The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-09 00:00:00

Grand 3unction Ilailway.

This Railway owes its projection and complete establishment to
the spirit, intelligence, and enterprise of the town of Birmingham.
In the year 1823 meetings were called in this town, and deputations
sent to Liverpool, asking for the co-operation of that city. A
Joint Committee was formed to carry out a line of railway between
the towns similar to that which was then in the course of con.
struction from Liverpool to Manchester, and in the year 1824
application was made to Parliament for a Bill, but the powerful
opposition of the Canal Proprietors and other parties interested in
coach and waggon traffic, caused the Bill to be thrown out by the
Standing Orders Committee; another unsuccessful application was
made in 1824, and these defeats compelled the promoters of the
railway to bide their time. The opening of the Manchester and
Liverpool Railway, and the great interest this event excited, caused
the promoters again to bring this railway before the Legisla-
ture, but Parliament was dissolved in consequence of the
rejection of the Reform Bill. The Committee applied again in
1831 and 1632, but did not obtain their Bill until ,the
6th of May, 1833. Two subsequent Acts were obtained
in 1834 and 1835, and the total amount of capital autho-
rised to be raised was 1,906,000/. • The works were com-
menced in 1834, and opened to the public in 1836. The total cost
of the line Is 1,700,832/. 1 is. ld. or about 13,400/. per mile.
The length of the line is 971 miles, the gage is 4 feet 81 inches, and
the gradients 20, 30, and 62 feet, respectively. The first.class pas-
sengers are charged after the rate of 2id. per mile, and the second
class lid. per mile. The amount annually paid to the Company
by her Majesty's Postmaster-General for the carriage of the mails,
is 16,4231., the annual gross income about •200,0001., and railway
mileage duty, 14,043/. 17s. 6d. per annum. The line of railway
runs from the station adjoining the Birmingham Railway,
to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway at Newton. (See
Wyld's Grand Junction Railway Guide.) Passing over the
Aston Viaduct, consisting of ten arches, very strongly and
ornamentally built, near this erection, is, Aston Hall, the
scat of James Watt, Esq., the son of the inventor of the
steam zngine; a little distance further, is the Roman Catholic Co:lege
of Oscott. It is a magnificent pile in the Tudor style of architec.
lure. Near Perry Bar Station, about a mile from the Railway, is
Handsworth Church, whose walls shdter the monument of James
Watt, finely executed by Chantrey ; on the left side of the altar is
a bust of Matthew Bolton, the partner of Watt ; on both sides of
the railway are places of note; here, the Castle of Stafford, built by
Robert de Tonei, the standard bearer of William the Norman, with
its antique furniture, and armoury of mail ; the Castle- of Beeston,
surprised by the Carlists during the civil war; there the Salt
Works of Marston, with its stupendous caverns and crystalline caves;
and as the traveller passes over the Dutton and the Warrington
Viaduct and sees the fertile plains, the -
Cottage homes of England,
By thousands on the plains,
That are smiling o'er her silvery brooks,
And round her hamlet lanes,
he forgets the miseries of the poor, and thinks only of the
gigantic power that the genius of man has developed in this
region of machinery and industry. This railway was executed
ander the direction of Mr. Locke and Mr. Rastrick, and is now
under the superintendence of Captain Clea her.