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

Grand Junction Eailway.

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 inte;estcd 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 1832, but (lid 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 studio-
rised to be raised was 1,906,0001. The works were com-
penced in 1834, and opened to the public in 1836. The total cost
of the line is 1,700,8321. Ils. ld. or about 13,4001. per mile.
The length of the line is 974 miles, the gage is 4 feet 8! inches, and
the gradients 20, 30, and 62 feet, respectively. The first-class pas-
sengers are charged after the rate of 2d. 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 16,4251., the annual gross income about 200,0001., and railway
mileage duty, 14,0431. 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
seat of James Watt, Esq., the son of the inventor of the
steam engine; a little distance further, is the Roman Catholic College
of Oscott. It is a magnificent pile in the Tudor style of architec.
lure. Near Perry Bar Station, about ikmile from the Railway, is
Handsworth Church, whose walls shelter 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 secs the fertile plains, the
Cottage homes of ENigland,
By thousands on the plains,
That arc 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 hi this
region of machinery and industry. This railway was executed
under the direction of Mr. Locke and Mr. Itastrick, and is now
under the superintendence of Captain Clew her.

STATI
Miles from Birmhm.!
Perry Bar

Miles from Birmhm.
Madeley
Basford 521
Crewe 534
Coppenhall. ........ 55
Minshull Vernon 5Bl
Winsforcl 6l
llartford
Acton
Preston Brook 7o_r_
Moore 744
Warrington. 774-
Winwick
Ncwton 824

Newton Road
Bescott Bridge, oil
James's Bridge

Willen Hall,
Wolverhampton l4
Four Ashe•
Spread Eagle 2ll

Penkridgc , 231

Stafford

Bridgeford

Norton ...... 34
Whitmore 4314

Great North of England Railway.

Mr. Gibbs, the civil engineer, projected a line of railway from
London to Durham, but the plan was too gigantic and too costly
to be carried out as a single unde-taking, and this great idea has
been only executed in parts, and by distinct Companies ; the line from
London toCambridge by the Northern and Eastern Railway Company;
the intermediate space between Cambridge and York is unexecuted ;
but a part of the plan from York to Newcastle is now completing
by the Great North of England Railway Company. The railway
at this time is only complete from York to Darlington. For this
part of the line the Act was obtained in 1536; by this Act the
Company was authorised to raise 1,000,0001., and this sum was
for the completion of the line from York to Newcastle. The Com-
pany have, by a subsequent Act, obtained power to raise 1,330,0001,
and that sum has been expended upon the line to its present ex.
tent, viz.—from York to Darlington. The Company is divided into
10,000 shares of 1001. each. The total length of the line to be com-
pleted was 76 miles, but 45 miles only are finished. The York
City Branch is 45 chains long ; there are 43 bridges on this line,
the principal are over the rivers Ouse and Tees. The gage is 4 feet
81 inches, and the Stations

York. Sessay. Wiske.
Shepton. Thirsk. East Cowton.
Tollerton. Otterington. Croft.
Alne. Northallerton. Darlington.
Ruskeit. Danby.