The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-31 00:00:00

.r SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
Nothing particularly worthy of comment appears to
have presented itself among the Railway matters this
week. The opening of the portion of the South-East-
tern line as far as Tonbridge on Thursday, already sug-
gests to the minds of parties acquainted with the locali-
ties through which it passes the possibility of some set-
tlement of the differences between the Greenwich and
Croydon Railways being brought about. In the mean-
while, however, the contest • continues as fierce as ever,
with as much show of justice on the one side as on
the other. Ou the occasion referred to, the first train
of the South-Eastern Railway started at half-past
nine, arriving at the Tonbridge station, a distance of
fort/ miles, by half-past eleven. For a distance of twenty
miles, from the London station, the South-Eastern
Railway runs jointly with the Brighton line, so that i$ is
only that portion commencing at the point of divergence,
Redstone-hill, which is entirely new to the public. The
intermediate stations between this point and Tonbridge
are three in number—the Godstone station, the Edens-
bridge, and the Penshurst ; and throughout the whole
of this distance the railway follows one continued
straight line, which is subsequently carried on to Ash-
finsi, where the line makes a turn in the direction of
Folkestone and thence passes on between the cliffs
and the sea to Dover. The works in that part of
the line which is now completed present no feature
of any importance, save a tunnel at Bletching-
ley, which is about three-quarters of a mile in length.
The stations are constructed with a due regard to the
convenience of passengers and the exigencies of business,
but nothing more, the utmost simplicity and plainness ap-
pearing here as in the other works of the Company, which
have been carried on in a wise spirit of economy, pro..
raising well for the prosperity of the concern ; and
though- this road presents in many places great difficul-
ties, its total cost is estimated at not more than 30,0001.
per mile—a notable difference from that of other lines.
The largest and most extensive station is at Tonbridge,
which is intended to become the central station for the
county of Kent ; and here the manufactories for the Com-
pany's engines and carriages will be erected; the latter will,
for the most part, be constructed with what are called bow-
springs, the working of which renders the motion ex-
tremely gentle and easy ; in other respects they are most
commodiously fitted up, and possess a very desirable
quality in the height of their roof's. In the construction
of the railway itself there are certain peculiarities deserv-
ing of notice—first, as regards the unusual'width of the
formation level ; and, 'secondly, in the plan adopted in
laving down the rails, which rest upon sleepers only.
The sleepers are triangular in form, four being cut out
of "no balk, and rest upon one edge ; the same bearing
surface and strength are thus obtained as with rectan-
gular sleepers, together with great economy of
timber, and facility of drainage. The rails are fitted
into chairs cast with great accuracy, from which
they receive an uniform inclination inwards with-
out depending upon the rail-layers. This system, al-
though it does not effect any direct saving in the mate-
rials used, ultimately proves economical from the extreme
rapidity with which the work can be done. The whole
of that portion of the line which is now open is in a most
finished state, and presents an appearance of great neat-
ness. The carriages move on the rail with considerable
ease, which, though not so great as use will subsequently
render it, presents a great contrast with the Croydon
line. The next portion of the line to be opened will ex-
tend to lleadcom, and will be completed in three months,
and by next Christmas it will have advanced to Ashford.
The completion of the entire line to Dover is promised
for the end of next year.— Times.