The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-13 00:00:00

ENGLAND.

(From the Plymouth Herald of this day.)
The South-Western Company have wisely aban-
doned the " Devon and Cornwall Central Scheme,"
but they intend to renew the application to Parlia•
rent for the Yeovil and Exeter line, and they fur-
ther mean to apply for permission to make a line from
Exeter to Cowley Bridge, to join the Crediton line.
The Bristol and Exeter Company will also renew
their application for the Taunton and Castle Cary
branch, the Bill for which passed the Committee of
the House of Commons last session. This will give
the public a broad guage line from Exeter to London,
shorter than the one contemplated by the South-
Western Company, the latter having to make nearly
100 miles of their road, provided they get their Bill
while the former have but about thirty miles to com-
plete the entire line. The Bristol and Exeter directors
have further given notice of their intention to apply
for a Bill to make branches from Bleajon to Wells,
Glastonbury, and Street. This measure received the
sanction of the Committee last session.
THE SOUTH DEVON LINE.
In the course of a few days the timber for the rails
will be permanently laid down to within a few hun-
dred yards of the intended station at Lairs, the erec-
tion of which, we learn, will take place forthwith,
the earth works for the site being finished. The
works at Laira—the turning of the turnpike road,
and the formation of a new road to Saltram, carried
by an elegant bridge over the railway—are rapidly
approaching completion. The enterprising and zealous
contractors, Messrs. Carpenter, are doing all they
possibly can to expedite this part of the road,
which we have no doubt will be finished, as far as
they are concerned, by the time specified. The via-
ducts near Ivy-bridge are to be partially laid with
American oak, a stronger and firmer material than
fir, and a short delay has taken place, we learn, on
that part of the works, in consequence of the timber
not being prepared. The line from Totnes to Ivy-
bridge is rapidly proceeding towards completion, and
we learn from good authority that, if not ready as
early as was hoped, viz., Christmas, that a short time
after we shall witness the opening of the line to Laira
—a mere omnibus ride of a couple of miles from the
heart of the town of Plymouth.
THE ATMOSPHERIC MODE OF TRACTION.

We have much pleas;e in stating that, on Tuesday
last, the first experimental train was run to Newton,
and though it was but fair to anticipate that some
difficulties might arise in the trill, from water which
must have accumulated in the pipes and from other
causes incidental to a first attempt, yet the distance
was accomplished in grand style, without the least
' difficulty or delay.
The carriage was started from Teignmouth at five
minutes before ten, A.M., and at eight minutes after
ten it arrived at Newton, having stopped at Wear
engine-house four minutes. The train came back in
,twelve minutes, having stopped four minutes at Wear
on returning. The distance is five miles.
Our readers who take an interest in the progress of
practical science will also be glad to hear that the
trains from Teignmouth to Exeter—four each way—
ptopelled by atmospheric power, ran most admirably,
keeping their time far more regularly than those
driven by locomotives; and the most perfect confi-
dence is felt as to the system finally superseding the
now common mode of traction.
The power is exceedingly great, and it is said that
light trains could be propelled without difficulty at
60 utiles an hour. The engineer who ran for the first
time to Newton had the breaks on down and up.
We txust to be enabled to announce, in a short time,
that the locomotive engines are to be dispensed with
on the South Devon line as far as Newton.
The engine-houses on the line towards Totnes, and
at the stations, will soon be finished, and, as we stated
a few weeks since, the tubing, of a large calibre, is
being laid,—and not the least doubt is entertained
that the steep gradients on that part of the line will
be run over at a swift pace with much ease. If these
expectations be realised, of which we see no doubt,
the triumph of Mr. Brunel and Mr. Samuda will be
complete, and another " great fact" will be estab-
lished in the scientific world—the triumph of air over
steam.

(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
As we feel assured that the inhabitants of these
towns are deeply concerned in the progress of this
system of pr opulsion, we subjoin some further parti-
culars, obtained from another quarter, which corro-
borate the above statement :
" You will be pleased to hear that the first atmo-
spheric trip was made from Teignmouth to Newton
on Tuesday, leaving the former place after the twenty
minutes past eight o'clock A.M. train had passed up.
The piston carriage ran down without the slightest
interruption, with a vacuum of eighteen inches,
which was exceedingly good for a first trip. It came
down in about fourteen minutes, including four
minutes stoppage at Weir engine-house. The car-
riage was brought up at the Newton station with
great exactness. The breaks were kept on the prin-
cipal part of the distance, fearing what might be en-
countered in the tubes. The engines worked well,
and all concerned were highly delighted. It is ex-
pected that the traffic trains will be worked by this
system to New ton in the course of a few days, as the
preparations are nearly completed in the Newton-yard
station. The atmospheric trains between Teignmouth
and Exeter are so regular that any comment is quite
unnecessary. If the locomotive trains are a quarter
of an hour after their time, the atmospheric can make
up the loss for them."