructed.

During the day the up-trains continued to run at the
times specified, performing their journies with great punc-
tuality.' The first three up-trains all started from Brighton
before the arrival of the first down-train. The departure
of all these was witnessed and applauded by many of the
inhabitants of this town ; but the most interesting part
of the day's proceedings was the arrival of the first
London train, containing the Directors, who had been
invited by the inhabitants to one of the most splendid
banquets ever given in Brighton. This train was pro-
pelled by two of the Company's engines. It was a
mixed train and consisted of thirteen carriages, three of
the first class being appropriated to the use of the
Directors and their friends, and the remainder were
completely filled with passengers in the regular mode
of railway traffic. On passing the different stations,
all which were decorated with union jacks, and other
flags and ensigns, the train was loudly cheered. At Hay-
ward's Heath, Mr. Rastrick, the engineer of the line,
who had accompanied the Directors to Brighton on the
previous day, and remained there to make the last ar-
rangements for the conduct of the next day's traffic, took
his seat with the Directors, and the train then moved on
towards Brighton. It was in the newly-opened portion
of the line that the spectators were most numerous ;
and from Hayward's Heath to Clayton, several miles of
country seemed to have emptied their inhabitants, who
fringed the railway on either side. At the Hassocks'
Station, the only new one on the line, many hundreds of
the inhabitants of Hurst and Ditchling had assembled,
dressed in holiday garb, and all welcoming, by their
plaudits and smiling countenances, the first transit of the
metropolitan visitors through their neighbourhood by
means of the railway.
The northern entrance to Clayton tunnel, to which
we have before referred, was generally admired. On
this occasion the tunnel was lighted, at long intervals, by
torches. We understand that preparations are on foot
for lighting it with gas, in the same manner as the tun-
nels at Balcombe and ii[erstham are lighted, a procedure
particularly desirable, owing to the greater length of the
tunneL

From Preston to Brighton, the train passed between
crowds of spectators, who filled every space adjoining:he
line, from which a view could he obtained. The field at
New England, westward of the line, was also densely
crowded ; and the same was the case with the New
England road, where also a great number of carriages
and flys. 100 at least, were drawn up in file. Proceed-
ing onwards to the terminus, we observed the whole of
the beautiful sheds, the iron roofs of which have been so
much admired, densely packed with thousands of
fashionables and the most influential of our inhabitants.
From the gable • of the centre shed were sus-
pended a large floral star and a banner inscribed—
" Welcome to Brighton." At the moment the tram
reached the terminus, the band of the Scots Greys, the
performers at the Concerts d'Ete, and the town band,
struck up " God Save the Queen," the amateur vocalists
singing the National Anthem, verse and chorus, alter-
nately with the instrumental music.
A large number of the inhabitants also lined the foot-
path leading over the hill from the terminus to New
England ; and the neighbourhood of Trafalgar-street
and Surrey-street was filled with respectable persons,
who were excluded from the terminus in consequence of
the applicants for tickets being so numerous that the
terminus would not contain them.

In the evening a fete took place at the Royal Gardens,
in celebration of the opening of the Railway. There was
a grand display of fireworks by Jones, and the company
was numerous.

Several of the tradesmen also illuminated the fronts of
their houses in honour of the event.

The building of a London terminus for the Brighton
line, altogether distinct from the Greenwich line, part
of which the Brighton trains at present traverse, is
proceeding rapidly. Most of the arches are already
completed, and a portion of the ballast has been laid for
the rails.

One of the most important benefits which the railway
must secure to the town will arise from its becoming the
grand route between London and Paris. The Rouen
Railway is reported to be progressing most satisfactorily;
and the only novelty in a recent report of the Directors
is a complaint that the Shareholders supply them with a
superabundance of funds!