The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-30 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION

OPENING OF THE TAFF YALE

RAILWAY:

(From the Merthyr Guar(
n Jor some time past Merthyr - •
...id its vicinity have been
V alive with expectati-
tine from Navi-- .1 tor the promised opening of the
'W House, and a report that a trial train
rt. sent up from Cardiff on Monday last brought
""4,0f hundreds to the railway terminus to w'tness its arrix
dewing
Accordingly. about one o'clock, an engine arrived,
after it a tender, and bringing Sir Frederic Smith,
ife Railway Commissioner, Mr. Bush, engineer, and Mr.
These
Ball, secretary to the Taff Vale Railway Company.
These gentlemen, after a short stay in Merthyr, during
Ilithhigh ;bey stopped at the Angel Inn returned to Cardiff.
e trip was performed without the slightest delay or acci-
4ent. The day, although cold, was very fine, and was fa-
'arable fur an examination 5y the Commissioner. Men
re at work night and day previous to the opening, and
nr!'y nerve was strained to enable the Directors to fulfil
Heir pledge to the public that the railway would be opened
Wt the 21st.
NYe have been favoured with a copy of an official letter
croft Sir F. Smith to J. Ball, Esq., and hasten to lay it
refore our readers, to whom it cannot fail to be very satis..
%Mary, and they will rejoice with us at the well merited
tottpliment paid by Sir Frederic to Mr. Bush for the ad-
Ibirable manner in which he has planned and perfected the
railway : " Cardiff, 20th April, 1841.
" Sic _I have to acquaint you for the information of the
Directors of the Taff Vale Railway Company, that I shall
this day report to the Lords of the Committee of the Privy
Council of Trade, that I am not aware of any objection to
to opening of the line to Merthyr Tydvil to-morrow, pro-
tided the arrangements for working the inclined plane
lhalibe then complete; and I shall have great pleasure in
butting known to their Lordships the very satisfactory state
of the line, and in bearing testimony to the skilful man-
ter in which Mr. Bush has grappled with the professional
difficulties he has had to contend with in the formation of
this Railway. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) " FREDERIC SMITH,
" Lieut.-Colonel Royal Engineers.

`' Joseph Ball, Esq."
On Tuesday evening the bellman went round the town
and announced that, as the railway was to be opened next
day, the shopkeepers would not open their shops, and the
townspeople had resolved to make it a special holiday, and
We verily believe that save and except on the Sabbath,
there never was less work done on any day in this busy
Place than there was on Wednesday last.
On that day the first train was to start at 20 minutes
past eight in the morning, and long before that time
crowds of people directed their steps to the terminus, or
Mounted the cinder tips, from which they could obtain an
eXcellent view of the trains for a space of two miles. Flags
were flying, in all directions, and the concord of sweet
Sounds that filled the air from the bands of music, was fre-
rently harshly broken in upon by the roar of the artillery.
'Jai expected that, as this was the first train that had
ever started from Merthyr, there would be such a crowd
applicants for seats, that the hope of obtain'ng one
Was considerably damped, and so prevalent was this
opinion, that comparatively few ventured to run the
hazard of being refused, and in consequence thereof
one third of the seats were unoccupied, to the great
chagrin of many who afterwards heard of the fact.
The morning was raw and chill, and a sharp cutting
Rind prevailed all 'the way, to the great annoyance of
tome of the passengers. When all had taken their
seats, and everything was ready, the band played
" See the Conquering Hero comes," and at 20 minutes
past eight exactly the signal was given and away we went
amidst the sound of the cannon, the music, and the cheers
of thousand of spectators. All this was soon lost, for in
two minutes we were opposite Mr. Anthony Hill's house,
at Plymouth, and continuing at the same rapid rate we were
" off " Mr. Purchase's farm (4f miles) in seven minutes
snore:and at the some rate we continued our comet course
through the wild and picturesque defiles of the beautiful
vale of Taff, with scarcely time to catch a glimpse of a
scene of grandeur or of softness ere it vanished from our
'View. Still we flew onward, now skimming over the vete.
dant plain, then plunging into the savage ravine, and anon
bursting upon the busy haunts of men, who left their labours
!o gaze upon and cheer us in our passage, while the long
train of fleecy vapour which we left behind us curled its
ilia), into the clouds or mingled with the smoke of the
:teeny manufactories that stud the banks of the romantic
Taff, and the brute creation, terrified at the suddenness of
our approach and the noise of the engine, fled in all direc-
tions, leaving us " alone in our glory," and making sure
'of a good "offing" ere they ventured to stop and look
round for the cause of their affright, while the
" Loud trumpet to the cannon spoke,
The cannon to the heavens,"
announcing our arrival at the respective stations, and
bringing out the astonished natives to hail the approach
of the illustrious stranger as it dashed is among them,
breathing fire and smoke, and speaking in thunder. The
viaduct at the end of the upper tunnel was the point of
greatest interest; but the eye had only a moment to gaze
Upon the rugged glen beneath ere it was shrouded in the
gloom of the tunnel, the horrors of which seemed to pro-
duce a strong effect upon the ladies. The rapidity of the
transit, however, did not admit of thought, or allow
alarm to prevail for a long time ; every instant brought a
change, and every change a renewal of excitement. On
arriving at the top of the incline we were detained some
little time, as we were at other points on the road ;
but the late of travelling, when going at the general pace,
was that of one mile in tWo minutes. We arrived at the
station at Cardiff at two minutes to ten, having been one
hour and thirty-eight minutes, inclusive of stoppages, in
making the journey. The trip was performed in the
happiest manner,- and without- Os. lemat accident.
the party were in high spirits, and were of a humour
to 'make the best of the worst, but there was no occasion,
for all went yell off, as did all the other trips. We
beard but of one mishap. An unlucky wight, whose
evil star tempted him to alight at the Navigation House
station, was left on the road. He had scarcely put his
foot to the ground, when away went the train and
disappeared like a meteor, carrying off his umbrella,
which he had to thank the gentlemen of the railway for
taking care of for him. With a spirit worthy of a better
cause, he was determined not to be left behind, and started
off after the flying train, with a speed that awakened a
doubt in the spectators which would win the race ; find-
ing, however, that be was like to be beaten he gave in,
and had to submit to the condolence of the passers by,
who asked,—a needless question, when his heated face and
hurried air are considered—whether he had missed the
train ? As the day advanced the trains were more heavily
laden, and the last was a bumper, for there was not a seat
unoccupied in all the carriages, and many were left behind
who wished to go. Towards the close of the day the
little difficulties that had been occasionally encountered,
and which bad caused unavoidable delays, were completely
surmounted, and the last train that came from Cardiff left
at four in the afternoon and reached Merthyr a little past
five, having gone the distance in one hour and twenty-five
minutes, although every part of the train was crammed
with passengers. The weather bad become milder, and
the day closed beautifully, and it was enjoyed by such a
number of well dressed and holiday people as we have
sever before beheld in Merthyr. Parties had been made
for the trips, some in quarletto, some in trio, but the main
body in doe, the lover and his mistress, who
Ever gay among the gay,
Were gayer on this holiday.
The teetotallers took the opportunity of scattering their
papers from the train, but we fear that amid the merry
doings and jollity, and thirst supposed to be consequent
thereupon, their precepts availed but little among the ani-
mated crowd,: not that we saw any instance of the viola-
tion of the rules of sobriety, for at five in the afternoon we
had not seen a single " surveyor," that is, a man having
business on both sides of the street.
Sir J. J. Guest kindly invited all the gentlemen who
came up by the train to partake of breakfast at Dowlais
House, where a table spread with every luxury and the
choicest wines, evinced the hospitality of the Hon. Baronet
and his noble lady, and these delicacies were partaken off
amid many expressions of the high sense of the honour that
the guests felt had been done them by their generous en-
tertainers. Several toasts were drunk and appropriately
responded to, among which were " The health of Sir John
and Lady Charlotte Guest," " The health of tho Direc-
tors," " Success to the Taff Vale Railway," " The
Trade of Merthyr." About 80 gentlemen sat down to
table. Among the company was Professor Airey, of Cam-
bridge, whose health was drunk, in an elegant speeele, by
Mr. Coffin, in returning thanks for which he expressed his
Warm sense of the hospitality.that had been shown him,
ie not only at the mansion where he then was but at the
houses of other gentlemen in this Fart of the country, and
spoke of the gratification be felt at witnessing the comple-
tion of a great national work, that would facilitate the
transport of the vast mineral treasures with which the Vale
of Taff abounds, and greatly increase the prosperity of a
large district, already celebrated for the energy and en-
terprise of its inhabitants. The company departed highly
gratified with the entertainment, and much more so with
the politeness and attention of their distinguished hosts.
Several gentlemen connected with the railway dined at
the Angel Hotel, and another party of gentlemen dined at
the Castle Hotel, in honour of the occasion.
Thus passed a day big with great events for Merthyr—a
'day for ever memorable, as bringing her within an hour of
the sea, and annihilating time and space to advance and
enrich her—a day from which her sons will count when
they are telling of her greatness to the yet unborn, and
which they will name as an epoch of real triumph, of
true and peaceful glory, unstained with blood end un-
dimmed with tears.
It gives us much pleasure to state that we have been
favoured with the opinions of several scientific gentlemen
upon the construction of the railway, and from them we
learn that it has been finished throughout in a manner
highly creditable to the talented engineer,
Mr. Busb, and
the gentlemen who so ably seconded him in
his arduous
undertaking. Every praise is also due to Mr. Ball, the
secretary, for the excellence of his arrangements on this
occasion, in consequence of which every man was in his
proper place, and did the duty allotted to him with care
and despatch, so that not the slightest blunder took place,
nor was there a complaint to make ; on the contrary, all
were in the highest degree satisfied. We may conclude
with stating that the railway opened under the happiest
auspie. s.

- -
EGLINTON PARK MEETING.—This very
'popular meeting commenced to-day. The weather, dur-
ring the forenoon, was not so auspicious as could have
been wiched. Notwithstanding, a vast concourse of people
assembled. None of the races had been decided when
our informant left. Amongst the supporters of the turf,
besides the noble patron of the meeting, Lord Eglinton,
the following noblemen and gentlemen were present :
Toe' M;rquis of Waterford, Lord Dunmore, Lord Sal-
toun, Sir F. Johnstone, Sir D. Baird, J. 0., Fairlic,
Esq., H. Johnstone, Esq., Captain W. Campbell, yr. of
Craigie, A. Campbell, Esq , yr. of Jura, .1 Illeiklatib
Esq., of Crainbrae, Captain Richardson, Captain Pettat,
Claud Alexander, Esq., of Bsllochmyle, W. Craufurd,
Esq,, of Doonside, W. R. Ramsay, Esq., &c. The
Countess of Eglinton, and a numerous company of ladies
and gen.tlemen, occupied the Grand Stand, which has been
elegantly though temporarily fitted up. From the entries,
most if which were completed last night, we augur that
the Lacing will be excellent—and some of the matches,.
have excited great interest...Ayr Observer of
tied %.