The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-07 00:00:00

GREAT WESTERN.

It will no doubt be gratifying to the 10,000 shareholders
in this company to know that the works on their system
of railways are now rapidly approaching completion.
The branch from the main line at West Drayton to Ux-
bridge is to be opened in the course of the present month.
The works on the branch from Twyford to Henley are so
far advanced that they can be completed in about three
months. At the Didcot Junction considerable accommo-
dation is being provided fcr facilitating the passage of
trains from the north going either east or west, while va-
rious additions are being made to the stations on the main
line for the a.:(onaniodation of the increasing goals traffic.
With regard to the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth
Railway, the Salisbury section of the line was opened from
Warminster throughout a short time ago. The section
from Frome to Yeovil, it is expected, will be opened for
traffic in the course of a few weeks, and 'throughout to
Weymouth before the end of the autumn. The additional
rails required for the formation of the mixed gauge be-
tween Basingstoke and Oxford are now laid, with the ex-
ception of a short gap now being laid on the new embank-
ment forming the western junction, near Reading. This
will afford a complete and continuous communication with
the Shrewsbury and other northern lines. In the Bir-
mingham and Wolverhampton district of the Great West-
' ern, it appears, the works are so far completed as to afford
connection with the canals there, and accommodation for
tse local traffic of that important district. The completion
of these works will, of course, materially assist in develop-
ing the traffic at various points on the railway, and thereby
increase the revenue of the company. In addition to those
works for facilitating the traffic, there has been recently
completed a large goods station connecting the railway
with the canal and Thames river trade, which is now in
active operation. With respect to another very important
work—the Paddington terminal station—it appears that
the buildings are all but completed, and only some por-
tions of the permanent way remain to be laid on ground
which has been hitherto occupied by temporary carriage
sheds. This station now affords accommodatioc on a very,
extensive scale, and is capable of accommodating an im-
mense increase of traffic on the whole system belonging
to the Great Western Company. The terminus comprises
four great departments, which the successful working •cif
the traffic requires. The first department consists of the
4passeuger station, buildings, departure and arrival plat-
forms, and sheds, affording large accommodation for spare
carriage stock under cover. The second department con-
sists of goods' sheds, warehouses, offices, and sidings, with
coal and other lines, for the accommodation of the goods'
traffic. The third department includes extensive shops f,r
carriage and waggon repairs, with the requisite sheds,
stores, and side lines. The fourth department embraces
the locomotive engine establishment, with the requisite
accommodation. These four departments extend for a
distance of more than a mile down the main line, and have
been carefully arranged to meet the requirements of the
traffic. Another feature of this terminus is, that there ar e
separate lines for passenger and goods trains, with side-
lines to each, to admit of the passing of engines, trucks,
kc., clear of those trains. It is believed that the above
constitutes the great bulk of the works contemplated by
the directors, and which, owing to various circumstances,
have been for a considerable time in course of construction.
It is expected that their completion will have the effect of
increasing the traffic generally on the Great Western
system of lines, and of course augmenting the disposable
sum available for dividend.