The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-17 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

OPENING OF THE GREAT NORTH OF ENG-
LAND, CLARENCE, AND HARTLEPOOL
JUNCTION.
HARTLEPOOL, TITESDAY.—The ceremony connected
with the opening of this important connecting link took
place yesterday. The line is only about eight miles in
length, but its importance can scarcely be inferred from
this fact. It commences at Thinford, about a mile below
the Ferryhill station of the Great Ncrth of England, with
which it forms a junction. It also forms a junction with
the Byers green branch of the Clarence Railway, near
to the same place. It then proceeds in a south-easterly
direction, skirting the lower part of the village of Corn-
forth, onward to Coxhoe-bridge, where it passes under
the Durham and Stockton-road. Thence it proceeds to
Garmond's-way Lime Quarry and Colliery. From thence
it proceeds to New Trimsdon, passing by Wingate
Grange, and joins the Hartlepool Railway a little beyond
the village of Castle Eden. It thus forms the connecting
link between the York and Newcastle and Clarence
Railways, and affords the best and shortest medium for
the transit of the coal and iron of the western parts of
the county to the important port of Hartlepool. To
parties travelling from Hartlepool from the north, this
railway will be of great importance, as it effects a saving
in distance of upwards of seven miles over the old lines.
There can be no question that it will tend greatly to in-
crease the traffic of the port, and will induce many par-
ties to avail themselves of the facilities afforded for visit-
ing this truly beautiful and delightful locality. To the
admirer of the picturesque, few places possess greater
attractions than Hartlepool, while to the antiquarian it
presents features of deep and thrilling interest. The cost
of the line, exclusive of stations which have not yet been
erected, with a. double line of rails, amounts to about
80,0001. It must be evident, therefore, that great economy
has been exercised in its construction, and that it has
been formed under very favourable circumstances, as it
has not cost above 10,000 L per mile.
Mr. George Hudson, on behalf of the Newcastle and
Darlington Railway Company, having agreed for the
purchase of this railway, together with the line, docks,
and other works belonging to the Hartlepool Dock and
Railway Company, this was the day appointed for that
gentleman entering upon possession.
Accordingly Mr. Huds.on, together with several of the
directors of the York and Newcastle Railway, the Lord
Mayor of York, and a numerous party of friends, left
York shortly before twelve o'clock by a special train,
and arrived at the Ferry-hill station about half-past two.
Here they were met by a special train from Hartlepool,
containing the mayor and corporation of that town, and
the principal portion of the Hartlepool Dock and Rail-
way, and the Great North of England, Clarence, and
Hartlepool Junction Railway Companies. The weather
during the whole of the day had been of the most unfa-
vourable description, and at this period and during the
remainder of the trip the rain poured down in torrents,
while the wind blew a perfect:hurricane. There can no be
doubt that but for this circumstance the party assembled
to meet Mr. Hudson would have been considerably
larger, and the demonstrations of public rejoicing along
the line would have been greater. As soon as the two
trains had been united they proceeded to traverse the
line. From the hasty glance which could be obtained
while the train was passing the engineering difficulties
did not appear to be of great or extraordinary charac-
ter. There are a few rather heavy cuttings, and one or
two embankments, and at Garmondaway there is a
considerable decline. The scenery along the line is
not of a particularly striking character ; a great
portion of the land, if we may judge from the mime•
rous collieries and other public works with which
it is studded, being valuable not from the beauty of its
surface, but for the mineral treasures hidden beneath.
At Castle Eden, notwithstanding the inclemency of the
weather, a large concourse of people had assembled to
meet the train, and its arrival was greeted with loud
cheering, firing of cannon, and other demonstrations of
rejoicing. After stopping to take up Rowland Eurdon,
Esq., and other gentlemen, the train proceeded at a rapid
rate, passing the far-famed Castle Eden Dean, to Hart-
lepool, where it arrived at half-past three o'clock, having
performed the entire distance, sixteen miles, including
stoppages, in rather more than three-quarters of an hour.
Immediately on alighting, Mr. Hudson and his friends
proceeded to inspect the docks and other works which
had then become the property of the York and Newcastle
Railway Company, and after some time had been spent
in this manner they adjourned to the Town-hall. where
a highly congratulatory address was presented to the
former gentleman, by the Mayor and Corporation of
Hartlepool, on his taking possession of the dock and
railways. Mr. Hudson acknowledged the compliment
in suitable terms. Notwithstanding that the rain con-
tinued to pour down, and that he was lightly clad,
Mr. Hudson, with his usual activity and persevering
spirit, proceeded from the Town-hall to examine the
port and pier, and everything worthy of note_ in
Hartlepool.